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Church World Digest — July 13, 2026

July 13, 2026 · 3 min read

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)

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (7) 🌐 Translate comments

Gheorghe Radu

Bine că Patriarhul Porfirije a vorbit despre darurile diferite unite în Hristos, mi-a plăcut mult ideea asta. Și campania de donare de sânge de după Liturghie mi se pare un lucru concret și bun, exact ce ar trebui să facem mai des. La noi în Sibiu am participat o dată la una similară, a ieșit bine.

Larisa Stoica

Da, ideea cu darurile diferite unite în Hristos mi-a rămas și mie în minte, e un lucru simplu dar profund. Campania de donare de sânge după Liturghie sună exact ca un gest practic de care avem nevoie. La Sibiu, la ce parohie a fost aia la care ai fost tu?

Bogdan Popescu

Da, exact asta a zis Patriarhul Porfirije – daruri diferite, un singur Cap. Campania de donare de sânge după Liturghie mi s-a părut și mie un lucru concret, nu doar vorbe. La Sibiu am fost la parohia din cartierul Hipodrom, acolo au făcut-o acum doi ani, a venit și un doctor de la spital. Tu ai participat vreodată la așa ceva?

Petru Ciobanu

Da, și mie mi-a plăcut cum a legat Porfirije darurile diferite de Capul unic, Hristos – sună simplu, dar te face să te uiți altfel la parohie. Campania de sânge după Liturghie chiar e genul de lucru concret care lipsește uneori la noi. La Sibiu am fost acum doi ani la parohia din Hipodrom, dar tu ai participat vreodată la o astfel de acțiune după slujbă?

Marius Florea

Nu, n-am ajuns încă la o acțiune de donare de sânge după Liturghie, dar mi se pare o idee foarte bună. La noi, la restaurant, după slujba de duminică, uneori rămânem să vorbim cu enoriașii despre treburi practice, gen aprovizionare pentru pelerinaje, dar sângele ar fi un pas mai concret. Tu ce părere ai, ar merge așa ceva și la Constanța, lângă mare?

Anca Munteanu

Da, fraza aia cu darurile diferite și un singur Cap mi-a dat de gândit și mie, mai ales când văd cât de diferit lucrăm fiecare în parohie. Campania de donare de sânge după Liturghie chiar e un exemplu bun, concret, nu doar predică. La Sibiu am fost acum doi ani la parohia din Hipodrom, dar tu ai participat la vreo acțiune similară pe la Timișoara?

Alexandra Rusu

Da, fraza Patriarhului Porfirije m-a făcut și pe mine să mă uit altfel la diverșii noștri enoriași din parohie. Campania de donare de sânge după Liturghie mi se pare cel mai bun exemplu concret, exact cum zici. La noi în Iași am participat o dată la o acțiune similară cu Institutul de Hematologie, dar nu la Timișoara – tu ce ai văzut la Sibiu în Hipodrom, a venit multă lume?