english news

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

Tue, 15 May 2012 08:04:50 +0100

On Sunday, April 13,2012, His All-Holiness presided over the concelebration of the Divine Liturgy for the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman together with Archbishop Christopher of Czech Lands and Slovakia, Metropolitans Meliton of Philadelphia, Demetrios of Sebasteia, Theoliptos of Iconium, George of Mihaloupolis and Kassovia, Stephanos of Kallioupolis and Maditon, and Elpidophoros of Prousis at the Patriarchal Church of St. George. Among those in attendance were the Consul General of Greece, the Hon...

SYRIA: GREGORIOS III LAHAM (GREEK-MELKITE) “COUNTRY IN CHAOS, CHRISTIANS FLEEING”

Mon, 14 May 2012 14:40:07 +0100

“A country in chaos. Rascals and criminals, undercover foreigners in opposition groups, are taking advantage of it. Abductions, abuse, theft and violence are happening, again and again, against the Christians who are fleeing the country. Scenes that we have sadly learnt to see in nearby Iraq”. On the day the EU ministers of Foreign Affairs approved a new set of sanctions, the 15th, against Bashar al Assad’s regime, SIR spoke with the Greek Melkite Patriarch of Antioch, Gregorios III Laham. ...

Russia 1 TV channel to show film made for the fifth anniversary of the restoration of canonical ...

Sat, 12 May 2012 17:04:26 +0100

On 15 May 2012, Russia 1 TV channel will present Metropolitan Hilarion’s film “Unity of the Faithful.” Its release is timed to the fifth anniversary of the important historical event – the restoration of canonical communio9n between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia. The Act of Canonical Communion signed on 17 May 2007 put a period in the history of the Russian Civil War and marked the end of the painful and dramatic estrangement that had lasted man...

Young Muslim prepares to greet Pope in Arezzo

Sat, 12 May 2012 07:59:12 +0100

Pope Benedict travels to the Italian region of Tuscany Sunday on Sunday 13th May where he will make a one day visit to Arezzo, La Verna and Sansepolcro, three towns with a long history of monasticism and contemplative life. The Holy Father will celebrate an outdoor Mass and pray the Regina Coeli in the "Il Prato" park in Arezzo after which he will make a private visit to the cathedral of San Donato. In the afternoon, he will visit the shrine of La Verna where St. Francis of Assisi received the st...

Pope: I have always felt supported by the prayers of the Church, especially in difficult times

Thu, 10 May 2012 07:00:02 +0100

Benedict XVI continues to devote catechesis for the general audience to prayer. He comments on the captivity and liberation of Peter. "The Apostle even in chains is clam, he does not feel alone, the community is praying for him, the Lord is near." "To pray well" means "to turn towards God and not to our own benefit."Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "From the first moment of my election as the Successor of St. Peter, I have always felt supported by the prayers of you all, by the prayer of the Church, esp...

Patriarch Sviatoslav blessed the opening of the 350th jubilee of the city of Ivano-Frankivsk

Thu, 10 May 2012 06:56:54 +0100

Heads of three traditional Christian Churches visited the capital of Subcarpathia to participate in the celebrations of the 350th jubilee of the city of Ivano-Frankivsk. Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk), UGCC Head, met Patriarch Filaret, Primate UOC (KP), and Metropolitan Mefodiy, Primate UAOC, in the Holy Resurrection Metropolitan Cathedral UGCC in Ivano-Frankivsk, reported Rev. Yuriy Trukhan, Press Secretary, Ivano-Frankivsk Archeparchy. At the Cathedral, the Ivano-Frankivsk S...

Canadian Parliament Recognizing the Efforts done by Metropolitan Andrey (Sheptytsky) in saving ...

Thu, 10 May 2012 06:40:30 +0100

With the leaders of different religions in Ukraine witnessing the event, the Canadian Parliament recognized the efforts of Metropolitan Andrey (Sheptytsky), leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, in saving countless Jews during World War II and vocal in renouncing the atrocities done by Nazi officials in World War II against Jews and Ukrainians. Here is the text of his pastoral letter "Thou Shalt not Kill" written on the 21st of November, 1942. Sorry for it is written in Ukrainian and I h...

Student massacre due to Libyan and Turkish infiltrators, says apostolic vicar in Alep

Fri, 04 May 2012 16:08:21 +0100

Mgr Giuseppe Nazaro provides background details to the army assault against the university, which left four people dead. For months, foreign militants have been trying to influence students at Alep university in order to bring violence to the city; the only one spared so far from the fight between rebels and the regime. In his view, the media are manipulated.Alep (AsiaNews) - "Alep University is full of Libyan and Turkish infiltrators who have been trying to sway young Syrians to their cause. The...

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to receive the 2012 Freedom Award, May 12

Thu, 03 May 2012 06:47:29 +0100

On May 12, 2012 His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, primus inter pares of the entire Orthodox Church, is going to receive the prestigious 'Freedom Award'. The Four Freedoms Medals are presented to men and women whose achievements have demonstrated a commitment to those principles which President Roosevelt proclaimed in his historic speech to Congress on January 6, 1941, as essential to democracy: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, fre...

Moscow, tens of thousands with Kirill in defense of the faith

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:40:02 +0100

by Nina AchmatovaAfter weeks of media scandals, the Patriarch of All Russia leads a procession and a prayer at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior: "Protect the Church from the anti-Russian forces." Moscow (AsiaNews) - Thousands of people took part in the day in defense of the faith yesterday in Russia, organized by the Moscow Patriarchate to "protect the Church from the attacks of anti-Russian forces", as stated by the same Patriarch Kirill, center of a series of media scandals which are compromi...

Caritas and Jordanian NGOs Assisting Thousands of Syrian Refugees

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:59:55 +0100

(Milan/e.p.) - As thousands of Syrian refugees flee into Jordan, authorities are opening makeshift 'holding facilities' to accommodate them, while Caritas Jordan is distributing food and household items. According to the Jordan Times, local NGOs and officials say they are set to complete later this month a complex of 200 furnished trailers in Ramtha, a northern Jordanian city, designed to house some 1,000 refugees. Local charities say 500 refugees are passing through the border each day and the s...

