Covering both Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches worldwide
Week of 19–25 April 2026
1. Top Stories of the Week
Georgian Patriarchal Election Enters Decisive Phase
The succession process for the late Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia reached a critical juncture this week. On 24 April — the 40th day since Ilia II’s funeral on 22 March — the Holy Synod convened at the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba) in Tbilisi. However, the session was devoted entirely to resolving procedural matters rather than selecting candidates. The triprosopon (the shortlist of three candidates from which the new Patriarch will be elected) is now scheduled to be drawn up on 28 April at 12:00. Under the statute of the Georgian Church, the election must take place no earlier than 40 days and no later than 60 days after the death of the previous Patriarch — that is, between 25 April and 17 May. (Orthodox Times, Orthodox Times, Georgia Today)
Several candidates face eligibility questions. Metropolitan Daniel of Sachkhere and Chiatura turns 71 on 29 May, while the statute requires candidates to be between 40 and 70 years old. Metropolitan Isaiah of Tskhinvali lacks a formal theology degree, though the statute does not specify how theological education must be demonstrated. Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, the locum tenens, remains the front-runner with reported commitments from 10–12 hierarchs. (Orthodox Times, Wikipedia)
The election continues to attract geopolitical attention. Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) had previously accused Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of attempting to manipulate the election by promoting Metropolitan Abraham of Western Europe and Metropolitan Grigoli of Poti and Khobi — a claim undermined by the fact that Metropolitan Abraham, at 78, exceeds the age limit. (Orthodox Times, Jamestown Foundation)
Azerbaijan Destroys Armenian Churches in Stepanakert
In a development that drew widespread international condemnation, satellite imagery confirmed that the Holy Mother of God Cathedral in occupied Stepanakert — the largest church in Artsakh — was demolished by Azerbaijani authorities. Researchers from Caucasus Heritage Watch, comparing Sentinel-2 satellite images from 3 March and 2 April, pinpointed the destruction. The cathedral, whose foundation stone was laid in 2006 by Catholicos Karekin II and consecrated in 2019 after twelve years of construction, stood 35 metres tall with a 24-metre bell tower. Its demolition came just days after the razing of Stepanakert’s St. Hakob Church, forming part of what Armenian organisations describe as a systematic campaign to erase Armenian cultural presence in Artsakh. The timing — on the eve of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide — was widely noted. (Armenian Weekly, Armenian Mirror-Spectator, Hyperallergic)
Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, former Primate of the Artsakh Diocese, issued an open letter addressed to Pope Francis, US senators, UNESCO, and the World Council of Churches, declaring that “silence is a crime” and calling on Armenians worldwide to raise the issue of heritage destruction. (Pravda Armenia, PanARMENIAN.Net)
Kirill and Lavrov Attack Ecumenical Patriarch at Paschal Reception
At the official Paschal reception held on 22 April at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov jointly launched a renewed attack on Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Kirill accused the Phanar of interference in the ecclesiastical life of Ukraine. Lavrov went further, telling the assembled diplomats and church hierarchs that “Constantinople’s movements, which are being manipulated directly by Washington, have nothing in common with the ideals of Orthodoxy.” The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate issued a formal response decrying what they called a “scathing Russian attack.” (Orthodox Times, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, NV Ukraine)
Pope Tawadros II Arrives in Constantinople for Official Visit
Pope Tawadros II, Pope and Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, accompanied by his entourage, arrived in Constantinople on Saturday, 25 April, at 6:30 p.m. for an official visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The visit — announced by the Ecumenical Patriarchate on 22 April — represents a significant ecumenical moment between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The programme includes a co-celebrated Divine Liturgy at which Metropolitan Alexios of Dryinoupolis, Pogoniani, and Konitsa will deliver the sermon, followed by an exchange of official addresses between the two primates. The visit had been in preparation since at least 13 April, when the Egyptian Ambassador to Ankara visited the Phanar to discuss details. (Ecumenical Patriarchate, Orthodox Times)
Israeli Soldiers Jailed for Destroying Crucifix in Lebanon
