Rector of Vatoped monastery Archimandrite Ephraim arrives in Ukraine
Bishop Victor published photographs of the meeting of the abbot at the airport. The rector of the monastery of Athos was greeted by Bishop of Baryshevka Victor (Kotsaba), Bishop of Fastov Damian (Davydov), Bishop of Borodyanka Varsonofiy (Stolyar).
Archimandrite Ephraim (Vasilios Kutsu) was born in 1956 in Famagusta village in Cyprus to a large family, graduated from the Theological Faculty of the University of Athens. He became a pupil of Joseph Vatopedi and moved to Athos to the monastery of Kutlumush. In 1981 he moved to the New Skeet. In 1982 he took monastic vows in the New Skete on Athos and in 1984 was ordained a hierodeacon and a hieromonk.
Since 1987, the brotherhood of the elder Joseph took over the work on the resumption of monastic life in the monastery of Vatoped. In 1990, hieromonk Ephraim became hegumen of the Vatopedi monastery. Recall that on March 21 the Supreme Court of Greece declared innocent all the indictments of Archimandrite Ephraim – hegumen of the Vatopedi monastery in the Holy Mount Athos, and 12 other defendants in the case on the exchange of land between the Greek government and the Vatopedi monastery. The hegumen of the Athonite monastery was accused of illegal transactions between the monastery and the state.
Read also
Fr. Gabriel Bunge: From Benedictine Monk to Orthodox Hermit
Steeped in the writings of Evagrius Ponticus, Swiss Benedictine Gabriel Bunge converted to Russian Orthodoxy in 2010 and became Schiarchimandrite Gabriel, guiding souls through prayer and patristic wisdom from his Alpine skete.
Abp. Elpidophoros Honored at Record-Breaking Gala
Organizers hailed the milestone as a testament to unity, with a 25% increase over last year's giving.
Greek Abbot: LGBT Ideology Signals Antichrist's Approach
Fr. Dositheos told the UOJ that imposing LGBT ideology through education is a "war against God," signals the Antichrist's approach, and surpasses Sodom's depravity, urging repentance and a return to Orthodox roots.
Abp. Elpidophoros "Excited" about Orthodox-Miaphysite Dialogue
At Brookline conference, Archbishop Elpidophoros claimed that Orthodox and Miaphysites simply express the same beliefs in different ways.
Catholic Bishops Oppose Trump's Threat to Invade Nigeria
Abp. Ignatius Kaigama rejects U.S. President Trump's threat of airstrikes to protect Nigerian Christians, warning it would harm Christian-Muslim coexistence and urging diplomatic support, funding disruptions, and security training instead.
UOC-KP Dioceses Reject Filaret’s 'Coerced' OCU Meeting, Defends Independence
UOC-KP dioceses in Odesa-Balta and Sumy denounce Patriarch Filaret's November 5, 2025, meeting with OCU head Epifaniy Dumenko as coerced through abduction and psychotropic influence, vowing to defend the independent Kyiv Patriarchate and its primate's testament against dissolution attempts.