The Holy Fire Emerges from the Sepulchre of the Risen One

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:55:52 +0100

Miryam Mezzera(Jerusalem) – A fire that is kindled “by a miracle”, a multitude of the faithful anxiously waiting, from the earliest hours of the morning who then explode in cries of joy when they catch a glimpse of the light inside the edicule that contains the empty tomb of the Risen One. This is the ritual of the Holy Fire in the Basilica of the Resurrection (or of the Holy Sepulchre), the ceremony which sets a seal on a week full of events and celebrations in the Holy City, and which lea...

DECR chairman takes part in International Conference “Stolypin Readings. ...

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:45:00 +0100

On 17 April 2012, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, took part in international conference “Stolypin Readings. Ways of Modernizing Russia. From Stolypin to Modernity” held at the Russian Presidential Academy and Public Administration. The conference was organized by the Academy, The Russian Ministry of Economic Development and the Foundation for Studying Pyotr Stolypin’s Heritage. Russian Deputy Prime Minis...

Easter Message of His Beatitude Sviatoslav

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:38:50 +0100

Christ is Risen! “Let heavens rejoice in a worthy manner, the earth be glad, and the whole world, visible and the invisible, keep the Feast. For Christ our eternal joy has risen!” The Paschal Canon On this festive day of the Resurrection of Christ His Church, full of heavenly light, we praise the Lord, who triumphantly emerges from the sealed tomb. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” the Evangelist John (John 1:5) declares on this Paschal night. As...

“In the letter we appealed to the President as the guarantor who ensures that justice is ...

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:35:32 +0100

Today, during a two and a half hour meeting with the heads of the Ukrainian churches, President Viktor Yanukovych informed the gathering that their petition to pardon Yulia Tymoshenko and Yuriy Lutsenko is only possible once all the court processes involving them have been settled. This was related by the Primate of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church (UGCC), Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) who participated in the meeting with the President. As the UGCC Primate stated, today’s meeting wa...

Communicating the Church in the Middle East: Voice of Charity

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:54:14 +0100

How does the Church communicate in a region where Christians are a minority which is sometimes “just tolerated” ? And where is there room for improvement? Well, the Pontifical Council for Social Communications is sponsoring a seminar for bishops from across the Middle East this week in Harissa, just north of Beirut, Lebanon to seek some answers to those questions.President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, says the event, part of a series of ...

UKRAINE: 36,500 RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS REGISTERED IN THE COUNTRY

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:05:17 +0100

(Sir Europe - Bratislava) - The religious network in Ukraine includes 55 religious currents represented by 36,500 religious organizations at the beginning of 2012. The Institute for Religious Freedom reports that 85 centers and 290 departments of religious associations, 35,013 religious communities (30,880 ministers), 471 monasteries (6,769 monks), 360 missions, 80 fraternities, 201 educational institutions (1,975 students) and 12,899 Sunday schools are registered in Ukraine. According to the off...

Address of His All-Holiness at the 15th Eurasian Economic Summit

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:47:53 +0100

Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew 15th Eurasian Economic Summit(Istanbul Convention Center, April 10-12, 2012) Introduction It is an honor once again to address the Eurasian Economic Summit, which is organized annually by the distinguished Marmara Group and this year is considering various aspects of the relationship between economy and dialogue as well as of development and women’s rights in our world. We have been asked to address how...

2012 Patriarchal Encyclical for Pascha

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 07:35:25 +0100

† BARTHOLOMEWBy the Mercy of GodArchbishop of Constantinople-New Romeand Ecumenical Patriarch To the Plenitude of the ChurchGrace, Peace and Mercy from the Savior Christ, Risen in Glory He became the first-born among the dead.(Easter Apolytikion, 3rd tone) Beloved children in the Lord, If Christ’s Resurrection referred to Himself, then its significance for us would be negligible. The Church proclaims, however, that, the Lord did not arise alone. Together with Himsel...

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates at Sts Cosmas and Damian’s-at-Shubino in Moscow

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 13:00:49 +0100

On April 7, 2012, the Day of the Annunciation, which this year has coincided with Lazarus Saturday, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Department for External Church Relation, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Sts Cosmas and Damian the Unmercenary and Wonder-Workers at Shubino in Moscow. It was also the day when the church celebrated the patronal feast of its central altar. After the liturgy, Archpriest Alexander Borisov, rector of the church, warmly thanked His Eminen...

Supreme Church Council of Russian Orthodox Church meets for regular session at Church of Christ ...

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:58:11 +0100

On April 3, 2012, the Russian Orthodox Church’s Supreme Church Council met for a regular session at the Church of Christ the Saviour. It is chaired by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. In his introductory remarks, His Holiness presented the agenda and shared his thoughts about the strategy of the Russian Orthodox Church’s cooperation with the mass media, the Patriarchal Press Services has reported. Patriarch Kirill said in particular, ‘The most important thing that the...

Abp. Fitzgerald: Giving peace a chance in Syria

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:25:39 +0100

“Its never too late to give up violence”, says Archbishop Michael L. Fitzgerald, nuncio to Egypt and the Cairo based League of Arab States, referring to the Syrian crisis. On Monday Syria pledged to withdraw all military units from towns by April 10 to pave the way for a ceasefire with rebels two days later, as part of a U.N.-Arab League peace plan brokered by envoy Kofi Annan. “The mission of Kofi Annan is a sources of hope that peace can be restored in Syria, but there are conditions for ...

Feast of the Annunciation

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:33:54 +0100

On Sunday, March 25, 2012, His All-Holiness presided over the Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos at the Annunciation Church of Theotokos in Vafeochorion. Among those in attendance were the former Prime Minister of Greece, the Hon. George Papandreou, and his wife Ada, Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh, Ambassador Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos and the General Consul of Greece in Istanbul, the Hon. Nikolaos Matthioudakis.here on the official site of Patriarch...

Coptic Christians after Shenouda

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:27:50 +0100

by Samir Khalil SamirThe late patriarch ruled his Church for 40 years. Spirituality, vocations, participation in rituals have increased, but ecumenism and lay involvement slowed. Skirmishes on intermarriage with Catholics. Nationalist and anti-Israeli, Shenouda clashed with Sadat, who imprisoned him. An alliance with Mubarak to build new churches. The urgency of the mission in society and in defense of women. Egypt caught between a military dictatorship and fundamentalism.Beirut (AsiaNews) - The ...

