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OCP Media Network reaches more than 1.5 Million readers across 138 Countries

OCP — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:44:37 +0000

OCP News Release
18/6/13

Dear Beloved readers and well wishers

Global: OCP now has over 1.5 million readers per month and over 75,000 regular readers from over 138 countries . The reach of 1.5 million is achieved every month. OCP Media Network is considered to be the worlds largest Orthodox Christian News Portal. Our readership has increased two fold since 2012 and still growing.

We thank all our supports and beloved readers.

Boaz John
Project Manager
Department of Technical Support
Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society

Christians affected by Syrian conflict

OCP — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:04:36 +0000

18/6/13

(Vatican Radio) Syrian activists say at least 20 soldiers were wounded or killed on Sunday evening when a checkpoint near a Damascus airport was struck by a car bomb.

The airport is located in the capital city’s Mezzeh district and is used by Syria’s elite Republican
Guards, Special Forces and Air Force Intelligence. The compound also serves as a private airport for the Assad family. Since the uprising, the airport has been used to fire rockets and artillery at rebellious Sunni Muslim neighbourhoods in Damascus.

At least 93,000 people have been killed since the conflict began two years ago, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced by the violence.

Among those affected by the civil war are Christian communities. A report sent to Aid to the Church in Need, written by a priest ministering in the region, describes the situation in the city of Homs, Syria’s third largest city which has been devastated conflict. Recent explosions in Homs have claimed the lives of some people from the Catholic communities, the report says, including a that of a 10 year old boy.

Speaking with Ann Schneible, spokesperson for Aid to the Church in Need, John Newton, addressed difficulties being faced by Christians in the region.

“There are many different problems which are being faced by Christians who are living in Homs,” he said, “from being caught up in the conflict, to the shortage of supplies which is causing major deprivation among the families out there.”

To address these difficulties, he said, the Church-run humanitarian centre in Homs offers aid to some 6,000 displaced people and families by providing necessities such as food, clothing, medicine, financial help, etc.

In addition to providing humanitarian aid, Newton said, the Church is ensuring that the pastoral needs of Christians are being met. He went on to say that Aid to the Church in Need receives reports from throughout Syria that Churches are “continuing to provide Mass, are continuing to gather the people for prayer, and continuing to offer people hope through prayer and through the Sacraments in a terrible situation.”

Source:

Bulgarian Orthodox Church Urges Cancelation of LGBT Parade

OCP — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:51:03 +0000

18/6/13

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church has expectedly condemned the upcoming Sofia Pride LGBT parade in the capital, claiming the event would “jeopardize the moral pillars of society.”

The Church has claimed that “homosexuality, bisexuality, and transsexuality are an unnatural and harmful violation of God’s will.”

The clerics also believe that “unnatural” relations between people of the same sex – or different sexes – would “devalue” their personality.

The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has called upon the government to cancel the LGBT parade, which is scheduled to take place on June 22.

The event has been backed by the Ambassadors of 14 countries, including the US, Great Britain, France and Germany.

Source:

Patriarch Kirill concludes his primatial visit to Estonia

OCP — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:48:03 +0000

18/6/13

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia paid his primatial visit to Estonia from June 14 through 16, 2013.

The official delegation accompanying His Holiness consisted of Metropolitan Hilarion of Vol0kolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR); Bishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s administrative secretariat; archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, head of the Synodal Department fore Church-Society relations; Mr. Vladimir Legoida, chairman of the Synodal Information Department; archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR vice-chairman; archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations; protodeacon Vladimir Nazarkin, assistant to the DECR chairman; and Mr. Mikhail Kuksov, head of the Patriarchal personal secretariat.

At the airport, His Holiness was welcomed by Metropolitan Korniliy of Tallinn and All Estonia; Bishop Lazar of Narva and Prichudje; State Secretary of the Republic of Estonia, Mr. Heiki Loot; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Estonia, Yuri Merzlyakov; and acting chargé d’affaires of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Estonia, Mr. Vadim Lazerko.

From the airport His Holiness proceeded to the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Tallinn. After the thanksgiving, His Holiness offered up prayers for all the saints who shone forth in the land of Estonia.

That same day, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia met with Mr. Urmas Paet, minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Estonia; and with Ms Ene Ergma, speaker of the Parliament.