An image uploaded to social media on 19 April showing an IDF soldier using a sledgehammer to smash a statue of the crucified Christ in the southern Lebanese village of Debel sparked international outrage. The IDF confirmed the image’s authenticity and removed both soldiers involved — one who destroyed the crucifix and one who photographed it — from combat duty. On 21 April, the two were sentenced to 30 days of military detention. The IDF subsequently worked with the local community to replace the figure, and Italy also sent a replacement crucifix installed by an Italian peacekeeper. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the act “in the strongest terms,” calling it “stunning and saddening.” Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, called the destruction “a grave affront to the Christian faith” in a statement on behalf of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land. The World Council of Churches issued a statement expressing deep grief, with General Secretary Dr Jerry Pillay denouncing “this affront to the dignity and feelings of Christians everywhere” and placing the incident in the broader context of what the Rossing Center has described as a “recent surge in overt animosity towards Christianity” in the region, linked to ultra-nationalist political trends. Pillay called for an end to Israeli military action in Lebanon and the swift withdrawal of troops from the south. Some 150 Jewish leaders also issued a public letter condemning the desecration. The incident was noted in the Orthodox world by the Union of Orthodox Journalists and other outlets, though no formal condemnation from an Orthodox patriarch has been identified in available sources. (Times of Israel, CNN, Al Jazeera, WCC, SPZH, Jerusalem Post)
2. Eastern Orthodox News
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Patriarch Bartholomew on Muslim Conversions to Orthodoxy. Speaking at the Phanar, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew revealed that Muslims are voluntarily converting to Orthodox Christianity in notable numbers. He stressed that the Church rejects proselytism but “will not turn away those who come of their own free will,” describing the phenomenon as particularly prevalent among young, educated seekers who “feel an inner void that they find filled in Christianity, and specifically in Orthodoxy.” He added that “the Church is in no hurry to rush anyone to baptism,” indicating a measured approach to the conversion process. (Neos Kosmos)
Preparations for Tawadros Visit. The Ecumenical Patriarchate formally announced Pope Tawadros II’s official visit on 22 April, with the Coptic Patriarch arriving on 25 April (see Top Stories above).
Patriarchate of Antioch
Patriarch John X’s Pastoral Visit to Turkey. In a multi-day visit to the region devastated by the February 2023 earthquake, Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East conducted a series of pastoral and diplomatic engagements in southern Turkey between 21 and 24 April:
On 21 April, the Patriarch visited the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Antioch (Antakya), which remains in ruins from the earthquake. Deeply moved, he addressed the gathered faithful, expressing hope for the historic church’s restoration and held a memorial service for parishioners killed in the disaster. He also visited the Governor of Hatay, Mustafa Masatli, emphasising the importance of ordaining a local bishop for the region. (Orthodox Times, Orthodox Times)
On 23 April, the Patriarch led a thanksgiving prayer service in Arsuz at a prefabricated parish church within a housing complex built for displaced families. Metropolitan Athanasios Fahd of Latakia reflected on the Risen Christ’s presence among his disciples. The Patriarch told the faithful: “The Resurrection is an act of love, embrace, and shelter.” (Orthodox Times, SyriacPress)
On 24 April, the Patriarch met with Vahap Seçer, the Mayor of Mersin. He highlighted the ancient Antiochian Christian presence in the region, recalling that Metropolitan Alexandros Tahan was called Pastor of the Archdiocese of “Tarsus and Adana” in the early twentieth century before becoming Patriarch. (Orthodox Times)
New Diocese of Tarsus, Adana, and Alexandretta. The Patriarch announced that the Holy Synod of Antioch has approved the establishment of unified ecclesiastical administration in the Hatay region and elected Archimandrite Paul Orduluoğlu — a native of the area — as the new bishop. The approximately 11,000 faithful of the Antiochian Church in the area will now be served by a local hierarch. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew sent congratulations to the newly elected Bishop Paul. (Orthodox Times, Orthodox Times)
Moscow Patriarchate
Paschal Reception with Lavrov. As detailed in the Top Stories section, Patriarch Kirill joined Foreign Minister Lavrov at the 22 April Paschal reception in Moscow, using the occasion to attack the Ecumenical Patriarchate over Ukraine and to denounce what he described as “pressure on structures of the Moscow Patriarchate” in the Baltic states and Moldova, including through “legislation that intensifies discrimination.”