ROMANIA: MONS. DAMIAN (BUCHAREST), “COURAGEOUS WITNESS” OF CATHOLICS “TO PROTECT THE FAMILY”

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:12:22 +0100

(Sir Europe - Bratislava) - In the Romanian society today, Catholics are called to “speak up for and bear courageous witness to their faith and the values in which they believe and on which their personal and familiar life is founded”. Mgr. Cornel Damian, Auxiliary Bishop of Bucharest and President of the Commission for the Family of the Romanian Bishops’ Conference, said this yesterday during the conference “Where is the family going today?”. Analysing the profile of the family in Roma...

SLOVAKIA: CATHOLIC BISHOPS ON THE 70th ANNIVERSARY OF THE JEW’S DEPORTATIONS

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:17:05 +0100

(Sir Europe - Bratislava) - “Secularized environment of modern european society gave birth to totalitarian ideologies, aspiring to replace the religion. However, it has been proved that they lead Europe and whole humanity to great waves of violence and injustice”, write Slovak bishops in the statement published yesterday on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of deportations of the Jews from the country. The first deportation of young women and girls to the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-...

Bishop Bohdan (Dziurakh): «The status of UGCC Patriarchate should not lead to ...

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:05:37 +0100

The status of a patriarchate in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church should not inflame quarrels between us and the Orthodox world, according to an interview on ZIK by Bishop Bohdan (Dziurakh), Secretary of the Synod of UGCC Bishops and administrator of the Patriarchal Curia. Rather, the Orthodox should view it as a further development of Christ’s Church. The Secretary of the Synod stated, "We in the UGCC rejoice in every good happening in the life of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine ...

Memory Eternal, His Beatitude Shenouda (1923-2012), Patriarch of Alexandria and Pope of the ...

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:00:14 +0100

Together with our Brethren from the other Eastern Rite Christian Churches, namely of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt in grief and we extend our Condolence upon the Death of His Holiness Shenouda III, the 117th Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark the Evangelist of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. He is known for the efforts he made in Commitment of having Christian Unity. He is the first Coptic Orthodox Patriarch to...

Cardinal Tauran to Al Jazeera:"avoid a 'clash of ignorance'"

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 20:12:11 +0100

The President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, has given an interview to the Al Jazeera television network, which first aired in its entirety Saturday morning.The wide-ranging conversation covered topics including the exodus of Christians from the Middle East, the situation in the Holy Land, discrimination against Muslims in Europe, and inter-religious dialogue. Drawing on his years of experience in the Middle East, Cardinal Rauran said, "Christi...

Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church completes the first day of its session

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:27:36 +0100

On 15 March 2012, the spring and summer session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church opened at the patriarchal residence in St Daniel’s Monastery in Moscow. At its first session, the Holy Synod confirmed the Supreme Church Council’s decision of 6 February 2012 on approving plans of the work of the Synodal institutions for 2012 and adopted a resolution on transforming the Synodal Commission for Monasteries into the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism. A Board e...

The Maronite Archbishop: "Christians powerless, while the conflict is headed into the ...

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:42:39 +0100

Damascus (Agenzia Fides) - "The suffering which we live is great. We are assisting the tragedy helplessly. Fortunately, the Holy Father Benedict XVI fills the void demanding peace, justice, dialogue and reconciliation" Mgr. Samir Nassar, Maronite Archbishop of Damascus says to Fides, a year into the insurgency and violence in Syria. In a message sent to Fides, the Archbishop said that "what started as a small demonstration in the southern part of Syria, on March 15, 2011, has now turned into a cr...

HOLY LAND: BEERSHEBA, MASS IN SHELTER. THE TESTIMONY OF FR SALVATERRA

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:11:51 +0100

“There is fear and anxiety, but we still hope for peace. We long for peace and justice; we do not want the victory of one side or the other. There are no winners in this war, but only losers”. With this spirit the small Hebrew-speaking Catholic community (kehilla) of Beersheba, the capital of the Negev region, south of Israel, is facing the Grad rocket attacks launched by Islamic Jihad militants from the Gaza Strip. Israel responded to the latest rocket attack, yesterday evening, with air rai...

Patriarch Sviatoslav: National Shrines Should Belong to Nation and Not to One Denomination

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:17:54 +0100

Patriarch Sviatoslav of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church sent an address to Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn and Ukrainian deputies with a request to withdraw from consideration Bill 9690 on Making Alterations to Certain Laws of Ukraine (regarding transfer of objects of cultural heritage to religious organizations). The head of the UGCC considers unacceptable the transfer of national shrines, which belonged to the unified Kyivan Church, to only one denomination, namely, the Ukrainian Ortho...

Legal status of the Russian Orthodox Church’s diocese of Vienna officially confirmed in Austria

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:09:11 +0100

On March 7, 2012, the Federal Bulletin in Austria published an extract from the official document concerning the establishment of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Diocese of Vienna and Austria. The Diocese of Vienna was established by the Russian Orthodox Church’s Holy Synod decision made in 1945, but it has not been officially recognized by the Republic of Austria until recently. The publication of an official document signed by the Federal Minister of Education, Culture and Arts Claudia Schmid...

Davutoglu and Bartholomew I: Christians between Turkey and Syria

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:06:55 +0100

by NAT da PolisThe Turkish foreign minister visits the Fanar: Turkey wants to show a change and more respect towards non-Muslim minorities. Discussions will focus on the situation of Christians in Syria, where fear for the future dominates. Turkey is among countries pushing for the fall of Assad.Istanbul (AsiaNews) - Winds of change are blowing in Turkish diplomacy regarding how to address the problem of non-Muslim minorities in the country, particularly Christians. The issue is also important fo...

Egypt: The coming persecution

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:27:35 +0100

Makram Diab, an Egyptian Coptic Christian, was sentenced to six years in prison by a court in the province of Assiut on charges of “insulting the Prophet.” But the trial took place with a crowd of two or three thousand Muslims outside the courthouse demanding the death penalty. Eyewitnesses said that many protesters were armed with knives, and that the police barely managed to prevent them from breaking into the courtroom and lynching the accused. Diab’s lawyer, a Muslim called Ahmad Sayed...

