Weekly Review of Orthodox Church News

Covering both Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches worldwide

Week of 21–28 March 2026

Editorial Note

This is the second edition of the Weekly Orthodox News Review. The first edition (21 March 2026) covered events up to and including 20–21 March. Stories already reported there are not repeated here unless genuinely new developments have occurred, in which case they are explicitly framed as continuations. The present week falls in the fifth week of Great Lent (Eastern calendar) and is dominated by the aftermath of two patriarchal deaths, a major liturgical anniversary at the Phanar, escalating concerns about the Holy Land ahead of Holy Week, and a devastating attack on historic religious heritage in Lviv. Sources have been consulted in English, French, Greek, Russian, Ukrainian, and Romanian; languages of original reporting are noted where relevant. Orthodox Pascha falls on 12 April 2026.

1. Top Stories of the Week

Funeral of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II and the Beginning of the Georgian Succession

Following last week’s report on the repose of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia on 17 March, the focus this week shifted to his state funeral and the formal opening of the patriarchal succession process.

The body of Patriarch Ilia II lay in state at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (Sameba) in Tbilisi from Wednesday, 18 March, drawing tens of thousands of Georgian citizens. The funeral service was held on Sunday, 22 March, at Sameba, and Ilia II was laid to rest at the historic Sioni Cathedral. The gathering of Orthodox primates was exceptional: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople was present in person, as was Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria, a delegation from the Romanian Patriarchate led by Metropolitan Ioan of Banat, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of the Orthodox Church in America (who had travelled to Tbilisi with Bishop Vasily of San Francisco on 21 March), and representatives of other autocephalous churches. President Salome Zourabichvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, and the Speaker of Parliament were also present. Pope Francis sent a message of condolences (Vatican News, English).

Metropolitan Shio Mujiri, who assumed the role of Locum Tenens, has confirmed the formal start of the election procedure. Under Georgian canon law, the new Catholicos-Patriarch must be an ethnic Georgian, a monk aged 40–70, a bishop of the Georgian Orthodox Church with theological education and administrative experience. The election must take place no earlier than 40 days and no later than two months after the Patriarch’s repose — placing the deadline at approximately mid-to-late May 2026. Thirty-nine bishops vote; a minimum of 20 votes are required for election in the first round.

Metropolitan Shio is widely regarded as the frontrunner. However, his election is increasingly controversial: analysts at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace warn that he is prone to harsh anti-Western rhetoric and frequent criticism of what he terms “liberal ideologies,” raising fears that the Georgian church could become an instrument of ultraconservative political forces rather than the unifying national institution it has been under Ilia II. Prime Minister Kobakhidze stated publicly that the government would not interfere in the election, while simultaneously accusing NGOs and opposition forces of attempting to destabilize the church environment (Carnegie Endowment, English; Jam News, English).

Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria, who attended the funeral, subsequently visited the Monastery of Saint Gabriel Urgebadze and met with members of the Holy Synod of the Georgian Patriarchate. He described Ilia II as “a true man of God” and “a great blessing for the Georgian nation” (Orthodoxia News Agency, Greek).

Election of a New Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church — Kyiv Patriarchate

Following last week’s report on the death of Patriarch Filaret (Denysenko) on 20 March, a gathering of seven to eight hierarchs of the unrecognised Ukrainian Orthodox Church — Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) elected Archbishop Nykodym of Sumy and Okhtyrka (secular name Volodymyr Kobzar) as their new head, in a session held partly in person and partly via videoconference on the evening of 20 March and morning of 21 March. The election was announced publicly on 21 March.

President Zelensky and his wife Olena attended the farewell ceremony for Patriarch Filaret at St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral in Kyiv on 21 March. Zelensky described Filaret as “one of the most steadfast defenders of the Ukrainian church, independence and statehood.” The burial took place at St. Michael’s Monastery.

The election of Nykodym, however, is disputed. Archbishop Andrii of Bila Tserkva refused to participate, citing violations of the UOC-KP’s own procedures and statutes. Only seven or eight hierarchs took part. Russian and Ukrainian media have pointed out that the legal entity bearing the name “Ukrainian Orthodox Church — Kyiv Patriarchate” was dissolved under Ukrainian law and cannot lawfully use that designation. As in previous years, no canonical Orthodox church recognises the body (Kyiv Independent, English; NV, Ukrainian; Ukrainska Pravda, Ukrainian; UkrNews, Ukrainian).