His Holiness met with the Prime Minister Andrus Ansip at his residence.

After the meeting, His Holiness visited the Monument of Grief, known as the Linda Monument. A wreath was laid on behalf of Patriarch Kirill.

His Holiness visited the Bronze Soldier, a monument to the Soviet soldiers fallen in the Great Patriotic War. A wreath was laid, and His Holiness had a talk with veterans and other residents of Tallinn.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church visited the Tallinn town hall where he was welcomed by Tallinn Mayor, Mr. Edgar Savisaar.

Later, His Holiness arrived in the Pühtica Convent of the Assumption of the Mother of God. Hegumeness Filareta and the sisters met His Holiness at the holy gates.

In the morning of June 15, His Holiness officiated at the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral and delivered a homily to the worshippers.

After the service, His Holiness visited the cemetery, the holy well and a museum and departed to Narva.

Upon arrival in Narva, he visited the Cathedral of the Resurrection, where a prayer service was celebrated.

His Holiness visited the social centre at the Church dedicated to the Narva icon of the Mother of God and had a talk with the inhabitants.

That same day, His Holiness visited the construction site of the Church of Ss Cyril and Methodius.

On June 16, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia performed a Great Blessing of the Church dedicated to the ‘Swift to Hearken’ icon of the Mother of God in the Lasnamae district, celebrated the Divine Liturgy, and addressed the worshippers.

In conclusion of the visit, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church attended the reception given by the Estonian Orthodox Church and met with Archbishop Andreas Pöder of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Estonia at the Lutheran Cathedral of Tallinn, or Dome Church.

That same day, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and his suite departed from Estonia to Russia. At the airport, they were seen off by Metropolitan Korniliy of Tallinn and All Estonia; Bishop Lazar of Narva and Prichudje; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Estonia, Yuri Merzlyakov; and clerics of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

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Islamists Warn Christians From Demonstrating to Topple Egyptian President

OCP — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:58:37 +0000

15/6/13

Mary Abdelmassih

Assyrian International News Agency

(AINA) — The youth-led Tamarod (rebel) Initiative has collected more than their targeted 15,000,000 signatures calling for a no-confidence vote against President Mohammed Morsi and forcing early elections in Egypt, causing the ruling Muslim Brotherhood party and its Islamists partners to feel seriously threatened, say political observers. Millions are expected to join a nationwide anti-Morsi and anti-Brotherhood demonstration set for June 30, to coincide with Morsi’s first anniversary as president. Protesters in Cairo will go to the Presidential “Unity” Palace in the Heliopolis suburb of Cairo with their demands. “We will stay there until Morsi leaves,” said Mahmoud Badr, spokesman for Tamarod. In every other Egyptian province local protests will be held. Expatriate Egyptians will also hold demonstrations in their respective countries.

This week Assem Abdel Maged, a leader of the Egyptian extremist group Gamaa Islamiya, said that those calling for the demonstrations are “extremists Copts” and issued a warning to the Coptic church and Christian citizens who plan to join in the protests on June 30. Speaking on an Islamist satellite channel (video), he said “Do not sacrifice your children, Muslim public opinion will not tolerate toppling the President.”

Abdel Maged denounced the Coptic rights group Maspero Youth Union as “extremist Copts” whom he holds responsible for the Maspero massacre on October 9, 2011 which claimed the lives of 27 Copts and injured 329, with no Muslim casualties (AINA 10-10-2011). “They held battons in the shape of crosses and assaulted the Egyptian soldiers and smashed the heads of the army recruits with stones while they were in their armored vehicles.” His criticism targeted another rights group, Copts Without Shackles, whom he claims is made up of communists and atheists.

Abdel Maged, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the terrorist attacks in the late eighties in Minya on police headquarters, killing 117 policemen, is coordinator for the Tagarrod Movement to support Morsi and counter the Tamarod initiative. “Not one single Copt signed our petition,” he said.

“Who will be responsible if fanatics slaughter the Copts because of this incitement?” asked renowned Egyptian TV anchor Amr Adeeb, on his nightly program.