Indian Bishops Wrap Up Successful Visit to Holy Land

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:45:18 +0100

(Milan/e.p.) - An ecumenical delegation of Indian bishops and priests has wrapped up a visit to the Holy Land aimed at forging closer ties between the State of Israel and the Christian community in India and promoting pilgrimages and tourism. Led by Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the Archbishop of Mumbai, and Ernakulam–Angamally Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry, the delegation’s four-day visit from February 26th-March 1st included prayers at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher and the cel...

In Iraq as in Syria, foreign troops cause only troubles, Jordanian priest tells Alain Juppé

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:32:13 +0100

by Rif'at BaderFr Rif'at Bader tells the French foreign minister, who boasted about his country's commitment to Eastern Christians, that the flight of Iraqi Christians is evidence of the contrary. If the West really wants to something for the Middle East (and not only for Christians), it must invest in education, media, health care but especially work on solving the Israeli-Palestinian problem.Amman (AsiaNews) - Fr Rif'at Bader, director of the Catholic Media Study Centre in the Jordanian capital...

CHURCH AND EUROPE: MGR. GIORDANO, “MORE VOICE TO SOUTH-EASTERN COUNTRIES”

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:00:54 +0100

(Sir Europe - Strasbourg) - “Despite their problems and sufferings, every people, every nation has its assets, its values, and, if any one is left out, the majority will miss it, but above all it would result in a Europe that is not faithful to the plan of its founders, who devised and imagined it as a common house where all the peoples who live in it have equal dignity, equal rights and equal duties”. Mgr. Anton Cosa, bishop of Chisinau (Moldavia), the spiritual leader of 20 thousand Catholi...

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk awarded degree of doctor of theology honoris causa by ...

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 12:35:53 +0100

On March 6, 2012, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, in his capacity as rector of the Sts Cyril and Methodius Post-Graduate and Doctoral School and chairman of the Synodal Biblical-Theological Commission, visited the Minsk Theological Academy during his visit to Belarus with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and at the invitation of Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarcha...

Good Friday Appeal: Be Together in Fraternity with Holy Land Christians

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 12:07:16 +0100

(Rome/e.p.) - “The annual Lenten journey towards the Pasch of the Lord offers a propitious occasion to sensitize the Catholic Church around the world with regard to the Holy Land by promoting relevant initiatives of prayer and fraternal charity.” So begins this year’s appeal to bishops for the traditional Good Friday collection for the Holy Land. Signed March 1st by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri and Archbishop Cyril Vasil, respectively prefect and secretary of the Congregation for Oriental Churc...

Charity Says Non-Violence Gaining Acceptance Among Palestinians

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 09:59:13 +0100

(Rome) - A recent poll found that just over half of Palestinians were in favour of peaceful negotiations with Israel – a marked change from a decade ago when the second Intifada was at its height. Palestinians are today said to be wary of another uprising and, according to organisations such as the Holy Land Trust, they are turning more and more to non-violent resistance. To find out more about how much non-violence is becoming more widely accepted, and how much the Holy Land Trust is helping c...

Head of UGCC points to positive asceticism for harmonious development of society

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 09:55:31 +0100

“Our society today has, in addition to many flaws, many wonderful things that we do not know about. For harmonious development we need to be aware of our negatives, or those social evils which we speak of. But at the same time we need to discover the huge unique potential, which is in our society, and develop it,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav, head of the UGCC, in an interview to the newspaper Den. This opinion the head of the UGCC expressed when he was asked about how to overcome moral evi...

Holy See: Rising restrictions on religion affect more than 2 billion people.

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 07:28:22 +0100

The Holy See Delegation has addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on the subject of religious freedom. Archbishop Silvano M.Tomasi said in many countries “the gap is growing between widely accepted stated principles, and their daily application on the ground.” He pointed out “rising restrictions on religion affect more than 2.2 billion people.”Archbishop Tomasi also told the Council “religions are not a threat, but a resource. They contribute to the development of ...

Metropolitan Hilarion: Power that is not based on love will never bring good fruits

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 07:22:50 +0100

On 29 February 2012, the Wednesday of the first Lenten week, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, celebrated Grand Compline at the Church of the “Joy to All the Afflicted” Icon of the Mother of God. After the Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, Metropolitan Hilarion addressed the congregation with a homily, which he began with quoting the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, ‘O Lord and Master of my life! ...

Catechetical Homily of His All-Holiness for Holy and Great Lent

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:38:00 +0100

To the Plenitude of the Church: Grace and Peace from our Lord and Savior Jesus ChristAnd Prayers, Blessings and Forgiveness from Us “O faithful, let us joyfully welcomethe divinely-inspired announcement of fasting” Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, In recent times, we observe an elevated level of concern. Many challenges arise. The world is suffering and yearns for help. Indeed, we are going through a general test. Some people call it a financial decline; others refer to it as a...

Vatican : For the Holy Land this Lent

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:01:20 +0100

Below the text of the letter from Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches on the occasion of the collect pro Terra Sancta: The annual Lenten journey towards the Pasch of the Lord offers a propitious occasion to sensitize the Catholic Church around the world with regard to the Holy Land by promoting relevant initiatives of prayer and fraternal charity.Therefore, I am sending this cordial invitation to all ecclesial communities, asking them to place themselves at ...

Holy See follows with "great concern" events in Syria

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:53:27 +0100

The Holy See Delegation has addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on the subject of Syria. Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi expressed "solidarity with the victims of violence and appeals for urgent humanitarian and medical assistance to relieve the sufferings of all those wounded and injured."He also called on regional and multilateral organizations to be involved in the crisis, stating they "are an important instrument in promoting peace and stability in the world, an instrumen...

UKRAINE: UN DONATES $100,000 TO HELP HOMELESS AFTER A SEVERE COLD SPELL

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:29:12 +0100

(SIR Europe - Bratislava) - The United Nations (UN) has donated $100,000 to aid Ukraine’s homeless after over 150 people died during a severe cold spell. According to the UN spokesman Viktoria Andriyevska, the money will be spent on warm clothing, food and heating centers. The country was hit by temperatures plunging to minus 30 degrees Celsius earlier this month, claiming 151 lives and leaving nearly 4,000 people hospitalized with hypothermia, reports the Ukrainian Religious Information Servic...