Russian Orthodox Exarchate of Africa. The Moscow Patriarchate’s African Exarchate continues to expand. According to recent reports, the Exarchate now claims approximately 350 parishes in 36 countries, with 262 clergy serving an estimated 35,000 faithful — up from four countries when the Exarchate was established in 2021. Sudan has become the latest focus: the country’s vice-president recently met with a representative of the Moscow Patriarchate to discuss interreligious ties and humanitarian programmes. (Pravda Sudan, Pravda Italy)
Church of Georgia
The Georgian patriarchal election process is covered in detail in the Top Stories section. In other news, the Georgian Patriarchate marked 40 days since the passing of Patriarch Ilia II on 25 April. An exhibition honouring the late Patriarch opened at Georgia’s National Archives. (Orthodox Times, Orthodox Times)
Serbian Orthodox Church
Patriarch Porfirije at Russian Honorary Consulate Inauguration. On 23 April, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije attended the inauguration of the Honorary Consulate of Russia in Novi Sad. The ceremony was also attended by Russia’s Ambassador to Serbia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko, and former minister Aleksandar Vulin. Dušan Bajatović, director of Srbijagas and senior official of the Socialist Party of Serbia, was appointed honorary consul. In his speech, Patriarch Porfirije spoke of the “deep connection” between Serbia and Russia, stating that “all people are created as beings of community, and what applies to individuals also applies to nations.” (Orthodox Times, Diplomacy & Commerce)
Visit to Milosevac Monastery. On 19 April (Thomas Sunday), Patriarch Porfirije visited the Monastery of Milosevac, where he was received by Metropolitan Jefrem of Banja Luka and Bishop Sava of Marča, the monastery’s abbot. The Patriarch spent the night at the monastery and participated in the Divine Liturgy the following morning. (Orthodox Times)
Romanian Orthodox Church
First Synaxis of Romanian Women Saints. The Romanian Orthodox Church celebrated the inaugural liturgical observance of the Synaxis of Romanian Women Saints on the third Sunday after Pascha (also the Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women). This new feast follows the Holy Synod’s canonisation of sixteen Romanian women — including martyrs, nuns, and mothers of saints — whose solemn proclamation took place on 6 February 2026 at the Patriarchal Cathedral. The icon for the feast depicts four groups: martyrs, monastics, simple women of the faithful, and noblewomen. The year 2026 has been designated by the Holy Synod as the Commemorative Year of Holy Women. (Orthodox Times, Basilica.ro)
Relics of St George from Mount Athos. The honourable skull of the Holy Great Martyr George the Trophy-bearer was brought from Xenophontos Monastery on Mount Athos to the Pantocrator Monastery in Teleorman County, southern Romania, for veneration between 22 and 28 April. The relic was carried by an Athonite delegation led by Archimandrite Alexios, abbot of Xenophontos. This marked the first time the relic has been brought to Romania. During the night of 22–23 April, Bishop Nectarie of Ireland and Iceland officiated a vigil service in honour of the saint. On 26 April, Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veria, Naoussa, and Kampania was invited to officiate at the Pantocrator Monastery. (Basilica.ro, Basilica.ro)
Bulgarian Orthodox Church
Holy Synod Upholds Defrocking of Sliven Priest. At its session on 2 April, the Holy Synod examined appeals submitted by Deacon Ivan Yankov Ivanov, a parish priest at the Holy Trinity Church in Sliven, against his defrocking (without excommunication) imposed on 11 February 2026 by the Sliven Diocesan Spiritual Court. The Diocesan Council had found “systemic and serious canonical violations” in Ivanov’s ministry and conduct, including breaches of apostolic and conciliar rules and provisions of the Church’s Bylaws, as well as refusal to comply with pastoral admonitions from his diocesan bishop, Metropolitan Arseny of Sliven. After reviewing the appeals, the Holy Synod found them to be without merit and upheld the defrocking. The case had attracted public attention in Sliven, where Ivanov’s parishioners organised a protest on social media and Ivanov himself described his defrocking as “a necessary sacrifice for starting a conversation in the Church.” (Orthodox Times, BTA, in Bulgarian, Dveri.bg, in Bulgarian)
Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU)
US Congressional Legislation. On 24 April, bipartisan, bicameral legislation — H.R. 8433, the “Countering Russia’s War on Faith Act” — was introduced in the US Congress by Representatives Marcy Kaptur, Joe Wilson, and Brian Fitzpatrick, with a Senate companion from Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and John Kennedy. The bill requires the Secretaries of State and Defense to jointly report on Russian efforts to persecute faith communities in Ukraine and occupied territories, and directs the President to impose sanctions on foreign individuals found to have engaged in these actions. The legislation notes that since 2022, more than 600 religious buildings have been damaged or destroyed and more than 50 Ukrainian clergy members have been killed. (Daily Caller, Kyiv Independent, Congresswoman Kaptur)
3. Oriental Orthodox News
Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Genocide Commemorations (24 April). Armenians worldwide marked the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on 24 April. In Istanbul, authorities banned the annual public commemoration for the fifth consecutive year, with the 24 April Memorial Platform denied permission to hold its event at the Kadıköy Süreyya Opera House. No official explanation was given. The Platform responded that “commemorating on 24 April is a democratic right.” In Armenia, a liturgy was held at Etchmiadzin in memory of the victims. In Moscow, Archbishop Ezras, head of the Russian and Novo-Nakhichevan Diocese, held a memorial service for the 1.5 million victims. Large-scale commemorations also took place across Southern California, with Los Angeles County proclaiming April 2026 as Armenian History Month for the tenth consecutive year. (SyriacPress, Stockholm Center for Freedom, ABC7 Los Angeles)
Deepening Church–State Crisis. Following last week’s report on the escalating confrontation between the Armenian government and the Armenian Apostolic Church, several new developments occurred this week:
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin disclosed that the head of the penitentiary service had “de facto terminated” the Church’s pastoral presence in prisons — an access explicitly protected under Armenian law (Article 10 of the law governing relations between the state and the Armenian Apostolic Church, and Article 17 of the law on freedom of conscience). At least two cases of denial of access to clergy have already been recorded. (Pravda Armenia)
Reports emerged that the government’s campaign against the Church is acquiring a transnational character, with attempts to challenge Church assets through foreign courts aimed at undermining the financial base and influence of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the diaspora. (Pravda Armenia)
Catholicos Karekin II met with approximately 650 young pilgrims at Holy Etchmiadzin, addressing the “difficult straits” facing the Church and recalling the criminal prosecution of bishops, obstacles to worship, and attempts to seize ancient churches and monasteries. (Armenian Mirror-Spectator)
Trump Administration and Genocide Recognition. President Trump declined for the sixth time to use the word “genocide” in the annual April 24 presidential statement, drawing criticism from the Armenian National Committee of America. Separately, a bipartisan group in Congress warned about the dangers of the Trump administration’s Armenia-Azerbaijan peace plan on the eve of Genocide Remembrance Day. (ANCA, National Law Review)
Coptic Orthodox Church
Pope Tawadros II’s Visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Pope Tawadros II arrived in Constantinople on 25 April for an official visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate (see Top Stories).
