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.
Orthodox News
Islamic State West Africa Province released an image of a burning Christian village in Adamawa State alongside a statement declaring all Christians in Nigeria are legitimate targets, offering believers the choice to convert to Islam or pay jizyah tax to avoid being killed. ISWAP published the image showing flames consuming
Europe
The 154 year old Vondelkerk in Amsterdam was destroyed by fire shortly after midnight on New Year's Day, with the entire neo Gothic church engulfed in flames causing the 50 meter tower and roof to collapse as authorities declared the historic landmark could not be saved. The fire
Orthodox News
Christian persecution watchdog Release International warned that deaths of Nigerian believers could double in 2026 unless swift international action is taken to clamp down on attacks, with more than 7,000 Christians killed in the first 220 days of 2025 alone. Release International's Annual Persecution Trends Report highlighted
Europe
A fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans Montana ski resort killed approximately 40 people and injured 115 during New Year celebrations, prompting 400 people to gather Thursday evening for a church service to honor the victims. The fire broke out around 1:30 AM January 1, 2026 at the
Europe
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced December 31, 2025 that Israel is developing an international agenda to support Christian communities facing persecution in Nigeria and across Africa and the Middle East, declaring Israel will provide intelligence and resources to protect believers worldwide. Netanyahu made the announcement during a meeting with
USA
Vice President JD Vance declared December 21 before over 30,000 young conservatives at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest 2025 that "the only thing that has truly served as an anchor of the United States of America is that we have been, and by the grace of God,
Catholic News
President Donald Trump ordered Christmas Day airstrikes against Islamic State targets in northwestern Nigeria, declaring the strikes targeted ISIS terrorists who have been "viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries," fulfilling his November threat to take military action if Christian
Orthodox News
Nigerian government officials declared victory in securing the release of all students and staff abducted from St Mary's Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, while the school management and Christian Association of Nigeria maintain that as many as 35 people remain unaccounted for, exposing dangerous discrepancies in tracking
UK
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised church volunteers and Christian faith at a Downing Street reception, calling them "the backbone of our country" and stating they "are doing us all proud" while describing church volunteers as "the true Britain," even as his government simultaneously
Orthodox News
Nigerian Christian leaders have issued urgent appeals decrying relentless violence and systematic abductions targeting Christian communities across the nation as persecution intensifies without meaningful government intervention to protect believers under sustained attack. Church leaders representing multiple denominations condemned the ongoing campaign of violence that has claimed thousands of Christian lives
Asia
Chinese SWAT teams conducted coordinated raids on churches throughout Zhejiang province, leading to mass arrests of Christians as the Communist government intensifies its campaign to eradicate unauthorized Christian worship and enforce total state control over religious expression. The paramilitary operations targeted house churches and unregistered congregations that refuse to submit
Protestant News
Five Christians in Iran have been sentenced to a combined 50 years in prison for the crimes of praying together and sharing Bibles, marking another escalation in the Islamic regime's systematic persecution of believers who refuse to abandon their faith. The believers were convicted under charges related to