Pope: Conquering our spiritual desert

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:03:27 +0100

Below Pope Benedict XVI’s catechesis to English speaking pilgrims present at the general audience this Wednesday:Dear Brothers and Sisters, today the Church celebrates Ash Wednesday, the beginning of her Lenten journey towards Easter. The entire Christian community is invited to live this period of forty days as a pilgrimage of repentance, conversion and renewal. In the Bible, the number forty is rich in symbolism. It recalls Israel’s journey in the desert, a time of expectation, purification...

Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church visits Russian Ecclesiastical Mission during his ...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:55:57 +0100

On 16 February 2012, His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia Iliya II arrived in the Holy Land to begin his pilgrimage. Patriarch Iliya is accompanied by Metropolitan Gerasim of Zugdidi and Tsaish; Metropolitan Dimitri of Batumi and Lazeti, administrator of the Georgian parishes in North America and Canada; Metropolitan Saba of Khoni and Samtredia; and by other clergymen, representatives of science and art, benefactors, and the choir of the Tbilisi Holy Trinity Cathedral. T...

Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk visits “political Berlin”

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:51:33 +0100

On Friday, February 17, His Beatitude Sviatoslav visited “political Berlin.” The first stage of the visit was a meeting at the Federal Office of the Chancellor of Germany. Then the Primate of the UGCC visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and finally visited the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. In conversations with senior officials, Patriarch Sviatoslav analyzed the current political, economic, religious and sociopolitical situation in Ukraine. In a special way he explai...

Religious Leaders Condemn Desecration of Christian Monastery in Jerusalem

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:00:23 +0100

(Milan/e.p.-f.h.) - Leaders of the Holy Land's main religions have condemned acts of vandalism and graffiti carried out on a Greek Orthodox Monastery in Jerusalem. In a statement, the Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land said it “condemns the acts of desecration and graffiti” on the monastery in the early hours of Feb. 7. The Council, which comprises the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, the Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs at the Palestinian Authority, and the heads of...

Without dialogue Syria will become a new Iraq, Aleppo bishop says

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:35:19 +0100

Mgr Antoine Audo speaks about the recent attacks that left 28 people dead in his city, including two Christians. The prelate notes the spirit of solidarity between Christians and Muslims, united despite a climate of hatred and violence. He calls on the international community to favour dialogue among the various factions rather than a spirit of vengeance. The Arab League calls for the deployment of United Nations troops to stop fighting between Syrian forces and rebels. Pope made an appeal on Sun...

FIGHTING THE EXODUS AND SPIRITUAL EXTINCTION

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:56:56 +0100

The Middle East is one of the worst hot spots in the world, not only at a geopolitical level, as a fertile ground for every sort of violence and conflicts, but also at a religious one, due to the rising of a militant and political Islam. All over the area, the minorities suffer all kinds of discriminations and persecutions, like the Christians, who are leaving the region at a growing speed. by BISHOP WILLIAM SHOMALIAuxiliary of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem*The Synod of the Catholic Ch...

A CALL FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:04:36 +0100

Squeezed between two extremisms – Jewish (Israel) and Islamic (Muslim countries) – and subject to religious and social discrimination, many Christians prefer to flee from their harsh reality of conflict and instability (In the Holy Land). Their woeful plight calls for our sympathy, spiritual support and solidarity.by FR. JOSÉ REBELO, MCCJ In the Holy Land and throughout the Middle East, Christians are enduring great hardships and the “little flock” they comprise is shrinking steadi...

Gregorios III Laham appeals to Europe for compromise in Syria

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:49:38 +0100

by Fady NounThe Melkite patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem, is concerned that Syria has been caught up in a power game between the United States and Russia. He calls on Europe, which has a Mediterranean vocation, to take the initiative to prevent a civil war.Beirut (AsiaNews) – AsiaNews has interviewed Gregorios III Laham, Catholic Melkite patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem for his views on the Syrian crisis and its possible ...

Head of UGCC takes part in 600th anniversary celebration of transfer of Lviv Archdiocese of ...

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:28:41 +0100

“Allow me from the entire Greek Catholic Church to sincerely congratulate our brethren, bishops, clergy, monastics of the Lviv archdiocese on the beginning of the jubilee year,” said Patriarch Sviatoslav, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, at the celebratory mass on the occasion of the 600th anniversary of the transfer of capital of the Lviv archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church from Halych to Lviv, which was held on February 1, 2012, in the Latin Cathedral in Lviv. The service ...

Kirkuk: Christians in prayer for release of Chinese bishops and priests

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:57:40 +0100

Luis SakoKirkuk (AsiaNews) - On the occasion of Chinese New Year, celebrated on 23 January, which marks the beginning of the year of Dragon AsiaNews sent a letter to President Hu Jintao and Chinese Ambassador in Italy to demand the release of three bishops and six priests, whohave disappeared in police custody or are detained without trial in a country that today is the second largest world economy, is a member of the UN Security Council and has signed the Charter of Human Rights. Among the disap...

CCEE-KEK: FINAL RELEASE FROM THE JOINT COMMITTEE, “THE NEW CHALLENGES FOR THE CHURCHES”

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:21:31 +0100

The Christians of the different confessions living in Europe must engage in a common testimony to respond to the spiritual, demographic, political and economic challenges that the old continent is facing nowadays. This is one of the conclusions reached by the Joint Committee of the Conference of European Churches (Kek) and the Council of European Bishops Conferences (Ccee), which took place in Geneva from 26th to 28th January. This year they also celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishme...

International Day of Prayer for Peace in Holy Land

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:42:13 +0100

Rome (AsiaNews) - At least 2500 cities around the world will participate tomorrow in the IV International Day of Prayer for Peace in the Holy Land, an initiative launched by youth groups and Eucharistic adoration groups, involving over time the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and Custody of the Holy Land. The Day is promoted by various realities of young people: the National Association Papaboys (www.papaboys.it); the Apostolate "Youth For Life" (www.youthfl.org); the chapels of perpetual adorat...