Holy Light Reception. On 18 April, Pope Tawadros II received the Priests and Servants of the Jerusalem Association at the Papal Residence in Cairo, who presented the Holy Light from Jerusalem to His Holiness. (MECC)
Syriac Orthodox Church
Patriarch Aphrem II Visits Catholicos Karekin II. On 20 April, Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II visited Catholicos Karekin II at his residence in Etchmiadzin, Armenia. Accompanied by Archbishop Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, the visit underscored the close fraternal bonds between the two Oriental Orthodox primates at a time when the Armenian Church faces mounting pressure from the Armenian government. (MECC)
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Catholicos Calls for Restraint After Fireworks Tragedy. Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, the supreme head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, issued a statement on 23 April calling on religious institutions and the public to exercise restraint and introspection in matters of celebration. The appeal followed explosions on 21 April at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Mundathikode, Kerala, which killed at least 15 people. The Catholicos urged that funds previously earmarked for fireworks at church festivals be redirected to charitable activities. Several parishes have already begun scaling back fireworks displays in response. (ProKerala, NewsDrum)
4. Orthodox Churches in the Diaspora & Mission Fields
North America
Surge in Orthodox Conversions at Pascha. Researchers estimate that 16,000–18,000 converts were received into Orthodoxy across the United States at Pascha 2026, representing approximately a 1% increase in the total American Orthodox population in just two weeks. Based on reports from approximately 225 parishes — nearly 10% of all Orthodox parishes in the country — along with diocesan data and historical trends, total 2026 conversions are projected to fall in the 20,000–30,000 range. A striking feature of the current conversion wave is the influx of young people aged 15–30. At the Antiochian cathedral in Brooklyn, New York, more than fifty university-age catechumens or recent converts of every race and background are now present. (OrthoChristian.com, Journey to Orthodoxy)
Europe
ROCOR Council of Bishops. The Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia is scheduled to begin on 29 April in Munich and continue through 5 May, followed by a conference on 6–8 May marking the 100th anniversary of the German Diocese.
Mass Baptisms in Finland. More than 200 people became Orthodox in Finland this spring, contributing to one of the largest conversion cohorts in the country’s recent history. (OrthoChristian.com)
Oceania and Asia-Pacific
Mass Baptisms. Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church (ROCOR) in Brisbane, Australia, baptised 32 people on Holy Saturday. In Vietnam, a mass baptism brought eight new members into the Church. (OrthoChristian.com)
Africa
Russian Exarchate Expansion. The Moscow Patriarchate’s Exarchate of Africa continues its expansion across the continent (see Moscow Patriarchate section above), now claiming 350 parishes in 36 countries with 262 clergy, up from four countries at the Exarchate’s founding in 2021. Sudan has emerged as the latest strategic focus.
5. Ecumenical and Inter-Orthodox Relations
Pope Tawadros II at the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The visit of the Coptic Pope to the Phanar beginning 25 April (see Top Stories) represents one of the most significant ecumenical encounters of the year between the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox traditions.
Syriac–Armenian Fraternal Visit. Patriarch Aphrem II’s visit to Catholicos Karekin II at Etchmiadzin on 20 April (see Oriental Orthodox section) strengthened inter-Oriental Orthodox bonds at a delicate moment for the Armenian Church.
Moscow–Phanar Tensions. The Kirill-Lavrov attack on Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on 22 April (see Top Stories) represents the latest escalation in the ongoing rupture between Moscow and Constantinople, centred on Ukraine but now extending to accusations regarding the Georgian patriarchal election.
Ecumenical Patriarch Congratulates Bishop of Tarsus. Patriarch Bartholomew sent congratulations to Bishop-elect Paul of the newly established Antiochian Diocese of Tarsus, Adana, and Alexandretta, wishing him a blessed episcopal ministry. (Orthodox Times)
MECC: Public Discourse in Wartime Seminar. The Middle East Council of Churches organised a seminar entitled “Public Discourse in Wartime: Towards Dialogue to Reduce Hate” as part of its “Light of Hope” initiative, responding to the ongoing security crisis in Lebanon and the broader Middle East. The MECC also continued its weekly “Palestine Observatory” reports: between 7 October 2023 and 15 April 2026, 72,344 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip and 172,242 injured, according to figures cited from OCHA. (MECC, MECC)
MECC Memorial for Pope Francis. On 21 April, the MECC held celebrations in memory of Pope Francis, who died earlier in 2025. (MECC)
6. Trends, Emergent Issues & Debates
The Conversion Wave: Orthodoxy’s Fastest Growth in a Generation
The Pascha 2026 numbers confirm that Orthodox Christianity in the United States is experiencing its most significant growth through conversion in recent memory. An estimated 16,000–18,000 converts were received at Pascha alone, with total annual conversions projected at 20,000–30,000. Mass baptisms in Finland (200+), Australia (32), and Vietnam (8) point to a phenomenon extending well beyond North America. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s disclosure of voluntary Muslim conversions in Turkey adds a further dimension. This growth raises questions about catechetical capacity, cultural integration within historically ethnic parishes, and the theological formation of new converts who often arrive through online content.