It was reported that the Presidential palace applied pressure on Coptic Pope Tawadros II in order to forbid the Coptic Orthodox Christians from joining the demonstrations. However, the Pope told the media the “Copts are free to choose.” This was also confirmed after a multi-denominational meeting of Christian leaders this week in Wadi Natrun, which stressed the freedom of Egyptian Copts in determining their position on the events of June 30, and the Egyptian churches do not impose a specific position on the Copts. “The church does not play politics,” said Coptic judge Amir Ramzy of the Cairo Criminal Court, adding that Pope Tawadros is different from the late Pope Shenouda III, who had asked the Copts not to join the protests of January 25, 2011 Revolution, which ousted former president Mubarak. “The Copts still joined, so even if Pope Tawadros asks the Copts to boycott the June 30 demonstrations, they will still go out.”

Maspero Youth Union announced that they have pressed charges against Abdel Maged on grounds of threatening Egyptian citizens, attempting to threaten social peace and instigating sedition. They will hold him fully responsible in the event that Coptic property or churches are subjected to any attacks before and during the event of June 30 through his instigations.

During the Presidential elections in 2012 which, brought Morsi to power, over 6,000,000 Copts voted, excluding those who were prevented by force by Islamists from leaving their villages to cast their votes, which would not have gone to the Muslim Brotherhood candidate.

Addressing the Copts, Ibrahim Eissa, editor-in-chief of Al Tahrir newspaper and TV presenter, wrote “you are not a minority, you are many and influential, and your participation on June 30 will cause panic to the Muslim Brothers and their partners.”

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Bengaluru Orthodox Students Ministry spreads out to KGF, holds successful one-day conference called Manna@Gold Fields

OCP — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:53:16 +0000

17/6/13

Indian Malankara Orthodox Church

Liju Cherian

KOLAR GOLD FIELDS, Karnataka — Kolar town, about 100-km away from Bangalore city, witnessed a rare conference of Indian Orthodox students on June 2, Sunday. A one-day conference named Manna@Gold Fields was successfully hosted and students irrespective of cast and religion actively participated with great enthusiasm.

Bengaluru Diocese Metropolitan HG Dr Abraham Mar Seraphim presently on US visit had given the green signal to Fr Cyril Varghese, Students Chaplain Priest of Bengaluru Diocese, to host the conference and to make arrangements towards its conduct. Dr Mar Seraphim had appointed a full time Student Chaplain Priest in Fr Cyril for Bengaluru city last year to tap the student community towards Orthodox way of life. Now the efforts of the Chaplain Priest seems to have born fruit.

Fr Cyril inaugurated the conference and delivered his address. A study class on “Personality Development among youth” was conducted by V Samuel, Secretary of Prayer Group from Adoor/Kadampanadu Diocese. Various cultural programmes like speeches, skits, solo song, group songs, mono acts were also staged, Later, the outgoing final year students were felicitated and mementos presented to them. All the participants brought the Holy Bible with them for the conference. Ms Lincy Mathew, representing the student community, gave the welcome speech. Rony Joseph, thanked the audience on behalf of the students at the end of the meeting which concluded with benediction and prayers.

Earlier, the Holy Eucharist began at 7.30 am which was preceded by the morning prayers. All participants belonging to the Orthodox community received ‘Hoosoyo’ and the Holy Communion. After breakfast, the meeting commenced from 9.30 am.

The students gained valuable experience from the conference. It was with due to their support and participation, Manna@Gold Fields 2013 became a great success. All the arrangements related to publicity, stage, seating arrangements was made by the students. Senior group members like Reny Philip, Raju Philip, Kuruvilla Varghese, Pramod Iduculla, Stephen Punnen, Johny K Joseph, were present during the entire duration of the conference.

Fr Cyril also expressed his heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all for their support towards activities of the student’s ministry. He also thanked the Almighty for his mercy and blessings upon the programme.

The Student Chaplain Priest had undertaken several visits to KGF and interacted with the students of various colleges situated in and around the town. Through his meetings, Fr Cyril managed to establish a congregation of Orthodox students. With the active cooperation of the student’s ministry, they celebrated Holy Eucharist and prayer meetings every week. Almost all the students from Orthodox community actively participated in the prayers and the Holy Eucharist.

Source:
Independent

Donelson Coptic Church destroyed under huge fire

OCP — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:48:23 +0000

17/6/13

UPDATE: 8:54 a.m.

Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire that destroyed St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in Donelson on Sunday.

Nashville Fire spokeswoman Kim Lawson said the fire did not appear to be suspicious.

Reported earlier

Flames tore through a Donelson church Sunday, leaving a charred shell of a sanctuary in their wake.

By early evening, fire officials had deemed St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, at 1943 Dabbs Ave. near Briley Parkway, a total loss.

Firefighters believe the three-alarm fire began in the church’s kitchen area shortly before 3 p.m. and spread to the roof, according to Nashville Fire Chief Walter Demonbreun. No one was injured, and nearby homes escaped damage.

The fire began about three hours after the church’s Sunday service had concluded. The blaze escalated as the afternoon wore on, Demonbreun said. About 50 firefighters responded to the scene Sunday to fight the blaze in shifts because of its intensity and Sunday’s high temperatures.

Firefighters kept people at a distance, but church members still flocked to the scene throughout the afternoon, looking on as firefighters poured water into the building. Some held crying babies or corralled children while others called friends and fellow congregants to make sure they had escaped the blaze. About 300 people attend the Donelson church, members say.

Amal Toma rushed to the scene after getting off work Sunday afternoon. She’s been a member of the congregation for 10 years.

“I wanted to come and see if anybody needed help,” she said. “This is my church and I want to see what happened. Everyone here is like family.”

Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the fire but it did not appear to be suspicious, according to Nashville Fire spokeswoman Kim Lawson.

“This is our church, and we always come here during the week and on Saturdays for choir and service on Sunday,” said Nirvana Mikhail, 14.

“I’m so used to coming here, and if we have to go to another church, I would just be sad.”

Contact Nancy DeVille at 615-259-8304 orndeville@tennessean.com. Contact Adam Tamburin at 615-726-5986 or atamburin@tennessean.com.

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Patriarchal Blessing at the Old Court

OCP — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:42:59 +0000

On 16 June 2013, thousands of faithful attended the consecration of the painting restored during the last few years at the Princely Church of Saint Anton – Old Court. The works recently done inside and outside the place of worship were also blessed.

The consecration service was celebrated by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel together with His Grace Bishop Varsanufie Prahoveanul, assisted by a group of priests and deacons. The consecration and blessing of the works done were preceded by the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on a podium specially arranged in the yard of the church by His Grace Varsanufie Prahoveanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
Confession of the divinity of Christ is the first condition of our ascension to Heaven

The Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church spoke in the sermon delivered after the consecration and blessing service about the need of confessing the true faith: “The confession of the divinity of Christ is the first condition for our ascension to Heaven, with the soul in prayer, and then at the second coming of Jesus Christ, our Lord, together with Him after the resurrection of the bodies. Therefore, nobody can ascend in the glory of the love of the Most Holy Trinity unless he or she confesses the faith in the Holy Trinity shown to us by the One of the Holy Trinity who was made man so that Jesus Christ, the Son of God should save us, the humans. That is only if we confess the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He came down on the earth in order to raise us, the humans, to the heavenly life, that He was made man in order to make us, the humans, gods according to the grace, namely to deify us. Only if we confess the Orthodox faith included in the Creed we can ascend to God through the prayer now, on the earth, and then with all our being when Christ comes in glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose Kingdom shall have not end”.

The Orthodox icon represents the reality of history transfigured in the Kingdom of God

The Patriarch of Romanian has also shown the importance of the painting in a place of worship: “The church painting is not a simple decoration as some people wrongly think. Only fourthly it is a decoration for the Church. The church painting is first of all a work by which the right faith is confessed, namely that the unseen God was made seen. God took a human image in Jesus Christ and we meet His divinity through His human image. The Orthodox icon represents the reality of history transfigured in the Kingdom of God. The icons are a permanent confession of the Orthodox faith that God took a human image so that we should have eternal brilliant image in the glory of God. Secondly, the Orthodox icons or paintings are a call to prayer and not to curiosity to ask in what year the painting was done or who executed it. Our first encounter with the Saint of the icon is the prayer in front of the icon, kissing in front of the icon, praying in front of it and kissing it just as when we meet a beloved being to whom we show respect and whom we embrace. So shall we do with the holy icons to which we show respect and kiss because they call us to communion, to an eternal relationship of faith and love with the saints of God”.

