Dr Andreja Bogdanovski
@bogdanovskia.bsky.social
Religion journalist & analyst covering Orthodox affairs, politics, and security.
Bylines: The Tablet, Church Times, Premier Christianity, Balkan Insight & others. Views are mine.
https://divinediplomacy.substack.com/
📍Edinburgh | Skopje
Bylines: The Tablet, Church Times, Premier Christianity, Balkan Insight & others. Views are mine.
https://divinediplomacy.substack.com/
📍Edinburgh | Skopje
In a new flashpoint, the Orthodox Church of Moldova has rejected the claim that it is a "Russian church", describing that description by the Metropolis of Bessarabia, as unfriendly and dangerous.
New story for The Tablet.
www.thetablet.co.uk/news/defrock...
New story for The Tablet.
www.thetablet.co.uk/news/defrock...
November 21, 2025 at 3:57 PM
In a new flashpoint, the Orthodox Church of Moldova has rejected the claim that it is a "Russian church", describing that description by the Metropolis of Bessarabia, as unfriendly and dangerous.
New story for The Tablet.
www.thetablet.co.uk/news/defrock...
New story for The Tablet.
www.thetablet.co.uk/news/defrock...
My new piece for Balkan Insight. As the #Vatican emerges as a de facto #AI ethicist, the #Orthodox Church has barely engaged.
Now, as AI spreads, some Orthodox Primates warn of the "end times" while others are overtaken by algorithms and influencers.
balkaninsight.com/2025/11/14/a...
Now, as AI spreads, some Orthodox Primates warn of the "end times" while others are overtaken by algorithms and influencers.
balkaninsight.com/2025/11/14/a...
November 14, 2025 at 10:19 AM
My new piece for Balkan Insight. As the #Vatican emerges as a de facto #AI ethicist, the #Orthodox Church has barely engaged.
Now, as AI spreads, some Orthodox Primates warn of the "end times" while others are overtaken by algorithms and influencers.
balkaninsight.com/2025/11/14/a...
Now, as AI spreads, some Orthodox Primates warn of the "end times" while others are overtaken by algorithms and influencers.
balkaninsight.com/2025/11/14/a...
King Charles praying with Pope Leo XIV in Rome.
He is the first English monarch to pray publicly
with a pope since Henry VIII.
Newly elected Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally wasn't present.
He is the first English monarch to pray publicly
with a pope since Henry VIII.
Newly elected Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally wasn't present.
October 23, 2025 at 12:35 PM
King Charles praying with Pope Leo XIV in Rome.
He is the first English monarch to pray publicly
with a pope since Henry VIII.
Newly elected Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally wasn't present.
He is the first English monarch to pray publicly
with a pope since Henry VIII.
Newly elected Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally wasn't present.
Hi everyone, I’m sharing the latest Divine Dispatch roundup on Orthodox–Catholic geopolitics, with a bit of added commentary
This week: Pope Leo’s trips to Turkey & Lebanon confirmed; Armenian archbishop jailed; Ukrainian Orthodox leader visits Athos, Kirill cements influence in the Balkans & more.
This week: Pope Leo’s trips to Turkey & Lebanon confirmed; Armenian archbishop jailed; Ukrainian Orthodox leader visits Athos, Kirill cements influence in the Balkans & more.
October 16, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Hi everyone, I’m sharing the latest Divine Dispatch roundup on Orthodox–Catholic geopolitics, with a bit of added commentary
This week: Pope Leo’s trips to Turkey & Lebanon confirmed; Armenian archbishop jailed; Ukrainian Orthodox leader visits Athos, Kirill cements influence in the Balkans & more.
This week: Pope Leo’s trips to Turkey & Lebanon confirmed; Armenian archbishop jailed; Ukrainian Orthodox leader visits Athos, Kirill cements influence in the Balkans & more.
Breaking. The Bishop of London Sarah Mullally - to be the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
She is the first woman to hold the Church of England’s highest clerical office.
She is the first woman to hold the Church of England’s highest clerical office.
October 3, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Breaking. The Bishop of London Sarah Mullally - to be the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
She is the first woman to hold the Church of England’s highest clerical office.
