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Church World Digest — July 25, 2026

July 25, 2026 · 3 min read

At the Phanar, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate continued its deliberations on Thursday, July 23, under the chairmanship of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, examining the items on its agenda and adopting decisions. On the same day the Ecumenical Patriarch received in audience Archimandrite Bartholomew, Abbot of the Athonite Monastery of Esphigmenou, accompanied by clergy of the Metropolis of Ivano-Frankivsk and Halych of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine. (Orthodox Times, https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-receives-abbot-of-esphigmenou/)

In Moscow, Patriarch Kirill received Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova on July 23 at the Patriarchal and Synodal Residence in the Danilov Monastery. In the course of the meeting the Patriarch presented her with the Order of the Holy Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, Second Class. (Orthodox Times, https://orthodoxtimes.com/patriarch-of-moscow-awards-russian-deputy-pm-tatyana-golikova-church-decoration/)

The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church convened for its regular session at the Danilov Monastery under the chairmanship of Patriarch Kirill. Among the matters considered were the election of new metropolitans and bishops and the canonization of local saints of the Church in Russia. (Orthodox Times, https://orthodoxtimes.com/russian-holy-synod-discusses-episcopal-appointments-and-canonizations/)

In Tbilisi, Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III of Georgia received the Minister of Culture, Tinatin Rukhadze, at the Patriarchal Residence on July 21. The two sides discussed the establishment of a joint working group for the protection of churches and monasteries in Georgia. (Orthodox Times, https://orthodoxtimes.com/patriarchate-of-georgia-joint-working-group-to-be-established-for-the-protection-of-churches-and-monasteries/)

Patriarch Shio III also hosted the Presidents of Georgia and Serbia at the Patriarchate. He spoke of the forthcoming celebration of the 1,700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion of Georgia and invited President Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia to take part in the commemorative events. (Orthodox Times, https://orthodoxtimes.com/patriarch-shio-iii-hosts-presidents-of-georgia-and-serbia/)

In North America, Metropolitan Tikhon, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, traveled to Calgary, Alberta, on July 15 to 17 to preside at the 2026 Assembly of the Archdiocese of Canada. The assembly gathered clergy and lay delegates of the archdiocese for the review of its life and ministries. (Orthodox Church in America, https://www.oca.org/news)

In West Africa, with the blessing of Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa, the Metropolis of Accra announced the ordination of two deacons to the holy priesthood. Archdeacon Dimitrios Abegya was ordained on Sunday, July 19, at the Cathedral of the Transfiguration in Accra, and Deacon Dionysios Edugyan Abeka is to be ordained on Sunday, July 26, at the Church of Saints Charalambos and George in Adeiso, Ghana, a further sign of the steady growth of the Orthodox mission in the country. (Orthodox Times, https://orthodoxtimes.com/ordinations-and-appointments-in-the-metropolis-of-accra/)

From the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV addressed a note to Catholic bishops inviting dioceses, parishes, and church organizations to embed a new video news widget from Vatican News on their own web pages. The initiative is a notable example of a central church press service bringing its reporting directly to parish-level websites. (Catholic Masses, https://catholicmasses.org/daily-catholic-news-july-24-2026/)

In England, the General Synod of the Church of England approved a new resource on the care of creation. During the discussion William Leeming, a young delegate from the Diocese of Blackburn, spoke of the concern many young adults feel about the future and of the need for practical action. (Anglican Communion News Service, https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2026/07/church-of-england-synod-approves-new-creation-care-resource.aspx)

In New Zealand, about 140 youth ministry leaders from seven Anglican dioceses gathered at Living Springs for The Abbey, a weekend of formation and mutual support for those who work with young people. Gatherings of this kind offer a helpful example of sustained investment in youth leadership for parish communities everywhere. (Anglican Life, https://www.anglicanlife.org.nz/anglican-e-life-22-july-2026/)

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💬 Comments (6) 🌐 Show original

Δέσποινα Γεωργίου

The article about Patriarch Bartholomew and the abbot of Esfigmenos made an impression on me, especially when he met him together with clergy from Ukraine. I am also glad that the Church of Georgia will form a group for the protection of monasteries, this is practical. In Africa again the ordinations show that the mission is progressing slowly.

Nicholas Phillips

The bit about Patriarch Bartholomew receiving the abbot of Esphigmenou together with those clergy from Ivano-Frankivsk stood out to me too. Interesting contrast with the Russian Synod handling its own bishop elections and local canonizations the same week. Good to see the growth in Ghana with those two new priests; my son and I were just reading about the mission work there last month.

Валентина Соловьёва

I am glad that in Georgia they will now protect churches and monasteries together with the Ministry of Culture; this is a necessary matter. But it’s somehow alarming to read about the meeting of Patriarch Bartholomew with Abbot Esphigmenou and Ukrainian clergy. At that time, at the Synod in Danilov, new bishops were quietly elected and local saints were canonized.

Νίκη Λαμπροπούλου

I agree with you Despina, the meeting with the abbot of Esfimenou and the Ukrainian clergy stands out. The practical with the group for the monasteries in Georgia is good, I would like to see something similar here for our own dilapidated chapels. How do you see the ordinations in Africa, will they help in the long run?

Γιώργος Βασιλείου

Yes Niki, the idea of a joint protection group for our chapels here in Volos would save many of the old chapels that have started to fall into disrepair after the last rains. For ordinations in Africa, I think in the long run they will only help if there is serious catechism and not just numbers; do you have an example from there that worries you?

Δέσποινα Νικολαΐδου

You are right about the chapels in Volos, George, after the last rains that fell in June we also saw here in Patras how many problems were created. For Africa I agree that without serious catechesis only the number remains; I remember last year's discussion about the parish in Kinshasa which was finally dissolved because there was no continuity. Where exactly in Africa do you see the biggest problem?