Fr. Neuhaus: Hebrew Catechism Provoking Fascinating Dialogue with Jews

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:48:37 +0100

(Milan) - Father David Neuhaus, a Jesuit of Jewish descent, is patriarchal vicar for Hebrew-speaking Catholics in Jerusalem. In a recent interview with Terrasanta.net, he sets out the pastoral priorities of the small Hebrew-speaking community in the Holy Land under the jurisdiction of the Latin Patriarch. One particular focus is on the preparation and translation of documents to offer appropriate support, in particular a new translation of the Catechism for children. Fr. Neuhaus, what is the iden...

Orthodox Church in support of Putin: yes to crack down on immigration

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:07:41 +0100

Moscow (AsiaNews) - The Russian Orthodox Church has expressed its support for the proposal of the Prime Minister and presidential candidate Vladimir Putin for a crackdown on immigration in Russia. This according to spokesman for the Moscow Patriarchate, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, who is increasingly under the spotlight since the Church has emerged as a possible moderator between the opposition calling for a "Russia without Putin" and the central power, that wants to perpetuate the status quo. ...

A New Direction for the Russian Orthodox Church?

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:28:12 +0100

On January 7 The New York Times reported that Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, head of the Department of Church and Society of the Moscow Patriarchate and one of the highest officials in the hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church, said in a radio interview that the ROC should serve as a mediator between the state and the people. Two days earlier Aleksei Navalny, an opposition leader, had called for just such a role by the Church: “I would very much like for the Russian Orthodox Church to take up ...

For Catholic Church, Islamist victory scares Christians but expresses the will of the people

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:03:03 +0100

Cairo (AsiaNews) – “The victory of Islamist parties scares Christians but expresses the will of the Egyptian people,” said Fr Rafik Greiche, spokesman for the Egyptian Catholic Church. He spoke to AsiaNews about the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists, who together won about 60 per cent of the vote. “During the election, they were guilty of some irregularities but nothing compared to the phoney elections of the Mubarak years,” the clergyman said. “In order not to lose suppo...

Egyptian extremists against Copts, two wounded, houses burned and churches attacked

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:46:55 +0100

Cairo (AsiaNews) - Anti-Christian violence continues in Egypt, according to local sources, the episodes are linked to the attempt of fundamentalist Islamic fringe - Salafis - to block the vote of the religious minority in the next election. On 19 January, a mob attacked the Coptic Christian community of the village of Kebly-Rahmaniya, near the town of Nag Hammadi, Qena governorate, Upper Egypt. The assailants, chanting "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) attacked and burned down houses, huts, shops and...

Death penalty always unjust, even for Mubarak, Catholic Church says

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:53:57 +0100

Cairo (AsiaNews) – “The Egyptian Catholic Church, together with all other Christian denominations, is against the death penalty for any individual,” said Fr Rafik Greiche, spokesman for the Egyptian Catholic Church. He spoke to AsiaNews about the death penalty requested for former President Hosni Mubarak whose trial resumed last Monday after a two-week break.“No one has the right to take the life of another man even if he is guilty of terrible crimes. Only God can do that,” Fr Greiche s...

Patriarch Sviatoslav shares his first Christmas Prosphora with faithful

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:45:24 +0100

This year’s Christmas Prosphora in the Ukrainian Greek Catholics was somewhat unique for it was attended by two patriarchs – His Beatitude Lubomyr Husar and His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk. The event, which for several years the UGCC has held in Kyiv, was like another Christmas, but in Kyiv. It is always a great opportunity to meet with the large Greek Catholic family in the capital of Ukraine and feel how with each passing year the community grows stronger. Patriarch Sviatoslav, the primat...

HOLY LAND: MGR. CHACOUR (MELKITE), THE HISTORICAL RESPONSIBILITY OF CHRISTIANS

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:22:25 +0100

(Jerusalem) - “Christians should not remain here only because they have lands, lands that we are about to lose like our authority. In fact, we still have the historical responsibility to introduce into the life of this Land words and testimonies of reconciliation, solidarity and forgiveness”, Mgr. Elias Chacour, Melkite Archbishop of Haifa, told SIR Europe, commenting on the meeting yesterday in Ibillin, near Nazareth, which brought together Christian, Druze, Muslim, Jewish and Baha’i leade...

HOLY LAND: TWAL TO USA-UE BISHOPS, “DON’T LET’S JUST STOP AND STARE, LET’S WORK TO UNITE”

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:47:51 +0100

(Jerusalem) Faced with the “dramatic change” that is taking place in the Middle Eastern region, “the religious leaders cannot just stop and stare, but must work to build bridges and unite what the walls divide”. This was said by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, to the bishops of the Holy Land coordination (Hlc), which brings together the bishops of North America and the EU for the Holy Land, that, in Jerusalem today (until 12th), have officially opened their pastoral visit, w...

Christmas Message of His Holiness Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Russia

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:34:30 +0100

Christmas Message of His HolinessPatriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Russiato the Archpastors, Pastors, Monastics and All the Faithful Childrenof the Russian Orthodox ChurchYour Eminences the archpastors, honourable fathers,God-loving monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters!On this radiant and joyful feast of the Nativity in the flesh of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ I cordially greet you all, my dear ones. On this light-bearing night together we prayerfully echo the doxology of the ...

Patriarch Kirill calls for Greece to free Abbot Ephraim from Vatopedi Monastery

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:07:19 +0100

Giacomo GaleazziAn unprecedented occurrence in Moscow – Athens relations. The Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill, has asked for the release of Abbot Ephraim from the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos in Greece. From a legal news piece, the case is now turning into a diplomatic and “ecumenical” incident. The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, Kirill and Russian government authorities have sent messages to Greek President Karolos Papoulias, expressing his personal concern at the arrest of A...

Christmas, Kirill to Orthodox Church: Look to Christ "as the sun that lights the path"

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:49:59 +0100

Moscow (AsiaNews) - It is Christmas for the Russian Orthodox present in 60 countries worldwide. More than 6 thousand faithful gathered last night at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, where Patriarch Kirill celebrated the Divine Liturgy. In the front row with President Dmitry Medvedev, his wife Svetlana and many prominent figures from Russian politics and civil society. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, however, welcomed the Christmas in the Cathedral of the Transfiguration in St. Petersb...