Background information — The vast majority of the UOC-KP’s original infrastructure and clergy merged into the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) in late 2018. However, Filaret grew dissatisfied with the terms of the “Tomos” (the decree of independence), which he felt gave Constantinople too much control. He “restored” the Kyiv Patriarchate as a separate entity in June 2019, leading to his exclusion from the OCU leadership. The UOC-KP currently holds only about 120–150 active parishes—mostly in rural Sumy and Kyiv regions—compared to the OCU’s 9,000.

1,400th Anniversary of the Akathist Hymn Celebrated at the Phanar

On Friday, 27 March 2026, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I presided over the solemn service of the Akathist Hymn at the Patriarchal Church of St. George in the Phanar (Istanbul), marking the 1,400th anniversary of the first solemn chanting of this great Marian hymn. According to tradition, the hymn was sung for the first time in 626 AD as a thanksgiving for the miraculous deliverance of Constantinople from a joint Persian and Avar siege.

On 26 March, the Ecumenical Patriarch delivered the opening address at a scholarly conference at the Phanar dedicated to the anniversary, describing the Akathist as “a majestic ode to freedom.” The following day, the Phanar issued a Patriarchal and Synodical Encyclical marking the 1,400th anniversary, calling on all Orthodox Christians to deepen their veneration of the Theotokos. Patriarch Bartholomew had already declared 2026 a jubilee year of the Akathist Hymn. In Kyiv, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine also celebrated the Akathist at the Cathedral of St. Sophia on 27 March, with Metropolitan Epifaniy presiding (OCU website, Ukrainian; Orthodox Times, English; Orthodox Observer, English).

Holy Light Ceremony in Growing Jeopardy Ahead of Pascha

Following last week’s report on the closure of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the uncertainty surrounding the annual Holy Light ceremony has deepened significantly during the week of 21–28 March. Israeli police confirmed that the government does not intend to grant permission for the ceremony to take place at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Old City of Jerusalem remains under severe restrictions; entry is limited, and monasteries and museums have suspended operations.

Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Loverdos publicly committed to leading the Greek delegation to Jerusalem personally, and stated: “Our intention — and my personal goal — is to be there, to attend the Holy Ceremony of the Light, to receive it from the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and to bring it back to Greece.” Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is exploring multiple contingency plans, including special flights, coordination with third countries, and emergency logistical solutions. The overlap of Orthodox Easter (12 April) and Jewish Passover further complicates arrangements.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem has also announced that Holy Week processions, traditionally marking Palm Sunday and other days, cannot proceed as normal. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem separately cancelled its Palm Sunday procession and postponed its Chrism Mass, citing the war (Catholic Review, English; National Catholic Register, English). Cardinal Pizzaballa called on the international community to protect Christian rites in the Holy Land (Vatican News, English). The situation is without precedent in living memory (Greek City Times, English; Greek Reporter, English; Parapolitika, Greek).

Russian Drone Strike on Historic Monastery in Lviv

On the night of 24–25 March 2026, a Russian drone strike hit the 17th-century Bernardine Church and Monastery in central Lviv, part of a massive aerial assault described as one of the largest since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The Bernardine complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of the city and today houses the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine in Lviv. Nineteen people were injured in Lviv. Four of the church’s sixteen stained-glass windows were shattered; a nearby residential building sustained severe structural damage. An assessment by heritage experts found only minor direct damage to the church structure itself, but noted that irreplaceable historical features were lost.

The strike was described by Catholic World Report as targeting “the most historic church” attacked so far in the war. Over the course of the conflict, Russia has attacked approximately 600 religious buildings in Ukraine, completely destroying at least 53. The attack on the eve of the Annunciation (25 March) and during the last days before Holy Week drew particular outrage from religious and heritage communities worldwide (Catholic World Report, English; The Art Newspaper, English; Ukrainska Pravda, English; Fire Risk Heritage, English).

2. Eastern Orthodox News

Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople

The primary event this week was the 1,400th anniversary of the Akathist Hymn, fully described in the Top Stories section.

On 25 March, the Feast of the Annunciation and Greek National Day, Patriarch Bartholomew attended the reception at the Sismanoglio Palace (the Greek Consulate General in Constantinople) hosted by Consul General Konstantinos Koutras. The Ecumenical Patriarch delivered a statement for the feast.

Note: Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit to Ankara on 10 March and the reception of the Ecumenical Patriarchate delegation by Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria on 12 March were reported in last week’s edition. No new developments on those matters were recorded this week.

