Church World Digest — July 13, 2026
On the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, celebrated on July 12 according to the Julian calendar, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia served the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade, joined in prayer by cadets of the Military Academy and the Military Medical Academy. In his sermon the Patriarch stressed that faith is never an individual accomplishment but the faith of the whole Church: "The Church is not a community of identical individuals who think in the same way. It is a community of diverse gifts, yet one and unique because it has one Head, the Lord Jesus Christ." After the Liturgy he took part in a voluntary blood donation campaign organized at the parish hall together with the Blood Transfusion Institute of Serbia. (Orthodox Times, https://orthodoxtimes.com/patriarch-of-serbia-the-church-is-a-community-of-different-gifts-united-in-christ/)
The Georgian Orthodox Church also kept the feast of the Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul, with Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III presiding at the festal celebration in Tbilisi. The feast day gathered clergy and faithful of the Patriarchate of Georgia at the close of the Apostles Fast. (Orthodox Times, https://orthodoxtimes.com/catholicos-patriarch-shio-iii-celebrates-feast-of-saints-peter-and-paul-in-tbilisi/)
At the Patriarchal Church of Saint George at the Phanar, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided on Saturday, July 11, at the episcopal ordination of Bishop Isidoros of Andida, celebrated during the Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Holy Great Martyr Euphemia. The new hierarch, formerly Archimandrite Isidoros Katsos, is a theologian who teaches at the Faculty of Theology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. (Orthodox Times, https://orthodoxtimes.com/ordination-of-bishop-elect-of-andida-to-take-place-at-the-phanar-on-saturday-11-july/)
Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East sent a message of condolence to the Emir of Qatar on the passing of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former ruler of the country. The gesture reflects the long tradition of respectful relations between the Patriarchate of Antioch and the Muslim world of the Middle East. (Orthodox Times, https://orthodoxtimes.com/patriarch-of-antioch-offers-condolences-on-passing-of-sheikh-hamad-bin-khalifa-al-thani/)
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia celebrated the feast of Saint Paisios the Athonite with solemnity and deep reverence. In his homily the Archbishop of Australia reminded the faithful that Saint Paisios, whatever trials he endured, never considered turning against the Church. (Orthodox Times, https://orthodoxtimes.com/archbishop-of-australia-st-paisios-never-considered-turning-against-the-church/)
In Austria, the Monastery of Saint Paisios celebrated its patronal feast on Sunday, July 12, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy presided over by Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria. The commemoration of the beloved Athonite elder was thus kept on the same weekend by Orthodox faithful in Central Europe and Australia alike. (Orthodox Times, https://orthodoxtimes.com/monastery-of-st-paisios-in-austria-celebrates-patronal-feast-with-hierarchical-divine-liturgy/)
In North America, Metropolitan Saba of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese visited Ontario, Canada, in early July, celebrating the 75th anniversary of a parish and making his first visit to the site of a future monastery. In Lakewood, Colorado, about 400 faithful gathered at St. John Chrysostom Church for the Rocky Mountain Parish Life Conference, growing deeper in the faith through workshops, divine services, and fellowship. (Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, https://www.antiochian.org/)
In the wider Christian world, the Church of England reports that the Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow, met with the Minister for Employment alongside Christian charities to discuss how churches can support the growing number of young people not in work, education, or training. Parishes will also launch free football clubs for children as part of a new outreach programme, an example of church buildings serving their neighborhoods beyond Sunday worship. (Church of England, https://www.churchofengland.org/media/news)