To end with, the Patriarch of the Church awarded ranks and distinctions to those who helped with the work done to the holy place of worship. Thus, parish priest Gheorghe Zaharia was awarded the Order of Saints Emperors Constantine and Helen, Rev. Ciprian-Florin Apetrei was awarded the Order of Sanctus Stephanus Magnus, and the honorary rank of iconom stavrofor was awarded to Rev. Viorel-Robert Barbu and to Rev. Iulian-Florin Scuturoiu. The Diploma of Honour of Saints Emperors Constantine and Helen was awarded to the following persons: Mr. Geortge Dinca, Mr. Petru Calistru, Univ. Prof. Dr. Bogdan Voiculescu, Unov. Prof. Stefan Birica, Mrs Marinela Caramida, Mrs. Nicoleta Stroe.

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Basilica – News Agency – 5 Years of Activity

OCP — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:40:05 +0000

Sunday, 16 June 2013, Basilica News Agency of the Romanian Patriarchate celebrates five years of activity. The agency is part of the Basilica Press Centre – Department for Communications and Public Relations of the Patriarchal Administration – and it is the only member of the Press Centre of its name, Basilica.

This media institution was set up at the feast of Saint Pious Dimitrios the New, Protector of Bucharest, 27 October 2007, as part of the Press Centre of the Romanian Patriarchate. The official launch of Basilica Agency took place on 16 June 2008, on the feast of the Holy Trinity. The event was held after the celebration of the Te Deum service in “Europa Christiana” hall of the Patriarchate Palace in the presence of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania.

The role of the News Agency is to present, as news and press documents, the institutions, activity and attitude of the Romanian Orthodox Church on various topical issues. The selection and systematisation of the news is done in accordance with the principles of the Christian morals and of the norms of the journalistic deontology. The news and information are organised in electronic format and present data on the church life in the country and abroad: the activity of the Patriarch of Romania, decisions of the Holy Synod, activity developed in eparchies, monasteries and parishes, theological schools and church associations, dialogue of the Church with society, inter-Orthodox cooperation, inter-confessional and inter-religious dialogue.

The purpose of Basilica News Agency is to reflect reality, as seen by the ecclesiastic body themselves, at all levels, hierarchs, clergy, monastic life and lay people. Having been the News Agency of the Romanian Patriarchate, the religious information presented by website basilica.ro is taken over from the most authorised sources of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

The website of Basilica News Agency is the means by which the daily church reality is presented in the virtual space, a fact also confirmed by the prompt display of the ecclesiastic event held within the Romanian Patriarchate at all its levels. Given the large number of visitors of basilica.ro website and the technical need to improve it in order to better meet their requirements in comparison with the beginning of its activity in 2008, the website was much improved with the blessing and care of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania: on 30 September 2010 a new interface with special graphics was launched, and on 27 October 2012, on the feast of Saint Pious Dimitrios the New, Protector of Bucharest, a new version of basilica.ro website started to operate wishing to be a useful tool for the internet users from all over the world willing to discover the life of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Basilica News Agency is a point of convergence for the other components of the Press Centre of the Romanian Patriarchate (Tinitas Radio, Trinitas Television, Lumina publications, and the Press Office), because the News Agency is focused on the information of the church life, with a precise content which combines image, sound and the written words. Due to basilica.ro website the news can be visualised by the audience far from radio, television or newspaper, in general, far from Romania. For the Romanians living in Diaspora this is the main source of information on the Romanian Orthodox Church both from the country and from abroad.

Basilica News Agency is a voice of the Romanian Orthodox Church at international level too, because ever since it was launched basilica.ro has had an English version too. The main events of the Romanian Patriarchate are published in this language of international circulation as well.

Today, we see that basilica.ro website of the Romanian Patriarchate is the most important source of news in the media virtual space on the life of the Romanian Orthodox Church, a thing also proved by the fact that the majority of the lay publications and mass media means of Romania, as well as most of the church press from the country and abroad take over the information of greatest interest in the life of our Church from the website of Basilica Agency.

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Feast of the Ascension of the Lord at the Patriarchal Cathedral

OCP — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:39:03 +0000

On 13 June 2013, the Orthodox Church celebrated the Ascension of the Lord and the Day of the Heroes. In all the places of worship from the country and abroad, after the Divine Liturgy, remembrance services were celebrated for those who sacrificed themselves for defending the Romanian people.