Faisalabad: Christians and Muslims back pope’s peace message

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:39:00 +0100

Faisalabad (AsiaNews) – Pakistani Christians and Muslims took part in two peaceful demonstrations to underscore the need of “Educating Young People in Justice and Peace”, which is the theme Benedict XVI chose for the 45th World Day of peace. Some 60 people, including students, lawyers, workers, political leaders and civil society representatives marched in Tandlianwala and Faisalabad against discrimination, extremism, intolerance and terrorism in Pakistani society.Two associations, Peace an...

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 2012

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 12:01:17 +0100

Dear Brothers and Sisters! On the first day of the year, the liturgy resounds in the Church throughout the world with the ancient priestly blessing that we heard during today’s first reading: "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace" (Num 6:24-26). This blessing was entrusted by God, through Moses, to Aaron and his sons, that is, to the priests of the people of Israel. It is a...

Christians and Muslims a year since the start of the Arab spring

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 09:10:42 +0100

by Samir Khalil SamirThe Arab uprising spread like wildfire and every Arab country felt its effects. However, the changes must be seen against the backdrop of the Islamist rise to power. Christians are afraid but must cooperate with Muslims. Syria’s case and the bishops’ reaction are a case in point. The West is confused and Obama discredited. A year on, here is a review of what happened in the Arab world.Beirut (AsiaNews) – Everything began a year ago when a young Tunisian, Mohammed Buaziz...

The Copts fear the "protection" of the army, which turns on NGOs

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 09:07:52 +0100

Cairo (AsiaNews) - The Arab Spring is increasingly being betrayed by the authorities. About 10 months after the fall of the Mubarak regime, sources tell AsiaNews that there is an atmosphere of instability and fear in the country. In view of the end of year festivities and the Orthodox Christmas (January 6), the Coptic community fears new attacks against the churches, similar to those that occurred after the New Year of 2011 in Alexandria and in 2010 at Nag Hammadi (Luxor). Tensions have been incr...

Arab League Observers in Damascus. New bloodshed in Homs

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:31:36 +0100

Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A group of 50 Arab League observers arrived yesterday evening in Syria to try to find a way to end the violence that has bloodied the country for nine months. But also yesterday news and images spread of new massacres in Homs, a hotbed of maximum resistance to the Assad regime. The 50 observers, including 10 Egyptians, have to verify the situation on the ground, oversee the removal of security forces from the cities, the release of imprisoned civilians, stop the ...

2011 Patriarchal Christmas Encyclical

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:55:56 +0100

+ B A R T H O L O M E WBy the Mercy of GodArchbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical PatriarchTo the Plenitude of the ChurchGrace, Peace and Mercy from our Savior Born in Bethlehem“Christ is born again and the Angels sing once more:‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among all.’ "(Luke 2.14-15) Beloved brothers and sisters, children in the Lord,The angels chant these three majestic proclamations and yet the great majority of human beings, although cele...

EGYPT The female faces of Egypt’s revolution

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:45:49 +0100

Andrè AzzamCairo (AsiaNews) – Egyptian Women, deliberately ignored and put aside from the revolution since last March are now regaining their dignity and are letting the whole world hear their voice. Not one of them was elected in the recent parliamentary elections held in two thirds of the 27 provinces or governorates. Terribly mistreated by the army in the last days, in front of the whole world, they reacted by organizing a major demonstration Tuesday in Cairo. Thousands of them crossed...

BELARUS: CATHOLIC RADIO MARIA TO START BROADCASTING VIA INTERNET

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:27:28 +0100

(SIR Europe – Bratislava) - Belarus is on the way to establish broadcasting of a Catholic radio station “Radio Maria”. Progress concerning work on this project was announced by the archbishop of Minsk-Mohilev, Mons. Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, on 15 December. Discussions about establishment of the new radio have been going on since the visit of the president of the Pontifical Council for social communications, Mons. Claudio Maria Celli, in May this year. The plan is to start broadcasting 24 hour...

HOLY LAND: PATRIARCH TWAL’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:21:49 +0100

“Religions have a very special responsibility for helping people build peace. Religions are a factor of peace. Let’s condemn any violence against places of worship as well as any contempt for religious symbols”. This is a passage from the Christmas Message of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, released in Jerusalem this morning during a press conference as he took stock of 2011. The document places emphasis on the importance of inter-religious dialogue, defined as a “prerequisi...

UKRAINE: UNIFICATION PROCESS BETWEEN TWO ORTHODOX CHURCHES HAS FAILED

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:29:14 +0100

(SIR Europe – Bratislava) - The unification process between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP) and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC), which began last autumn, has failed. According to the Kyivan Patriarchate, the clergymen of the UAOC are to blame for the failure of the dialogue, particularly its metropolitans Mefodii and Andrii, who laid down “an unacceptable condition” - the resignation of patriarch Filaret. According to the website http://risu.org...

Egypt: clashes between the army and demonstrators continue in front of the Houses of Parliament

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 19:45:43 +0100

Cairo (AsiaNews) – Clashes that began yesterday afternoon between the army and demonstrators demanding the resignation of the High Council of the military (Hull) in front of the parliament building in Cairo continue today. The toll is now eight people dead and 300 wounded. The escalation of violence has rekindled controversy against the army, which has bloodily suppressed all forms of protest by young people for months. "We do not understand why we are doing this, the population is in shoc...

Nuncio in Russia: this Christmas of crisis a chance to recover sense of eternity

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:40:45 +0100

by Marta Allevato Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, tells AsiaNews about his first year of ministry in Russia. The testimony of the small Russian Catholic community helps to introduce Russian society to Christmas atmosphere. Good relations with the Orthodox Church, help to proclaim the importance of religious principle for the Protection of the person and the family.Moscow (AsiaNews) - The Christmas of the global crisis as an opportunity to "understand that you can be happy even in a context of external...

His Beatitude Sviatoslav proclaims formation of Ivano-Frankivsk Metropolitanate

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:50:23 +0100

On December 13, 2011, the day of St. Andrew, the primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) in Ivano-Frankivsk announced the formation of the Ivano-Frankivsk Metropolitanate of the UGCC and enthroned its first metropolitan – Bishop Volodymyr (Viytyshyn). The metropolitan received powers and obligations under Canons 131-139 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. He will convoke the metropolitan synod and prepare useful questions on the acti...