Patriarchate of Moscow / Russian Orthodox Church

The Holy Synod meeting of 12 March, the 50th anniversary of Patriarch Kirill’s episcopal ordination, and Patriarch Porfirije’s congratulatory message were all reported in last week’s edition.

New appointments from the March 12 Synod: The full details of the Synod’s decisions, which were not available in complete form at the time of last week’s edition, are as follows. The Synod dismissed Bishop Seraphim of Istra from the chairmanship of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs and appointed Hieromonk Filaret (Zubov), a lecturer at the Moscow Theological Academy, as acting head of the department. Metropolitan Nikodim of Novosibirsk and Berdsk was appointed Metropolitan of Ryazan and Mikhailov. Bishop Bartholomew of Balakovo was appointed Metropolitan of Novosibirsk and Berdsk. Bishop Innokenty of Ussuriysk was appointed Bishop of Balakovo. Metropolitan Nestor was appointed Bishop of Stupino, a vicar of the Korsun Diocese. Archimandrite Filaret (Bulekov) was dismissed as deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations. A new Russian Orthodox parish was established in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Two saints of the Serbian Orthodox Church were added to the Russian church calendar (Patriarchia.ru, Russian; Orthodoxie.com, French).

Western Europe restructuring: The Synod entrusted Metropolitan Mark with temporary administration of the Spanish-Portuguese Diocese and Moscow Patriarchate parishes in Italy — a significant development for Orthodox communities in Southern Europe (Orthodoxie.com, French).

On 22 March, Patriarch Kirill congratulated Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem on his name day.

Georgian Orthodox Church

The succession question following the death of Patriarch Ilia II (17 March) is the dominant story; see Top Stories section and Section 6 for full analysis.

Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU)

Metropolitan Epifaniy continued his Lenten pastoral activities. On 27 March, he presided over the service of the Akathist Hymn at the Cathedral of St. Sophia in Kyiv, marking the 1,400th anniversary alongside the Phanar’s celebrations. No major new institutional developments were reported for the OCU this week beyond those noted under Top Stories.

Ukrainian Orthodox Church — Kyiv Patriarchate (unrecognised)

The election of Archbishop Nykodym as the new head of the UOC-KP is described in the Top Stories section.

Patriarchate of Jerusalem

The Holy Synod meeting of 12 March was reported in last week’s edition.

Developments this week concerned entirely the crisis over Holy Week celebrations and the Holy Light ceremony; see Top Stories section. The Jerusalem Patriarchate has confirmed that it cannot hold its normal Holy Week processions.

Patriarchate of Antioch

Patriarch John X’s peace appeals of 7 March and the Feast of the Cross liturgy of 15 March were reported in last week’s edition. No major new developments this week.

Patriarchate of Alexandria

Patriarch Theodore II’s visit to the Governor of Alexandria on 11 March and the pastoral visit to Nigeria on 1 March were reported in last week’s edition. No major new developments this week.

Romanian Orthodox Church

Bishop Macarie Baptises in Greenland: On Thursday, 19 March, Bishop Macarie Drăgoi of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe baptised an eighteen-year-old Greenlander, Cleopas Qillaq, who had been moved to seek baptism after reading the writings of the Romanian monastic saint Venerable Cleopas of Sihăstria and wished to bear his name. The bishop undertook a week-long missionary visit to Greenland, celebrating the Divine Liturgy and administering sacraments “among glaciers and vast stretches of snow and ice.” Romanian-language Orthodox media gave the story wide coverage as a vivid example of contemporary Orthodox mission in the Arctic (Basilica.ro, English and Romanian).

March for Life (28 March): The annual March for Life was held today (Saturday, 28 March) in Bucharest and across Romania and the Republic of Moldova, under the theme “Solidarity for Both” — for the mother and the unborn child. Patriarch Daniel actively promoted the event, linking it to the Feast of the Annunciation on 25 March and to the Church’s pastoral concern for family life (Basilica.ro, English).

The meeting with US Ambassador Nirenberg on 18 March was reported in last week’s edition.

Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria attended the funeral of Patriarch Ilia II in Tbilisi; his activities there are described under Top Stories.

Serbian Orthodox Church

The Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America held its annual Diocesan Assembly on 24 March 2026, adopting resolutions for the year (Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America website, English).

In Kosovo, administrative pressure on Serbian Orthodox Church facilities continues: Pristina authorities are reportedly impeding the construction of monastic cells at the Gračanica Monastery. This is a continuation of the situation reported in last week’s edition.

