Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visited Belarus this week on a primatial visit. In Brest, he celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Resurrection Cathedral on the Feast of the Synaxis of the Saints of Belarus, where prayers were offered for those who died during the Second World War. Following the service, the Patriarch presented an icon of Christ the Savior to the cathedral, Passion Gospels to churches of the Brest Diocese, and commemorative icons to the faithful.

The Patriarch also visited the Brest Hero Fortress Memorial Complex, where he led a memorial service for the fortress's defenders and all those who lost their lives during the war. In his address, he highlighted the significance of the defenders' sacrifice for the Allied victory and recalled his uncle Vladimir, who went missing during the first days of the war in the area. The visit concluded with commemorative events marking the 85th anniversary of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, after which Patriarch Kirill returned to Moscow.

On June 22, Russia and Belarus commemorated the 85th anniversary of the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War with memorial events involving Church leaders, government officials, and members of the armed forces. Patriarch Kirill laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, led prayers for the departed, and called for preserving the memory of the nation's wartime sacrifice. A memorial ceremony was held at the Brest Fortress, while the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces hosted its annual "Candle of Memory" event, during which 1,418 candles were lit at 4:00 a.m.—one for each day of the war.

Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, made a joint pastoral visit to the Gaza Strip this week to support local Christian communities and civilians affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Accompanied by representatives of the Sovereign Order of Malta and Malteser International, they met with clergy, religious communities, families, and those displaced by the conflict.

A key moment of the visit was the opening of the St. Joseph Clinic, established through the cooperation of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Order of Malta, and international partners. The clinic is expected to serve approximately 100 patients per day, helping address the severe shortage of medical services in Gaza.

Following devastating earthquakes in Venezuela on June 24 that reportedly claimed more than 230 lives, Pope Leo XIV, representatives of several Orthodox Churches, and the World Council of Churches called for prayers and support for those affected. The Pope allocated an initial €100,000 in emergency assistance, while Orthodox and Catholic communities have been providing humanitarian aid, temporary shelter, and pastoral care through church charities.

Authorities in Greece's Central Macedonia region have approved €5.3 million for restoration projects at monasteries and sketes on Mount Athos. The funding will support the preservation of historic buildings, infrastructure upgrades, expanded facilities for pilgrims, improved care for elderly monks, and the conservation of Orthodox cultural heritage. The program includes seven projects across several of the Holy Mountain's major monastic communities and is financed through European funds.

This week marked one year since the terrorist attack on the Church of the Holy Prophet Elijah in Damascus, where 25 people were killed during a worship service. Despite extensive damage, the church has been largely restored. Major reconstruction work has been completed, while interior finishing continues. The Patriarchate of Antioch described the rebuilding as a symbol of resilience, hope, and the spiritual unity of Syria's Christian community.

A dispute over the St. Alexander Nevsky Church in Odesa intensified this week after supporters of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) took control of the building, which belongs to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). According to the Odesa Diocese of the UOC, several clergy and parishioners, including the diocesan secretary, were injured during the confrontation. The diocese stated that the parish had not voted to change its ecclesiastical jurisdiction, described the takeover as unlawful, and said it would seek legal protection of its rights.

Meanwhile, the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has filed a lawsuit seeking the dissolution of Ukraine's State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience. The agency is responsible for reviewing the alleged affiliation of the Kyiv Metropolis with the Russian Orthodox Church and has been involved in legal proceedings concerning the status of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its property.