She is the first woman to hold the Church of England’s highest clerical office.
Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe (Extremadura,Spain)-UNESCO world heritage site. One of the most important Marian shrines.
September 15, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe (Extremadura,Spain)-UNESCO world heritage site. One of the most important Marian shrines.
Story for Church Times: “Those within the Serbian Orthodox Church know that if Patriarch Porfirije, by brutally dismantling the [SOC's] judicial institutions, eventually expels me from the church community, he will then be able to throw anyone out of the Church whenever he wishes.” Pantelić said.
August 22, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Story for Church Times: “Those within the Serbian Orthodox Church know that if Patriarch Porfirije, by brutally dismantling the [SOC's] judicial institutions, eventually expels me from the church community, he will then be able to throw anyone out of the Church whenever he wishes.” Pantelić said.
Before the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska, Russian Patriarch Kirill didn't pray for peace in Ukraine, but to
"achieve this important, great goal...a fundamental change in relations between the two great nuclear powers [US-Russia]."
"achieve this important, great goal...a fundamental change in relations between the two great nuclear powers [US-Russia]."
August 20, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Before the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska, Russian Patriarch Kirill didn't pray for peace in Ukraine, but to
"achieve this important, great goal...a fundamental change in relations between the two great nuclear powers [US-Russia]."
"achieve this important, great goal...a fundamental change in relations between the two great nuclear powers [US-Russia]."
Metropolitan Filaret of Lviv and Galicia (Ukrainian Orthodox Church - UOC) today concelebrated liturgy with Metropolitan Naum (MOC-Ohrid Archdiocese) in Strumica.
Question is: as a sign of recognition of UOC as independent church or affirming canonical ties via the Russian Orthodox Church?
Question is: as a sign of recognition of UOC as independent church or affirming canonical ties via the Russian Orthodox Church?
August 3, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Metropolitan Filaret of Lviv and Galicia (Ukrainian Orthodox Church - UOC) today concelebrated liturgy with Metropolitan Naum (MOC-Ohrid Archdiocese) in Strumica.
Question is: as a sign of recognition of UOC as independent church or affirming canonical ties via the Russian Orthodox Church?
Question is: as a sign of recognition of UOC as independent church or affirming canonical ties via the Russian Orthodox Church?
Great to be in London for the 11th ICCEES World Congress at UCL chairing a panel on religion in Russian strategy and how the Russian Orthodox Church interacts and underpins aspects of Russian strategic thinking.
July 22, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Great to be in London for the 11th ICCEES World Congress at UCL chairing a panel on religion in Russian strategy and how the Russian Orthodox Church interacts and underpins aspects of Russian strategic thinking.
Zelensky revokes citizenship of the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Onufry.
July 7, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Zelensky revokes citizenship of the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Onufry.
BREAKING! Ukraine’s President Zelensky has signed an order revoking the citizenship of Metropolitan Onufry, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church which has historically been tied to the Moscow Patriarchate.
Ukraine’s SBU says he acquired a Russian citizenship in 2002.
Ukraine’s SBU says he acquired a Russian citizenship in 2002.
July 2, 2025 at 2:40 PM
BREAKING! Ukraine’s President Zelensky has signed an order revoking the citizenship of Metropolitan Onufry, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church which has historically been tied to the Moscow Patriarchate.
Ukraine’s SBU says he acquired a Russian citizenship in 2002.
Ukraine’s SBU says he acquired a Russian citizenship in 2002.
Just published the new weekly Divine Dispatch briefing on the shifting frontlines of church geopolitics. www.divinediplomacy.com/p/divine-dis...
June 27, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Just published the new weekly Divine Dispatch briefing on the shifting frontlines of church geopolitics. www.divinediplomacy.com/p/divine-dis...
The status of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is on the list of demands from Moscow in the peace memorandum presented in Istanbul to the Ukrainian side. #Ukraine
"Lifting restrictions on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP)"
"Lifting restrictions on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP)"
June 3, 2025 at 5:51 PM
The status of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is on the list of demands from Moscow in the peace memorandum presented in Istanbul to the Ukrainian side. #Ukraine
"Lifting restrictions on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP)"
"Lifting restrictions on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP)"
Now in a report for The Tablet
Lavrov: “It would be a bit inelegant for Orthodox countries to use a Catholic platform to discuss issues on how to remove the root causes (of the conflict).”
www.thetablet.co.uk/news/vatican...