Church of Greece

The Church of Greece expressed mounting concern about the Holy Light situation throughout the week. Celebrations of the Greek National Day (25 March) and the Feast of the Annunciation proceeded normally in Greece and the Greek diaspora.

Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America participated in White House celebrations of Greek Independence Day on 25–26 March, delivering remarks and giving a homily for the Feast of the Annunciation. The White House celebration was attended by members of the Hellenic-American community.

3. Oriental Orthodox News

Armenian Apostolic Church

The deepening church-state crisis — including the detention of Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, raids on the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and the WCC’s formal statement of concern — was covered in last week’s edition.

New development this week: Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated on 19 March that the proposed draft constitution retains explicit mention of the Armenian Apostolic Church, countering persistent rumours that the reference would be removed. This was welcomed as a partial concession, though the broader confrontation between the government and church leadership continues unresolved (Armenpress, English; Armenian Weekly, English).

Diocesan leadership change: By order dated 16 March, Archbishop Abraham Mkrtchyan was relieved as Primate of the Diocese of Vayots Dzor and retired. Bishop Makar Hakobyan, Primate of the Diocese of Syunik, was concurrently appointed Locum Tenens of Vayots Dzor.

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

The deaths of Memhir Zelalem Wondimu and of 34 Orthodox Christians in the Shirka district (bringing the 2026 total there to 164) were reported in last week’s edition.

No new institutional developments were reported from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church this week in the international press.

Coptic Orthodox Church

No major news from the Coptic Patriarchate this week beyond regular diocesan and parish activities during the Lenten fast. The activities of Pope Tawadros II in early March and Metropolitan Serapion’s meeting with deacons (14 March) were covered last week.

Syriac Orthodox Church

The precarious situation for Syriac Orthodox communities in Syria and Patriarch Bartholomew’s call to Patriarch John X of Antioch (8 March) were reported in last week’s edition.

No new developments this week.

Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III’s congratulations to Pope Leo XIV were reported in last week’s edition. No new developments this week.

Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church

No major news reported this week.

4. Orthodox Churches in the Diaspora and Mission Fields

North America

The OCA Metropolitan Council spring session (10–12 March), the Assembly of Bishops’ Sunday of Orthodoxy Encyclical (1 March), and the conference on Archbishop Anastasios at HCHC (2–4 March) were reported in last week’s edition.

Metropolitan Tikhon at Patriarch Ilia II’s Funeral: His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of the OCA attended the funeral of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II in Tbilisi on 22 March, accompanied by Bishop Vasily of San Francisco and the West. This represented a significant gesture of inter-Orthodox solidarity (Diocese of the West, OCA; Bishop Vasily’s statement, English).

Artificial Intelligence: Metropolitan Tikhon addressed the theological dimensions of artificial intelligence in the context of the OCA’s spring session, observing that “the singular emphasis of the AI enterprise is on the cognitive work of the brain and the intellect — and as we know, machines cannot pray.” This coincides with growing Orthodox theological reflection on AI (see Section 6).

Western Europe

ROCOR Youth Congress in Lyon: The Diocese of Western Europe of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) held a Youth Congress in Lyon, France, in March 2026 (Orthodoxie.com, French).

France — Metropolis of France: The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of France held its fifth Saint-Stéphane Encounter on 17 March, featuring a conference on the life and theology of Elder Sophrony of Essex (Orthodoxie.com, French).

Greenland — Romanian Mission

Bishop Macarie’s baptism of Cleopas Qillaq in Greenland on 19 March is described in Section 2 under Romanian Orthodox Church.

Africa — Russian Orthodox Recruitment Scandal: Ongoing Coverage

Last week’s edition reported that Metropolitan Konstantin of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa denied recruitment allegations on 3–4 March, calling them “lies and slander.”

New developments this week: Chatham House published a detailed analysis in March 2026 documenting the systematic nature of the recruitment, including Patriarch Kirill’s televised statement that those who disagree with the government’s military actions are “traitors to the Motherland.” Kenya’s National Intelligence Service has confirmed that more than 1,000 Kenyan citizens have been recruited through Russian Orthodox Church networks, with at least 89 on the front lines as of early 2026. The death of at least one recruit — Charles Waithaka Wangari, 31, who was conscripted shortly after arriving in Russia on a tourist visa — has been documented. The scheme exploits the Russian Orthodox Church’s rapid expansion in Africa since the establishment of the Patriarchal Exarchate in 2021, through which over 200 parishes have been created in 25 countries (Chatham House, English; Religion News Service, English; Meduza, English; Jamestown Foundation, English).