ARAB SPRING: BUZEK (EU PARLIAMENT) GIVING THE sakharoV AWARD TOMORROW

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:15:59 +0100

(Strasbourg) - “The Arab spring has been the propeller of changes of a truly historical extent. The events of 2011, aimed at pursuing freedom, have offered thousands of examples of unselfish courage”. Jerzy Buzek, president of the European Parliament, gives a preview of the reasons why tomorrow, during the plenary session of the Assembly, he will be giving the Sakharov Award 2011 for freedom of thought to five protagonists of the ”Arab spring”: Asmaa Mahfouz (Egypt), Ahmed al-Zubair Ahmed...

Metropolitan Hilarion attends celebrations making 60th anniversary of autocephaly of Orthodox ...

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:25:55 +0100

On December 8, 2011, the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia marked the 60th anniversary since it was granted canonical autocephaly by the Russian Orthodox Church. On that day, solemn celebrations devoted to the anniversary took place in Prague.The Divine Liturgy was celebrated at St. Nicholas’s in Staromestska Square by His Beatitude Christopher, Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia. Among this con-celebrants were Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Pat...

A day against the persecution of Christians, but especially against religious intolerance

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:25:21 +0100

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - An annual international day to remind the world of persecution of Christians: This is the idea that for some time now has been discussed within the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) and it has met with the appreciation of the Holy See, even if the Vatican seems to push more for a commitment against intolerance of all religions. At the 18th OSCE Ministerial Council, held in Vilnius (Lithuania) on December 6, Msgr. Dominique Mamberti, Vatican Secr...

Coptic Catholic leader warns against worrying too much about Islamists' election victory

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 04:48:16 +0100

Cairo (AsiaNews) – “Egyptians are not a people of extremists; they are moderate and against radical movements. The military council and parliament will not have the power to interfere in the new constitution, which will be drafted with the contribution of all political parties, and this despite the large number of votes that went to the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists in this first round of elections,” said Kamal Zachar, a Coptic Catholic political leader. Speaking to AsiaNews, warned agai...

Patriarch of Moscow: Russian elections, the beginning of a journey

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:09:00 +0100

Nina AchmatovaMoscow (AsiaNews) - The beginning of a long road for change in Russia. This is how the Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill commented on the results of legislative elections that yesterday marked Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party “semi” victory. The party, which since 2007 has held the constitutional majority in the Duma (the lower house of parliament) has experienced a sharp decline in support that has brought it down from 64% to a humiliating 50%. A result, which both the prime mini...

Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church meets with participants in the International Conference ...

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 09:05:51 +0100

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with the participants in the International Conference on Freedom of Faith: the Problem of Discrimination and Persecution against Christians. The meeting took place at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on 1 December 2011.Taking part in the meeting were Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR); Mr. Massimo Introvigne, representative of the OSCE on combati...

Moscow: Catholic and Orthodox clerics against persecution of Christians

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 09:18:01 +0100

Moscow’s “International Conference on the Discrimination and Persecution against Christians, organised by the Patriarchate of Moscow, ended today, with a speech by Patriarch Kyrill. The message sent out, urged the world to speak out against the persecution of Christians – an international emergency that affects one million victims and causes a hundred thousand deaths each year. Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, in charge of the Patriarchate of Moscow’s external relations, described it...

PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS: METROPOLITAN HILARION, APPEAL TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:56:34 +0100

In the world, one Christian dies for his faith every five minutes, and 105,000 Christians die of violent death as result of religious conflicts every year. With those figures, the International Conference about "Religious freedom: the question of Christian discrimination and persecution" opened in Moscow yesterday; it was promoted by the Patriarchate of Moscow concluding today with the publication of a final document meant to let the international public focus on the fact that “Christians are t...

Prophet Muhammad's invitation to Christians to pray in mosques

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:36:03 +0100

Giorgio Bernardelli"Even the prophet Muhammad invited Christians to pray in a mosque before meeting with them.” Among the many words spoken during the three days of the second Catholic Muslim Forum – gathered in recent days in Jordan at the Site of the Baptism of Jesus (a Christian holy site re-launched in these years by a Muslim government) – this phrase spoken by the Jordanian prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal, was probably the most surprising. The quote refers to an episode narrated by...

An interview with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:15:02 +0100

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Prime Minister Najib Mikati spoke with Vatican Radio ahead of his private audience with Pope Benedict XVI on Monday. He commented on the Lebanese desire to preserve Lebanon as this kind of model of coexistence between peoples. “We have to keep it forever,” he said. The Lebanese Premier expressed interest in discussing with Pope Benedict the current events in the region and the role that Christians can play there.Addressing the concern that Christians have been emigr...

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill begins his visit to Armenia

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:35:50 +0100

On 28 November 2011, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia arrived in Yerevan. He is accompanied by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations; Bishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Administrative Secretariat; archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, chairman of the Synodal Department for Church-Society Relations; Mr. Vladimir Legoida, chairman of the Synodal Information Department; and...

The Bishops on Iraq

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 20:37:26 +0100

by Joan Frawley DesmondWhen President Bush first signaled his intention to approve the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, Pope John Paul II strongly opposed the action. The U.S. bishops followed the Holy Father’s lead and lobbied against it. Eight years later, President Obama has announced the withdrawal of all troops from Iraq by the end of the year, and the bishops are scrambling to address an increasingly urgent problem: the plight of Iraq’s already diminished Christian minority, which has bee...

Primates and representatives of seven Local Orthodox Churches meet in the Moscow Kremlin

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:54:43 +0100

On November 21, 2011, the Primates of the Russian, Georgian, Polish Orthodox Churches, of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia and representatives of the Church of Antioch, the Romanian and Bulgarian Orthodox Churches met at the patriarchal residence in the Moscow Kremlin. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia chaired the meeting.Before the meeting the guests from the Local Orthodox Churches who came to Moscow for the celebrations marking the 65th birthday of His H...

EGYPT AND SYRIA: PACE, FIRM CONDEMNATION OF WAVES OF VIOLENCE AND CALL TO DIALOGUE

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:03:43 +0100

The Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) expresses its “deep concern” for the transitional military forces’ “violent repression” of the legitimate demonstrations of the Egyptian population that in the last week alone killed 40 people, and firmly condemned this new wave of bloodshed”. The Bureau welcomes the announcement of the establishment of a national unity government, of keeping the legislative election on 28th November, but it recalls that, in its ...