Armenian Heritage Erasure as Geopolitical Weapon
The destruction of Stepanakert’s two major churches within a single week, timed to coincide with the Armenian Genocide anniversary, represents a calculated provocation. Combined with Istanbul’s fifth consecutive ban on Armenian Genocide public commemorations and the Trump administration’s sixth refusal to use the word “genocide,” the Armenian Apostolic Church faces a convergence of external pressures even as the church–state crisis within Armenia deepens. The internationalisation of the dispute — with diaspora assets now targeted through foreign courts — suggests a long-term strategy to weaken the Church’s institutional base.
Church–State Entanglement Across Multiple Theatres
Several developments this week illustrate the complex interplay of church and state across the Orthodox world. In Serbia, Patriarch Porfirije’s presence at the opening of a Russian honorary consulate in Novi Sad — alongside Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grushko and the politically controversial Aleksandar Vulin — drew attention to the Serbian Church’s positioning between East and West. In Georgia, the patriarchal election continues to be shaped by the government’s preference for Metropolitan Shio and by Russian intelligence accusations against the Ecumenical Patriarch. In Russia, the Kirill-Lavrov Paschal reception underscored the deepening fusion of ecclesiastical and diplomatic messaging.
The Antiochian Rebuilding: Faith After Earthquake
Patriarch John X’s visit to the earthquake-devastated region of southern Turkey — including the ruined Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Antioch — and the establishment of a new diocese with a locally elected bishop represent a significant moment of institutional resilience. The Patriarchate of Antioch is not merely rebuilding physically but restructuring ecclesiastically to serve the approximately 11,000 faithful in the region, creating unified administration where multiple overlapping structures previously existed.
Religious Sites Under Attack: Lebanon and Ukraine
The week’s news from Lebanon (the destruction of a crucifix by an Israeli soldier) and Ukraine (the ongoing pattern of religious building destruction, with over 600 damaged or destroyed since 2022) continues the grim trend of religious heritage becoming collateral — or deliberate targets — in armed conflicts across the broader Orthodox world. The introduction of the “Countering Russia’s War on Faith Act” in the US Congress signals growing international legislative attention to the issue.
7. New Academic Literature
Zachary Ugolnik, The Collective Self: Reflection and Religion in Byzantium and the Middle East, Orthodox Christianity and Contemporary Thought series (Fordham University Press, 2026). ISBN 978-1-5315-1419-8. Drawing on sources from the Odes of Solomon and Plotinus’s Enneads to the writings of Evagrius, Athanasius, and Ephrem the Syrian, Ugolnik uses mirror imagery as a unifying thread to reveal a conception of selfhood in Byzantine and Middle Eastern sources that is fundamentally collective rather than merely individual.
Petre Maican (ed.), Disability in the Greek Patristic Tradition (Lexington Books / Rowman & Littlefield, 2025). ISBN 978-1-9787-4937-5. Online book launch held on 2 April 2026 at the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge. Contributors include Scott Ables, Richard Cross, Brian Matz, Wendy Mayer, John A. McGuckin, Marius Portaru, and Ilaria L.E. Ramelli. The volume explores how key thinkers from the Greek Christian East — from Irenaeus and Origen through the Cappadocians, John Chrysostom, Maximus the Confessor, and John Damascene — engaged with the realities of human frailty, impairment, and divine purpose.
This review covers developments from 19 to 25 April 2026.
This text was generated by Claude (Anthropic), Claude Opus 4.6, on 25 April 2026. It has been edited by Orthodox.News. https://claude.ai