5. Ecumenical and Inter-Orthodox Relations

Funeral of Patriarch Ilia II as an Inter-Orthodox Gathering

The funeral on 22 March brought together Orthodox primates and representatives in a moment of shared grief that temporarily transcended the institutional tensions fracturing the Orthodox world. The presence of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew alongside representatives from multiple autocephalous churches provided a rare image of inter-Orthodox communion at the highest level. Notably, no representative of the Russian Orthodox Church was prominently identified in international coverage among the mourners, though this may reflect limitations of available reporting rather than confirmed absence.

Ecumenical Patriarch at the Phanar and Greek Independence Day

The Phanar’s commemoration of the Akathist Hymn anniversary on 26–27 March was both a liturgical and an ecumenical statement. Patriarch Bartholomew’s characterisation of the hymn as “a majestic ode to freedom” — composed during the 626 AD siege of Constantinople — resonates with pointed symbolic force in a year when Orthodox communities face military and political pressure across multiple fronts.

Holy Land Crisis and Christian Solidarity

The inability of the Christian communities in Jerusalem to celebrate Holy Week normally has drawn expressions of solidarity from across confessional lines. The cancellation of both the Latin Patriarchate’s Palm Sunday procession and the Greek Orthodox processions, combined with the potential loss of the Holy Light ceremony, represents a profound common wound for Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, Catholic, and other Christian traditions alike. Cardinal Pizzaballa’s calls for international protection of Christian rites in the Holy Land reflect a broadly ecumenical concern (Vatican News, English).

Catholic-Orthodox Relations

The 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea as a backdrop for Catholic-Orthodox dialogue, and the pilgrimage by Pope Leo XIV and Patriarch Bartholomew to Lake Iznik in late 2025, were reported in last week’s edition. No major new bilateral developments this week.

6. Trends, Emergent Issues, and Debates

The Georgian Succession: A Defining Moment for a Nation’s Church

The formal opening of the electoral process for a new Catholicos-Patriarch is the most consequential institutional development in the Orthodox world this week. At stake is not merely the leadership of one autocephalous church, but the role of that church in Georgian society and politics. Under Ilia II, the Georgian Orthodox Church was a genuine national unifier — simultaneously conservative in its theology and broadly inclusive in its public role. The risk identified by multiple analysts is that under Metropolitan Shio, the church could become the vehicle for a narrow ultraconservative political agenda at a moment when Georgia’s direction — towards Europe or towards Russia — is itself deeply contested.

The process also raises questions about the relationship between church and state more broadly. Georgia’s government is walking a fine line: insisting on non-interference while clearly watching the process closely. The outcome will be felt well beyond church circles.

The Russian Orthodox Church, the War, and the Instrumentalisation of Religion

The Russian Orthodox Church’s involvement in recruiting Kenyan citizens for combat in Ukraine represents the most dramatic escalation to date in the weaponisation of ecclesiastical networks for geopolitical ends. The denial issued last week by Metropolitan Konstantin of the Exarchate in Africa has now been directly contradicted by intelligence service reports, investigative journalism, and documented deaths. The Chatham House analysis identifies this as part of a systemic pattern, in which the Moscow Patriarchate has effectively become an instrument of state policy — not just in rhetoric but in logistical support for military recruitment.

This trend is generating a two-fold crisis: externally, it is destroying whatever residual goodwill Russia’s African church expansion had built; internally, as Chatham House documents, it is accelerating the decline of public trust in the Russian Orthodox Church within Russia itself.

The Holy Light — Sacred Ritual in an Age of Warfare

The near-impossibility of conducting the Holy Light ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre this year crystallises a broader truth: the most ancient Christian holy places and rituals are not immune to the logic of contemporary warfare. What makes this especially significant for Orthodox Christians is the theological weight of the Holy Light ceremony — its interruption is not merely logistical but touches the very heart of the paschal faith. Greek government contingency planning, while admirable, cannot substitute for the actual ceremony at the actual Tomb.