At the Patriarchal Cathedral the religious service was celebrated by His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

His Beatitude spoke in the sermon delivered about the meaning of the Gospel and significance of the feast.

“Jesus Christ, our Saviour, took the disciples out of Jerusalem and went to Betania, in the Olives Mount, and blessed them. He ascended to Heaven while He was blessing them; He ascended to Heaven in glory and blessing His disciples just to show us that the Church of Christ lives on the blessing of Christ, and they answered this blessing worshipping Him; worshipping Him means recognising His divinity and showing gratitude for everything He has done for them and for the salvation of the humankind”, His Beatitude said according to Trinitas TV.

The Patriarch of Romania has also spoken about the apostles’ joy when they came back to Jerusalem after the Ascension of the Lord: “The disciples rejoiced because Christ promised them He would send them the Holy Spirit, the promise of the Father, the Comforter about whom He spoke to the disciples before His passions and death. The Holy Spirit would help the disciples understand that Christ is no longer present only in front of them as when He was in the world, but mysteriously present in their souls, inside them, and this is why the disciples rejoiced when they came back because Christ, our Lord, would send them the Holy Spirit. They used to spend all their time in the temple, praying, praising and blessing God. This is the end of today’s Gospel. Therefore, their expectation was not a passive but an active one, praying and praising God”.

The feast of the Ascension of the Lord is the feast of the Ascension of the human nature to Heaven: “Christ went to prepare a place in Heaven so that wherever He is, in the glory, love, peace, and happiness of the Most Holy Trinity, His disciples should be too with Him in Heaven as well as all those who believe in Him. Thus, the feast of the Ascension of the Lord to Heaven shows us that Christ has not ascended to Heaven for Him, but to raise to Heaven all those who believe in Him after the universal Resurrection and after the Last Judgement, rewarding with eternal joy the belief in and fulfilment of His will in the world. This is why the feast of the Ascension of Christ, our Lord, is the feast of the Ascension or raising of the man to the eternal life. When Adam sinned God told him: for dust you were and to dust you will return. We see now that Christ, our Lord, raises the body made of dust into the glory of God-the-Father”, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel explained.

After the celebration of the Divine Liturgy the Patriarch of Romania showed the importance of honouring the heroes who died while doing their duty for our freedom, delivering a speech entitled the Sacrificial love of the heroes must be honoured with gratitude, from which we render the following: “The Church has chosen the feast of the Ascension of the Lord as a remembrance day of the heroes in order to teach us that there is a mysterious relationship between the Cross of sufferance, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ, our Lord, to Heaven one hand, and the sacrifice of the heroes of the nation who gave their lives for the freedom, unity and dignity of the Romanian people, on the other hand. The cult of the heroes, namely their remembrance from generation to generation, of those who sacrificed themselves for defending their faith and homeland, is a true culture of the Romanian soul who believes, feels and confesses that love is stronger than death. The multitude of the memorial services for the heroes of the nation has always been a strong factor for cultivating the conscience of our national unity and continuity from generation to generation. The remembrance of the Romanian heroes from all times, as well as the cult of the dead, in general, represents acts of constancy, continuity and unity in soul and senses throughout the generations. On this feast day the graves of the Romanian heroes from the country and broad should not be without burning candles and flowers through which we express our gratitude and love as remembrance prayer stronger than death, namely the uninterrupted spiritual relationship with the heroes who gave their lives in the past for our existence today”.

Then, His Beatitude celebrated the memorial service for the heroes of the nation.

For Romanians, the Ascension Thursday is the day for remembering the heroes too. In order to emphasise the character of national symbol and of memorial of all the Romanian heroes, the Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation is mainly dedicated to the Ascension of the Lord. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel explained in the religious service celebrated at the Patriarchate, the reasons why the Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation is mainly dedicated to the Ascension.

“On the occasion of this great holy feast we celebrated the remembrance of the Romanian heroes and we hope that in a few years time this remembrance be done in the new Patriarchal Cathedral, the Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation dedicated mainly to the Ascension of the Lord and to the Day of the Heroes. The second dedication day is that of Saint Andrew the Apostle, the First Called, Protector of Romania, but the desire to have the Ascension of the Lord as main dedication day and Day of the Heroes belonged to the late His Beatitude Patriarch Teoctist, having been approved by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church”, the Patriarch of Romania said.

