On the last day of the outgoing year, December 31, 2024, during a festive service at Christ the Savior Cathedral, Patriarch Kirill urged prayers for the happiness and protection of Russia. He emphasized that true happiness is impossible without God and spiritual support, regardless of material conditions. The Patriarch stressed the importance of caring for each person's inner world and wished for strength and grace to strengthen harmony. He also called on the faithful to pray for the protection of the country and inner peace in anticipation of the New Year.

On December 31, the anniversary of the shelling of Belgorod by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the city held a memorial service for the victims. Metropolitan Ioann of Belgorod and Stary Oskol performed a litany for the deceased at the spontaneous memorial—"The Wounded Heart of Belgorod." Before the service, Patriarch Kirill called Metropolitan Ioann of Belgorod, offering words of prayerful support to the residents of Belgorod and wishing them patience and spiritual strength.

On Wednesday, January 1, 2025, a tragedy occurred in Cetinje, Montenegro, when a local man opened fire, killing 12 people, including children. The shooter died on the way to the hospital. Among the victims were his family and café visitors. Three of the injured are in critical condition. Metropolitan Ioannikiy of Montenegro and the Coast expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and injured. Patriarch Porfirije also offered condolences regarding the tragic incident. In the capital city of Podgorica, a memorial service was held for the victims. Father Igor Balaban, a representative of the Montenegrin and Coastal Metropolitanate, addressed the faithful with a pastoral word and called on them to fight against hatred and to safeguard human souls.

The presidential election process has concluded in Georgia. On December 31, Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia congratulated Mikheil Kavelashvili on his election as president, wishing him success in his work. The message also included wishes for the Nativity of Christ and the New Year. Mikheil Kavelashvili assumed office on December 29, replacing Salome Zurabishvili, who, despite doubts about the legitimacy of the election, left the presidential palace on the day of the inauguration.

The UN confirmed that Ukraine has not proven the legality of its actions aimed at banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). A report from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) states that Ukraine has not demonstrated the legal basis for its actions against the UOC. The UN emphasized that the dissolution of a religious organization is a serious restriction that requires justification. In particular, the necessity of the ban is not substantiated, and the use of vague terms in the law may threaten freedom of expression and hold entire communities accountable for the actions of individuals. OHCHR continues to monitor incidents such as those in Cherkasy, where supporters of the OCU seized a UOC church, resulting in injuries among the faithful and clergy.

At the end of 2024, the Supreme Court of Bulgaria registered the Bulgarian Old-Style Church as the second Orthodox Church in the country. This decision has been criticized by both church hierarchs and government officials. On January 3, Patriarch Daniel of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC) met with President Rumen Radev to express concern over the decision to register the Old-Style Church. He noted that there cannot be two Orthodox Churches in one territory, as this could lead to schisms and confusion among the faithful. The president acknowledged the threat to national unity and emphasized the importance of the BOC for Bulgarian identity.

The heads of Christian Churches in Syria called for peace, dialogue, and the lifting of sanctions on the country. On December 29, 2024, a meeting was held in Damascus with the patriarchs of three Christian Churches in Syria, where the political situation and the state of the Christian community were discussed. Patriarchs Yousef I Absi, John X, and Ignatius Ephrem II called for national unity, dialogue, and reconciliation during this time of change. They also appealed to the international community to lift sanctions that exacerbate the humanitarian crisis and supported the creation of a new constitution that considers the interests of all citizens.

The Russian Orthodox Church is implementing new measures to regulate the practice of suspending and removing clergy from service. A document approved by the Holy Synod on December 27, 2024, includes the creation of a unified database of suspended and removed clergy. The rules for imposing punishments, the procedures for removing clergy from service with the right to transition to another diocese, and the process for issuing leave certificates have been clarified. All decisions and changes will be sent to the Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate for monitoring and accounting.

In 2025, the Romanian Orthodox Church will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Patriarchate. This was announced by Patriarch Daniel of Romania during a festive prayer service on January 1, 2025. The anniversary will be accompanied by the canonization of Romanian saints of the 20th century and the great consecration of the National Cathedral in Bucharest. An important event will be the declaration of 2025 as the Year of Remembrance for Romanian New Martyrs and Confessors who suffered persecution during the communist period. In his sermon on January 1, Patriarch Daniel emphasized that the anniversary is not only a celebration but also a reminder of the spiritual responsibility to future generations.