Artificial Intelligence and Orthodox Theology

A notable strand of Orthodox theological commentary this week focused on artificial intelligence. Public Orthodoxy (Fordham University) published on 18 March an essay titled “Artificial Intelligence and Absolute Vulnerability,” exploring the imago Dei in the context of machine intelligence — what it means to be made in God’s image when machines can replicate cognitive functions. Metropolitan Tikhon’s remark that “machines cannot pray” captures a pastoral Orthodox perspective. Taken together, these contributions reflect a growing sense within Orthodox theological circles that AI poses questions that demand specifically theological (not merely ethical or philosophical) responses. No major conciliar body has yet issued an authoritative statement.

Akathist Hymn Anniversary: Tradition as Witness

The 1,400th anniversary of the Akathist Hymn, marked with the full solemnity of a Patriarchal and Synodical Encyclical, is more than a liturgical milestone. Patriarch Bartholomew’s choice of the word “freedom” as the key interpretive category — the Akathist as an “ode to freedom” — constitutes a theological and implicitly political statement. The hymn was born from a moment of existential threat to the city that remains, symbolically, the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. In 2026, that symbolic resonance is unmistakeable.

7. New Academic Literature

The following scholarly publications have recently appeared or were identified during this week’s research. This section focuses on works published in 2026, in multiple languages.

Kaminis, Ioannis . “Orthodox Dogmatic Teaching and Its Varieties in the Development of Modern Greek Theology.” Religions (MDPI), vol. 17, no. 3, article 356. Published 13 March 2026. DOI: 10.3390/rel17030356.

A peer-reviewed survey of the evolution of modern Greek Orthodox dogmatic theology, tracing the path from early twentieth-century scholasticism through the neo-patristic renewal of the 1960s–1980s to the diverse contemporary landscape. Key figures discussed include Panagiotes Trembelas, John Romanides, Christos Yannaras, and John Zizioulas. The article analyses how Greek theology encountered Russian émigré thought post-WWII and how the rediscovery of the Palamite tradition gave rise to multiple theological trajectories. An important reference for understanding the current intellectual landscape of Orthodox theology. Open access, English.

Öztürk, Gül Mükerrem. “Silent Witness as Civic Theology: Zurab Kiknadze and the Ethics of Public Religion in Post-Soviet Georgia.” Societies (MDPI), vol. 16, no. 1, article 30. Published 15 January 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16010030

Particularly timely given the current Georgian patriarchal succession debate, this article explores a non-instrumental, ethics-based conception of public religion through the thought of Georgian Orthodox thinker Zurab Kiknadze. It offers conceptual tools for thinking about how religious institutions can engage civil society without becoming vehicles of political power — a directly relevant framework for understanding the stakes of the Georgian succession. Open access, English.

“Artificial Intelligence and Absolute Vulnerability.” Essay. Public Orthodoxy (Orthodox Christian Studies Center, Fordham University). Published 18 March 2026. URL: https://publicorthodoxy.org/2026/03/18/artificial-intelligence-and-absolute-vulnerability/.

A theological essay exploring AI in relation to human vulnerability and the imago Dei. Not peer-reviewed in the academic sense but published by the leading Orthodox theological commentary forum, which exercises editorial selectivity. Represents emerging Orthodox public theology engaging directly with technology ethics. Open access, English.

For reference from last week’s edition (not repeated in full; see 21 March 2026 review):

Lukasik, Candace, and Sarah Riccardi-Swartz, eds. Anthropologies of Orthodox Christianity: Theology, Politics, Ethics. Fordham University Press, 2025. A panel discussion on this volume is scheduled for 30 March 2026 (online/Zoom).
Journal of Orthodox Christian Studies (Johns Hopkins University Press / Fordham), International Journal of Orthodox Theology (IJOT), Salt: Crossroads of Religion and Culture (OCMC missiological journal), and St. Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly continue to publish. Specific 2026 issue contents were not confirmed this week.

Note on non-English publications: Researchers are directed to Θεολογία (Athens), Revue des sciences religieuses (Strasbourg), Teologie şi Viaţă (Romanian), Pravmir.ru (Russian theological commentary), and the Serbian Orthodox Church publishing house catalogue for current work in those languages. Specific 2026 titles in these languages were not confirmed this week.

Sources

English-language

Greek-language

French-language

Russian-language

Ukrainian-language

Romanian-language

Basilica.ro

This review was compiled on 28 March 2026. Every effort has been made to cross-reference reports across multiple languages and sources. Events described as new are confirmed from the sources cited; previously-reported stories are explicitly flagged as continuations.

This text was generated by Claude (Anthropic), Claude Opus 4.6, on March 21, 2026. It has been edited by Jean-François Mayer — Orthodox.News. https://claude.ai