News from Orthodox world

The Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Petros VII, a native of Cyprus, has died in an air crash in the sea off the coast of the ancient monastic community of Mount Athos.

In the meantime, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople is holding on in its historic home despite the continuing hostility of the Turkish government. With the Greek Orthodox community in Istanbul dwindling in numbers, Ankara's requirement that the Patriarch be a Turkish citizen threatens the ability of the ancient see to remain in the city on the Bosporus. However, a glimmer of hope is to be found in Turkey's application for membership in the European Union, which is closely monitoring its treatment of religious minorities.