The Latest Breaking News from The Russian Orthodox Church

Orthodox mark Christmas, but the celebration is overshadowed for many by conflict

Orthodox Christians packed churches on Saturday night for Christmas Eve services, a holiday overshadowed for many believers by conflict

The Independent UK · Jan 6, 2024

Ukraine picks new Christmas date in break with Russian tradition

For the first time in a century, Ukraine will celebrate the holiday on December 25 rather than January 7.

Al Jazeera · Dec 24, 2023

Ukrainians Defy Moscow With First Dec. 25 Christmas

Many Ukrainians will on Monday celebrate Christmas Day on December 25 for the first time, after the government changed the date from the Orthodox Church observance of January 7 in a snub to Russia.

International Business Times · Dec 24, 2023

Anger grows over Ukraine's largest Orthodox church, aligned with Moscow despite war

Millions of Ukrainians still worship in Orthodox churches deeply influenced by Russian clergy who support Moscow's invasion, sparking a clash of faith and national loyalty.

WEKU · Sep 30, 2023

Andrey Rublev has been called the ‘greatest Russian artist who ever lived’ – but one of his most famous works is at risk under Putin

Andrey Rublev (or Rublyov – nobody is sure how his name was pronounced) has been described as “the greatest Russian artist who ever lived”, whose work had “a clarity of composition and suave tranquillity of mood peculiarly his own”.

The Conversation · Sep 22, 2023

Russian Orthodox priests face persecution from state and church for supporting peace in Ukraine

A small number of Russian Orthodox priests are publicly opposing their leader's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and they're suffering the consequences

The Independent UK · Aug 12, 2023

Ukraine moves official Christmas Day holiday to Dec. 25, denouncing Russian-imposed traditions

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday signed a law moving the official Christmas Day holiday to Dec. 25 from Jan. 7, the day when the Russian Orthodox Church observes it

The Independent UK · Jul 29, 2023

Transfer of holy icon shows Russian Orthodoxy's new sway under Putin

President Vladimir Putin's decision to move one of Russia's holiest icons from a museum to a Moscow cathedral highlights his growing reliance on the Church as the Ukraine war drags on, but has also raised fears about the safety of the fragile artifact.

Reuters · Jun 3, 2023

Russian Orthodox Church fires Archpriest for 'obstruction' of icon transfer

Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, on Saturday dismissed his expert on art and restoration for obstructing the transfer of a historic 15th-century Trinity icon to the Church from a Moscow museum.

Reuters · May 27, 2023

Putin gave Orthodox Church famed icon because of its importance to believers: Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to hand over the historic 15th-century Trinity icon from a museum to the Russian Orthodox Church because of its importance to believers, the Kremlin's spokesman said on Tuesday.The Church, whose conservatism Putin has espoused as part of his vision for Russia's national identity, is…

Reuters · May 16, 2023