Lavrov: “It would be a bit inelegant for Orthodox countries to use a Catholic platform to discuss issues on how to remove the root causes (of the conflict).”
www.thetablet.co.uk/news/vatican...
May 23, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Now in a report for The Tablet
Lavrov: “It would be a bit inelegant for Orthodox countries to use a Catholic platform to discuss issues on how to remove the root causes (of the conflict).”
www.thetablet.co.uk/news/vatican...
Lavrov: “It would be a bit inelegant for Orthodox countries to use a Catholic platform to discuss issues on how to remove the root causes (of the conflict).”
www.thetablet.co.uk/news/vatican...
Called it👇 Russia's Foreign Minister on Pope Leo's readiness to host talks with Ukraine.
Lavrov: Orthodox nations cannot negotiate in the #Vatican
Lavrov: Orthodox nations cannot negotiate in the #Vatican
May 23, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Called it👇 Russia's Foreign Minister on Pope Leo's readiness to host talks with Ukraine.
Lavrov: Orthodox nations cannot negotiate in the #Vatican
Lavrov: Orthodox nations cannot negotiate in the #Vatican
New Pope has been elected Robert Prevost (Leo XIV)- first ever American Pope.
May 8, 2025 at 5:20 PM
New Pope has been elected Robert Prevost (Leo XIV)- first ever American Pope.
Ukrainian Cardinal Mykola Bychok earlier on.
May 7, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Ukrainian Cardinal Mykola Bychok earlier on.
Serbian Orthodox leader Porfirije (voluntarily) asks Putin to be part of the "Russian World" at a meeting with the Russian President and Patriarch Kirill in Moscow.
A transcript of their discussion has been released.
This is how Orthodox churches do high politics 1/2
A transcript of their discussion has been released.
This is how Orthodox churches do high politics 1/2
April 23, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Serbian Orthodox leader Porfirije (voluntarily) asks Putin to be part of the "Russian World" at a meeting with the Russian President and Patriarch Kirill in Moscow.
A transcript of their discussion has been released.
This is how Orthodox churches do high politics 1/2
A transcript of their discussion has been released.
This is how Orthodox churches do high politics 1/2
✈️ Austrian Trivia Questions -
Name all EU 🇪🇺 Candidate countries
Name all EU 🇪🇺 Candidate countries
April 3, 2025 at 7:33 PM
✈️ Austrian Trivia Questions -
Name all EU 🇪🇺 Candidate countries
Name all EU 🇪🇺 Candidate countries
Vatican: "For a number of days now, journalists and the public in general had been asking for a photo of the Pope."
Disinformation sadly has been spreading about the Pope's health.
Newly released photo of #PopeFrancis from this morning, the first since he was admitted to the hospital a month ago.
Disinformation sadly has been spreading about the Pope's health.
Newly released photo of #PopeFrancis from this morning, the first since he was admitted to the hospital a month ago.
March 16, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Vatican: "For a number of days now, journalists and the public in general had been asking for a photo of the Pope."
Disinformation sadly has been spreading about the Pope's health.
Newly released photo of #PopeFrancis from this morning, the first since he was admitted to the hospital a month ago.
Disinformation sadly has been spreading about the Pope's health.
Newly released photo of #PopeFrancis from this morning, the first since he was admitted to the hospital a month ago.
Politics in the Pulpit? A talk by David Smith MP, the UK's new envoy for freedom of religion or belief.
March 14, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Politics in the Pulpit? A talk by David Smith MP, the UK's new envoy for freedom of religion or belief.
Despite everything, Pope Francis has rarely missed a call with members of the Roman Catholic parish in Gaza.
24 Feb - evening update.
24 Feb - evening update.
February 24, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Despite everything, Pope Francis has rarely missed a call with members of the Roman Catholic parish in Gaza.
24 Feb - evening update.
24 Feb - evening update.
Not the most tactful headline by Politico.
February 20, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Not the most tactful headline by Politico.