Learning about God from dogs: Orthodox monks breed and train canines in upstate New York monastery
GIOVANNA DELL’ORTO, of Associated Press, visits the monks of New Skete in upstate New York…
In Spain, nuns quench pilgrims’ thirst for beer and the word of God
Vitoria, Spain Reuters A congregation of Catholic nuns has reopened a bar in an ancient sanctuary in northern Spain, pulling pints of beer in the hopes of spreading the word of God to thirsty guests visiting the 11th-century Romanesque site. “I think plenty of people would think it’s unusual, because they’ve never seen it. But you know, […]
Battle over ownership of Ukrainian monastery heats up again
RNS Orthodox Christians who support their church’s historic ties to Moscow prevented the Ukrainian government from taking possession of several buildings at the Monastery of the Caves complex in Kyiv on Tuesday, with dozens of protesters surrounding the entrance and blocking officials from entering. The fate of the 1,000-year-old Pechersk Lavra complex has been in […]
At least 22 people killed in suspected massacre at Myanmar monastery
Reuters At least 22 people, including three Buddhist monks, were shot dead at close range in central Myanmar last week, according to a doctor’s post-mortem report, in what opponents of military rule say was a massacre of civilians conducted by the army. A spokesman for Myanmar’s junta, which staged a coup two years ago to […]
Russian Orthodox head appeals against eviction of church from Kyiv
Reuters Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, on Saturday asked Pope Francis and other religious leaders to persuade Ukraine to stop a crackdown against a historically Russian-aligned wing of the church. Kyiv on Friday ordered the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to leave a monastery complex where it is based, the latest move against a […]
Nuns, friars partner to explore future for iconic shuttered Hollywood monastery
Los Angeles, US RNS For nearly a century, the Monastery of the Angels in the Hollywood Hills served as home to a community of cloistered Dominican nuns who devoted their lives to study Scripture and to pray for those who came to them for guidance and penance. But the community dwindled as the nuns aged […]
Ukrainian security service accuses Orthodox cleric of supporting Russia
Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters Ukraine’s SBU security service accused a senior Orthodox Christian cleric on Friday of engaging in anti-Ukrainian activity by supporting Russian policies in social media posts. The announcement followed a series of raids of property used by a Ukrainian branch of the Orthodox Church that is historically tied to Russia and has come […]
Demand by Orthodox Church of Ukraine over monastery could widen rift
Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters The Orthodox Church of Ukraine is seeking permission from the government to take over a building on the grounds of a historic monastery in Kyiv, a move likely to widen a rift with a separate Ukrainian church that adheres to Moscow. The sprawling Kyiv Pechersk Lavra complex is a Ukrainian cultural treasure […]
Expanding horizons: In a rare move, Catholic nuns set out to build a new monastery
KATELYN FERRAL, writing for Religion News Service, reports on how, amid declines in people attending church, one small community of religious sisters is growing so much they are fundraising to build a bigger home…
Russian monk denying coronavirus takes control of monastery
Moscow, Russia AP A rebellious Russian monk who has denied the coronavirus’ existence and urged believers to ignore the Kremlin’s lockdown orders has taken control of a monastery in the Ural Mountains. Fr Sergiy showed up Tuesday at the Sredneuralsk women’s monastery that he had founded years ago and took charge. Scores of volunteers, including […]