Racial Reconciliation

A recently published critique entitled “The Juneteenth Joke” by Aaron Hickman attempts to reduce the historic and spiritual labors of the Apostolic Mission to the African Diaspora in the Americas, West Indies, and Caribbean to

Today, in recognition of Juneteenth, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America issued the following message via his social media accounts: “Today we observe Juneteenth, the day that marks the emancipation of the last enslaved African

As we approach the celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States of America, we are called to both honor the revolutionary legacy of our forefathers and reaffirm our commitment to seek

On March 7, 2026, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America issued a statement on the 61st anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery voting rights march, which became known as “Bloody Sunday.” On March 15, 1965,

Reserve tickets for Moses the Black, starring Omar Epps, Wiz Khalifa and Quavo here. The movie is scheduled for release to theaters nationwide January 30.   > Read also: Fr. Samuel Davis attends premier of

The V. Rev. Chrysostom Onyekakeyah, the Project Coordinator for Mission & Outreach Development of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, participated in an outreach mission visit to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Norfolk, Virginia from

A new documentary, entitled In His Own Words, premiered on Oct. 23, 2025 at the Huffington Ecumenical Institute of Hellenic College Holy Cross’s memorial tribute marking twenty years since the passing of Archbishop Iakovos. > Previously:

Today, June 19, 2025, we reshare this April 9, 2025 interview in recognition of Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Here, the Orthodox Observer’s Dr. Claire Koen spoke with the Rev. Fr. Samuel Davis to discuss his work as director the Apostolic Mission to the African Diaspora. Currently the assistant priest at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church and National Shrine, Fr. Samuel is also a veteran of the United States Air Force. Keep reading to learn how the unique experiences of Black communities in the United States complement, and allow a deeper understanding of, the Orthodox Tradition.

Today, June 19, 2025, we reshare this January 20, 2025 interview in recognition of Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Here, the Orthodox Observer’s Dr. Claire Koen spoke with the V. Rev. Archimandrite Chrysostom Onyekakeyah, Project Coordinator for Mission and Outreach Development, Inter-Orthodox Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations about his work with the Racial Reconciliation initiative of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America as well as his outreach focusing on Black Americans.

The Huffington Ecumenical Institute (HEI) at Hellenic College Holy Cross is pleased to announce two compelling and engaging online courses for Fall 2025. 

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States of America. It is celebrated on June 19th, which is the day in 1865 when enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom.

After five hundred years of institutionalized slavery, Jim Crow semi-slavery, public policies of benign neglect and political correctness, black Americans have been consigned to the lowest level of our nation’s order of social acceptability.

On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, a delegation from the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) visited Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero.

A delegation of 16 leaders from the American Jewish Committee (AJC) visited the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and met with His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.

With gratitude to our Risen Lord Jesus Christ, the Hierarchs of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches and of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America gathered in fraternal love and prayer on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero in New York City.

At last month’s AI and Theology working group meeting, Constantine Psimopoulos shared his presentation from the recent Post-Humanism and Artificial Intelligence International Scientific Conference (PHAICON), which he attended in the fall of 2024.

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America mourns the passing of the Rev. Joan Brown Campbell, a pioneer in the ecumenical movement, the first woman to lead the National Council of Churches, and a close friend and collaborator of the late Archbishop Iakovos.

The Orthodox Observer’s Dr. Claire Koen recently sat down with the Rev. Fr. Samuel Davis to discuss his work as director the Apostolic Mission to the African Diaspora.

Fr. Peter Spiro, Director of the GOARCH FREEDOM National Human Trafficking Awareness Ministry, was featured on Family Matters, an Ancient Faith Radio podcast hosted by Director of the Center for Family Care Fr. Alexander Goussetis.

On Saturday, March 22, 2025, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate hosted a religious freedom symposium at the University of South Carolina, under the theme “God Created Us To Live In Harmony.”

In the third episode of “The Black American Orthodox Experience” (season 3), a collaboration of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Orthodox Christian Network, Rev. Samuel Davis continues the history on Fr. Raphael Morgan.

In the third episode of “The Black American Orthodox Experience” (season 3), a collaboration of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Orthodox Christian Network, Rev. Chris Metropulos sits down with Rev. Samuel Davis to discuss his personal journey to Orthodoxy and the exciting developments in the third season of his program.

In honor of the 60th anniversary of the march on Selma, the Orthodox Observer is excited to highlight several resources for our audience.

Juwann stands at the front of the prison chapel, dressed in the same jumpsuit he has worn for the past ten years as an inmate of the Pennsylvania state corrections system. But this is no ordinary day. Beside him is Rassophore Monk Michael, a monastic of the nearby St. Tikhon’s Monastery, and soon to be godfather. Before him are three Orthodox priests in white and gold vestments, for today is the day Juwann will be baptized into Christ.