Religion

Turkey's presidential spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin told the religious leaders it was extremely important to fight against hate crimes and discrimination with a single voice, especially at a time when anti-Islamism, anti-Semitism and anti-Christianity are on the rise all over the world.

Islamist attacks haven shaken France. Vincent Tiberj on Muslims under general suspicion and the difficult role of the Left.

Orthodox Christian communities are celebrating Christmas. Religious ceremonies were held on Sunday night, attended by members of the congregation, including political and civic leaders,

The move will have far reaching effects for the world Christian Orthodox community, and for the politics of Eurasia.

A new Ukrainian Orthodox Church, independent from Moscow, has been agreed at a special Unification Council in Kiev. The head of the new Church will be Metropolitan Epiphany of Pereyaslav and Belotserkovsk

The Government of Ukraine and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople have signed an agreement on co-operation and collaboration. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I signed the agreement in Istanbul on Saturday during the official visit of president Poroshenko to Turkey.

"The sides expressed concerns over the difficult situation existing between the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Moscow Patriarchate", according to a report carried by the website of the Georgian Patriarchate

Metropolitan Hilarion met Pope Francis and briefed Catholic officials on the decisions of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church adopted at its meeting on October 15 in Minsk relating to the dispute with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople regarding Ukraine