This week, the Orthodox Church marked the 300th anniversary of the transfer of the relics of Saint Alexander Nevsky to Saint Petersburg. The main celebrations were held at the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, with a liturgy led by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' at the Annunciation Church, where the relics of the saint are enshrined. Numerous pilgrims attended, including cadets and youth volunteers. Patriarch Kirill prayed for Holy Rus' and presented the Lavra with an ancient Gospel and a reliquary containing a fragment of the True Cross. Following the liturgy, a procession with the saint’s relics took place in the Lavra's main square. Russian President Vladimir Putin also visited the Lavra, venerated the relics, and met with Patriarch Kirill.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Information Policy has requested the return of an icon of Saint Job of Pochaev from the Pochaev Lavra to a museum. The demand follows an audit conducted in June, where the Ministry reported missing icons listed in the 1967 inventory. It recommended local authorities terminate the Lavra's lease and evict the clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). The Lavra stated it had not received official documents regarding the audit results and sent a request for documentation about the icon of Saint Job, but has yet to receive a response.
This week, the Supreme Court of Ukraine ruled that the Assumption Cathedral in Kaniv, Cherkasy region, formerly belonging to the UOC, is state property. The Smila District Prosecutor's Office argued that the church had been "illegally held" by the UOC, and the court concluded that this historical structure "should belong to the entire Ukrainian people."
The Holy Synod of the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric (MOC-OA) expressed support for the UOC following Ukraine's passage of Bill 8371, which effectively bans the UOC’s activities. In a statement on September 12, the Synod noted that millions of UOC believers are now deprived of their right to practice their faith. The Macedonian hierarchs offered prayers for Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv, UOC bishops, and believers, urging them to remain steadfast amid persecution. They also emphasized the importance of unity among all Local Orthodox Churches and affirmed their prayers for the faithful in Ukraine.
Moldovan Metropolitan Vladimir has called on authorities to stop pressuring the Church, following recent political statements suggesting Moldova might ban the Moldovan Orthodox Church, similar to Ukraine's anti-church legislation. Metropolitan Vladimir noted that religious intolerance is becoming more frequent in the public sphere, with authorities inciting society against the Church. He likened the current pressure on the Church to that of the Soviet era, pointing out that clergy are being intimidated, searched, and detained without cause at the border.
A pilgrimage by clergy from the Moldovan Orthodox Church to Russia concluded this week. As part of a project organized by the Moscow Patriarchate, around 300 Moldovan clergy visited holy sites in Russia, including the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and Pokrovsky Monastery in Moscow. Vladimir Legoyda, head of the Synodal Department for Church and Society, described the pilgrimage as a testament to the unity of the Church that transcends political borders.
A survey released this week by Gallup International Balkan revealed that trust in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church reached 43.1% in August 2024, making it one of the country’s most respected institutions. Sociologists explained that the Church plays a crucial role in Bulgaria’s national identity, with 75.3% of the population identifying as Orthodox Christians.
From September 5 to 8, 2024, South Africa hosted the first-ever Days of Russian Spiritual Culture. The event included a concert by the Moscow Soloists Chamber Ensemble, led by Yuri Bashmet, and an exhibition marking the 500th anniversary of the Novodevichy Monastery, held at Saint Sergius Church in Johannesburg. A roundtable discussion on cultural heritage and traditional values cooperation between Russia and South Africa was also held. The events featured Russian diplomats and clergy from the Russian Orthodox Church, concluding with a performance by the Moscow Synodal Choir at Saint Sergius Church.
A delegation from the Coptic Church in the United States, led by Metropolitan Serapion of Southern California, visited Serbia this week. Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia received the Coptic hierarchs in his Belgrade residence, where the Coptic representatives emphasized the spiritual kinship and historical parallels between the two Churches. Patriarch Porfirije highlighted the importance of the Coptic Church's presence in the Western world, where people can learn about the Copts' ancient spiritual tradition.