Friday, March 8, 2013

Syrian Christians Fleeing as Islamists Take Over

March 8, 2013 Featured News

8/3/13 Islamic rebels have been taking over Christian villages in Syria and that leaves the Christians facing some tough choices. Recently a Muslim group captured the Christian village of Yacoubiyeh. Many residents fled, leaving behind empty homes, damaged churches and relics of their faith. Some say they won’t return until they see how the Muslim rebel [...]

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Syria’s Christians Fear Iraq Scenario

March 8, 2013 Featured News

8/3/13 Beirut — Former President Hafez Al-Assad did not rule in the name of minorities, but in the name of the secular Ba’ath party. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of members of his security and political services were not Alawites. In fact, according to the most optimistic estimates, the Alawi sect constitutes around 20 [...]

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The Kidnapping of Coptic Girls

March 8, 2013 Featured News

 Frank Crimi -8/3/13 When a rumor circulated last week that a Muslim woman in the southern Egyptian city of Kom Ombo had been forcibly converted to Christianity, a mob of Muslims felt compelled to riot, attacking and firebombing the city’s local Coptic Christian church. The rioting in Kom Ombo had begun when local Muslim residents believed [...]

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‘A nation that showed courage’: Bulgaria and the Jews

March 8, 2013 Featured News

  CLIVE LEVIEV-SAWYER in ANALYSIS, BULGARIA, NEWS, PERSPECTIVES 8/3/13 Had Bulgaria’s history been different 70 years ago, March 10 would be an occasion for the deepest mourning, because that was the date marked in 1943 for the deportation of Bulgarian Jews to Nazi Holocaust death camps. There is, of course, a day of mourning for the six million who died [...]

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Religious summit to unite Middle East’s Christians

March 8, 2013 News

The Daily Star 8/3/13 BEIRUT: A religious summit between Catholic and Orthodox patriarchs of the Middle East will take place in the next few months, Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai announced Wednesday. Speaking to the Fides Agency in Rome, Rai said that preparations were under way to hold an “important summit” that would address the challenges facing Christians in the [...]

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Patriarch Kiril’s condolences over the death of President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez

March 8, 2013 Featured News

His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, sent the following message of condolences over the death of President Hugo Chavez to interim president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro:  His Excellency Nicolas Maduro Interim President Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela  6/3/13 Your Excellency, I would like to extend my condolences to the [...]

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Fear of Islamic Extremism Brings Eastern Churches Closer

March 8, 2013 Featured News

By: Nasser Chararah for Al-Monitor Lebanon Pulse 8/3/13 Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi last month ended a four-day visit to Moscow on the invitation of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill I. The meeting is significant and constitutes an advanced step taken by Rahi to bring closer Eastern churches of various doctrines. This approach is supported by the Kremlin [...]

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HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE VICE-PRIME MINISTER OF KARABAGH

March 8, 2013 News

On Tuesday, 5 March 2013, at a two-hour meeting, Arthur Aghabekian, the Vice-Prime Minister of Karabagh, briefed the His Holiness Aram I on the efforts of the government of Karabagh to build the young country; the two also discussed future plans. At the end of the meeting His Holiness Aram I expressed his appreciation for [...]

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Catholicos of All Armenians Received the President of the German Bundestag

March 8, 2013 News

On March 6, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All  Armenians received Mr. Wolfgang Thierse, Deputy President of the German Bundestag (Parliament). The Deputy President and his delegation were accompanied by Hermine Nikhogosyan, Vice President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia. During the meeting His Holiness expressed his appreciation [...]

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Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church in Georgia Celebrates Median Day of Lent

March 8, 2013 Featured News

7/3/13 The ‘Median Day of Lent’ (mid-Lent, or Michink) was celebrated at the Surb Echmiadzin Church  in Avlabari, Tbilisi. Michink is celebrated during the middle of lent to encourage people to persevere until the end of lent. An evening Divine Service was held after which the spiritual fathers of the church consecrated the traditional festive [...]

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OCA Youth Department launches new grant program

March 8, 2013 News

SYOSSET, NY [OCA] – 8/3/13 With the approval of theMetropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America, the OCA Department of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministrylaunched its Saint Peter the Aleut Grant Program. The grant will be available to any youth or young adults seeking to offset costs of attending retreats, workshops, or conferences, or to visit [...]

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Concert highlights anniversaries of three seminaries

March 8, 2013 News

WILKES-BARRE, PA [STOTS] 8/3/13 Hundreds of faithful poured into Saint Stephen Episcopal Cathedral here on Sunday, March 3, 2013 for a concert of liturgical music by students from three Orthodox Christian seminaries. The concert was performed by students of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, South Canaan, PA, and Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY, both of which are [...]

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Celebration of the Military Medical Academy’s Day

March 8, 2013 Featured News

Serbian Orthodox Church – 8/3/13 The 169th anniversary of the Military Medical Academy was marked on 1 March 2013 with a solemn ceremony at the AF Guard Club. The jubilee’s celebration attended: His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch; Tomislav Nikolic, President of the Republic of Serbia; Aleksandar Vucic, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Government and [...]

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Metropolitan Mar Aprem takes part in interfaith dialogue at Jakarta conference; initiates step towards fresh perspectives in Christian-Muslim ties

March 8, 2013 News

Indian Malankara Orthodox Church Liju Cherian 8/3/13 # Leaders urged to practise dual commandment to love # Urged to ensure sustainable styles of living, working are maintained # Caution society on adopting policies that can compromise common interests # Find ways of being of aiding migrant families and communities # Religious leaders urged to follow [...]

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