Top News from Orthodox Media from February 24 to March 2

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Ukrainian authorities announced the formation of a commission for the reception of the relics of saints at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, effectively referring to the confiscation of these relics. The commission started its work on February 27. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church reported that the monastery received a letter about the commission after refusing to assist in the "worship" of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) in the Caves on February 24, where an "archbishop" from the schismatic OCU was supposed to participate.

Another canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church Metropolitan has been charged in Ukraine. This week, Metropolitan of Sumy and Akhtyrka, Evlogy, announced that law enforcement in the country initiated a criminal case against him due to a sermon posted on YouTube. In the sermon, the metropolitan spoke about the persecution of the canonical church in Ukraine.

In Sweden, the church of the Moscow Patriarchate has been deprived of state support. The country's police announced that this community "does not correspond to the so-called After this, the Religious Community Support Office stated that in 2024, Russian Orthodox Church parishes would not receive subsidies. For comparison, in 2022, the church received 198,951 kronor ($19,205.45) from the state.

In Ethiopia, an attack occurred on the Orthodox monastery of St. Abbo the Great in the village of Zukuala. Unknown assailants armed with weapons stormed the monastery, kidnapped, and killed four monks. The Ethiopian Church issued an official statement blaming "armed militants" for the attack and murder. Regional authorities reported that members of the organization "OLF Shene" (Oromo Liberation Front) are suspected of committing the crime, and the police are searching for the attackers. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia expressed condolences to the Ethiopian Patriarch Abune Mathias, hoping that the perpetrators would be held accountable.

In Kottayam, India, a massive procession took place to commemorate the 1950th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Apostle Thomas. Christians on the Malabar Coast of India, where the apostle arrived in 52 AD and established the first church community, particularly observed his memory. The culmination of the celebrations was a gathering at the city's central stadium, attended by over 100,000 pilgrims. Metropolitan Antoniy of Volokolamsk, the head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, participated in the events.

The head of the Malankara Church in India met with a representative of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Antoniy. During the negotiations, the parties noted the effective work of the Working Group on coordinating bilateral relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Church, particularly the successful implementation of projects in various areas such as cooperation in academic and media spheres, interaction in the field of monasticism, social service, and other areas.

In the Patriarchate Exarchate of Africa, two new churches were consecrated in Kenya and Tanzania. In Kenya, a church dedicated to the Holy Martyrs Haralambos and Porphyrios will be built in the Vihiga district. In the Tanzanian village of Wenda, a church in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos will be constructed. The Patriarchate Exarchate of Africa reported that several mass baptisms took place in this village in 2023, during which dozens of local residents joined the Church.

A parish of the Russian Church in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was established this week in the Vietnamese city of Nanchang. The creation of the community was blessed by the head of the Philippine-Vietnamese diocese, Metropolitan Manila and Hanoi Pavel. Before this, there were three parishes of the Russian Church in the country: Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg in Hanoi, Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos in Ho Chi Minh City, and the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Vung Tau. The Vung Tau community recently arranged a home church, which was consecrated this week by Metropolitan Pavel, who is visiting Vietnam on an archpastoral visit.

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