Get comprehensive Orthodox Christian news from Crusaders Call. We cover persecution of Orthodox believers, updates from Orthodox patriarchates, theological developments, and challenges facing Orthodox communities worldwide. Our reporting includes coverage of the Russian Orthodox Church, Greek Orthodox communities, Oriental Orthodox churches, and Orthodox witness under hostile regimes.
Europe
Lyon, France - Ashur Sarnaya, a 45-year-old disabled Iraqi Christian who fled ISIS persecution, was brutally stabbed to death on September 10, 2025, while livestreaming about his Christian faith on TikTok outside his apartment building in Lyon, France. The attack occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. in the
Orthodox News
A heartbreaking and chilling report has emerged from Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where armed bandits launched coordinated attacks on Thursday evening. A resident of Birnin Gwari town, the local government headquarters, confirmed the incident, describing it as a well-coordinated assault by the attackers. According to
Europe
Lisbon, Portugal - Portugal's parliament approved a bill on Friday, October 17, 2025, banning face veils worn for "gender or religious motives" in most public spaces, specifically targeting burqas and niqabs commonly worn by some Muslim women. The bill, proposed by the far-right Chega party led
Orthodox News
Nigeria - More than 7,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria during the first 220 days of 2025, an average of 35 deaths per day, according to a report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), a Nigeria-based human rights organization. The report, released
Europe
Karaman Province, Turkey - Archaeologists excavating the ancient Byzantine city of Eirenopolis in southern Turkey have discovered five exceptionally preserved communion bread loaves dating back approximately 1,300 years, one of which bears an image of Jesus Christ and a Greek inscription. The discovery took place at the Topraktepe archaeological site
Orthodox News
Tehran, Iran - A dramatic religious transformation is underway in Iran, with reports indicating that approximately 1 million Muslims have converted to Christianity while 50,000 of the nation's 75,000 mosques have closed due to declining attendance. The developments come as Tehran inaugurated a new metro station dedicated
Catholic News
Warsaw, Poland - Polish President Karol Nawrocki has signed a new law eliminating personal income tax for parents raising at least two children, a reform aimed at supporting families, increasing household income, and boosting the nation's birth rate. The bill, which President Nawrocki presented in August 2025, removes the
Orthodox News
Washington D.C., United States - US Senator Ted Cruz has renewed his call for legislative action against Nigerian officials accused of involvement in religious persecution, announcing plans to advance his Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act. In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Senator Cruz wrote, "
Orthodox News
Mogadishu, Somalia - Somalia's government has rejected provisions in the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child that would ban marriage under age 18, citing conflicts with Islamic law and the Somali constitution. The decision came shortly after the parliament initially ratified the charter on October
Catholic News
The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) has confirmed the death of one of its pastors, Rev. Anthony Lamba, who was abducted by bandits in Southern Kaduna. LIB reported that Rev. Lamba was kidnapped along with Christiana Anthony and Danlami Zana while working on their farm on Friday, July 25, 2025.
UK
London, England - Christian leaders from across denominations gathered in Westminster on Saturday, October 11, 2025, to sign the 2025 Westminster Declaration, a document calling for the "re-Christianisation" of Britain and urging government leaders to respect human dignity and freedom of conscience. The declaration, an update to the
Orthodox News
Occupied West Bank - Layan Nasir, a 25-year-old Anglican Palestinian, was taken into Israeli custody on Thursday, October 16, 2025, despite being previously told her seven-and-a-half-month sentence would not begin until November. Ms. Nasir, a member of the congregation at St Peter's Church