( ) An Orthodox archbishop who exchanged friendly greetings and gifts with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska this month is apologizing to “those who have experienced pain, suffering, or confusion” because of his actions. Alaska Archbishop Alexei did not apologize for the meeting itself, however. It took place in Anchorage following Putin’s August 15th […]
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RELIGION HEADLINES THR 8-28-25
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( ) An Orthodox archbishop who exchanged friendly greetings and gifts with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska this month is apologizing to “those who have experienced pain, suffering, or confusion” because of his actions. Alaska Archbishop Alexei did not apologize for the meeting itself, however. It took place in Anchorage following Putin’s August 15th summit with President Trump, which focused on the war in Ukraine. Alexei’s superior in the Orthodox Church in America, Metropolitan Tikhon (TICK-on), says the archbishop failed to inform him of his plans to meet Putin. Tikhon says the meeting doesn’t represent the church’s position on the war.
( ) Anti-Semitism rears its head in Chile. Officials in Santiago say a historic synagogue has been vandalized with graffiti and posters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a bullet hole in his forehead. The posters read “Your silence is cooperation with Israel’s genocide”. The nearly 100-year-old Masorti synagogue in downtown Santiago has been the object of vandalism several times since the deadly Hamas attack on Israel in the fall of 2023. The Jewish Community of Chile has issued a statement condemning the vandalism, adding that “This is an attack on the coexistence and peace of the entire country.”
( ) Authorities in Indonesia have closed a small church in West Java without warning and have expelled the evangelist who was ministering there. Immanuel Prayer House was serving about 100 local Christians. There’s not another church for miles around. Indonesia is mostly-Muslim but violence against the Christian minority has so far been rare. However, the government’s recent habit of closing churches or refusing to let them be built has a lot of believers concerned. Experts point out that restrictions on religious freedom in a country are often the first step toward a wider crackdown on civil liberties of all kinds.
( ) Lawmen in Vietnam have raided another house church. A group of about 20 Christians were worshipping this month in the Dai Tu (DIE TOO) District of the country when police cut power to the building. They then crashed in, arresting three people including the owner of the house. Open Doors says this is all part of a bad trend in Vietnam, adding that “Most alarming is the increased oppression of unregistered churches. There’s a concern that the government wants to control the church and is pushing for smaller congregations to disband and join officially recognised denominations that are more cooperative with the government.