The relic of the right hand of St. Spyridon of Trimythous is completing its visit to Russia and will leave Moscow on September 20. Since August 17, the reliquary has traveled to 13 cities, from Cheboksary and Kazan to Khabarovsk, Yekaterinburg and Vladimir, drawing long queues of worshippers.

More than 80,000 people venerated the relic in Yekaterinburg in less than two days, while more than 50,000 did so in Chelyabinsk. The relic arrived in Moscow on September 15. Nearly 140,000 people visited it at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour during its first three days in the capital. In the following days, the queue stretched for up to three kilometers, with waiting times reaching seven hours.

The visit took place with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill and was accompanied by Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu. According to TASS, Metropolitan Nektarios said the visit had strengthened ties between Greece and Russia. He also conveyed the appreciation of Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece and the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece for what they described as the strong faith and devotion shown by Russian worshippers.

Serbian Patriarch Porfirije visited Ljubljana this week, where on September 13 he presided over celebrations marking the 90th anniversary of the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

More than 1,000 people attended the Divine Liturgy, including representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church, other religious communities, Slovenia's diplomatic corps and public life. In his homily, Patriarch Porfirije spoke about the legacy of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Christian love and reconciliation. He emphasized that faith should be expressed not only in words but also through everyday life, and that the pursuit of peace in society begins with families and close personal relationships.

The patriarch also highlighted the historic ties of the Serbian community with Slovenia and thanked the country's people for their hospitality. During the visit, he gave his blessing for the construction of new Orthodox churches in Slovenia.

The situation of Christians in the Middle East and prospects for interchurch dialogue were discussed this week in Rome and Brussels.

At the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV met with Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East to discuss developments in Syria and Lebanon, the consequences of conflicts, migration and the displacement of populations. Patriarch John X stressed that Christians in Syria should enjoy equal rights with other citizens and called for an end to escalation and for political dialogue in Lebanon. The two leaders also discussed the fate of the two Orthodox Metropolitans of Aleppo who were abducted in 2013.

At the European Parliament, representatives of Syrian Christian communities called for constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, equal citizenship and political participation. In Rome, Patriarch John X also met with Cardinal Kurt Koch to discuss the development of ecumenical dialogue and the role of the Church of Antioch in interfaith cooperation.

As the new academic year begins, the Orthodox patriarchs of Georgia and Bulgaria have emphasized the importance of combining academic education with moral formation.

Patriarch Shio III of Georgia led a prayer service in Tbilisi marking the beginning of the school year. He said intellectual development alone is insufficient without spiritual guidance and the cultivation of kindness and purity of heart.

Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel likewise highlighted the importance of conscience, free will and the ability to distinguish between good and evil, urging parents and teachers to focus on the formation of character.

In Bulgaria, the discussion has also entered the legislative sphere. The Holy Synod has supported a proposal to introduce a compulsory subject called “Virtues and Religions” beginning in the 2027–2028 academic year, with gradual expansion to all grades. The proposed curriculum would offer several options, including Orthodox Christianity, Islam and a non-confessional course in ethics and civic education. Students and their parents would retain the right to choose. The proposal remains under consideration by a parliamentary education committee, and no final decision has yet been made.

The Holy Synod of Cyprus has called on authorities to halt the expansion of a quarry near Stavrovouni Monastery.

The Church expressed concern that blasting, dust and heavy vehicle traffic could affect the environment, residents' health and the safety of the monastery's buildings. According to tradition, the monastery was founded by St. Helena in the fourth century and is closely associated with the veneration of the True Cross.