Remembrance services of the heroes have also been celebrated in the Metropolitan and Episcopal cathedrals from Diaspora, as well as in the churches of the communities of the Orthodox Romanians from abroad.

“We thank God because the right faith, national being and integrity of the Romanian soul have been preserved through the sacrifice of many heroes of the Romanian nation. This is why we said in our speech for bringing homage to their memory that we must honour them through remembrance prayers and good deeds designed to show our love for Christ, the Defeater of death, for the Church, country and people. This remembrance is a spiritual force designed to keep the Romanians from everywhere in unity of soul and feeling from generation to generation. This is why the Romanian Patriarchate appealed that this day should be for remembrance services of the Romanian heroes not only in the parish churches and monasteries of the country, but also abroad wherever there are Romanian Orthodox faithful, in all continents”, His Beatitude explained.

The answers at the Divine Liturgy were given by “Nicolae Lungu” chorus of the Romanian Patriarchate conducted by Rev. Stelian Ionaşcu.

The faithful present today received small icons of the feast of the Ascension of the Lord on behalf of the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Source:

Colorado Springs faithful ask prayers in wake of Black Forest fire

OCP — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:35:09 +0000

Colorado Springs church not in danger; numerous parishioners affected.

17/6/13

In the midst of what Colorado officials described on Thursday, June 13, 2013 as “the most destructive fire in state history,” Archpriest Anthony Karbo and the faithful of Saints Constantine and Helen/Holy Theophany Church here once again are requesting prayers, nearly one year to the day after they faced the Waldo Canyon fire.

What has been dubbed the “Black Forest fire” has already destroyed nearly 16,000 acres, displaced some 38,000 residents, and affected about 13,000 homes—nearly 400 of which have been destroyed. Much of Colorado Springs has been evacuated, while estimates on containment inched upward to a mere five percent as of Thursday night.

“It’s been really hard to get solid information, as the fire is an on-going, unfolding reality,” Father Anthony told the OCA web team on Thursday evening. “We have about a dozen parish members living in and around the area of Black Forest, in addition to others who consider us their parish home but are not ‘directly’ tied to overall parish life.

“At least two families fear that their homes are completely gone, although there is no official confirmation at this point in either case,” Father Anthony continued. “The families remain anxious, hoping the best but fearing the worst. The rest are under mandatory evacuation from their homes. Today was another particularly dry, hot, and very windy day and, without an ‘official accurate’ count of lost homes, additional losses are assumed and expected.”

Affected parishioners are safe and accounted for, having found shelter with families and friends. Yet uncertainly abounds.

“Just as they think they have things under control, the fire changes direction due to shifting winds, to the point of burning back on itself consuming unspent fuel,” Father Anthony added. “Watching from nearly any vantage point in Colorado Springs one regularly can observe large plumes of black smoke that suddenly burst into the sky, indicating that another home has been lost.”

He added that the parish’s buildings and property are not in immediate danger, “unlike last year’s fire.” [See related story posted in June 2012.]

“We are waiting, watching, praying—with special petitions added at all the services for God’s mercy, compassion, and grace upon those suffering loss and for the sending of ‘favorable weather’ in the form of rain,” Father Anthony continued. “We are in the midst of a long-term drought that began at the time of last year’s fires and continued through what was one of the driest winters on record.

“Parishioners have opened their homes, rooms, and other resources to those affected,” he said. “Affected families are in good spirits despite the circumstances, trusting God, gaining what is most important in life in being forced to ‘lay aside all earthly cares’ while recognizing that the body is more than ‘raiment’ and that life embraces more that ‘where we shall live.’ As this is the second painfully devastating fire in less than one year, it makes me ponder on the ‘righteous chastisement of God’—referenced in our Lityas—and, by extension, what it all means to be good stewards of the earth, not merely consumers of it for selfish pleasure with bigger and bigger houses in riskier and riskier areas… filled with endless ‘stuff’ necessitating ‘bigger barns’ in which to store it all. It just makes one wonder.”

Ongoing prayers are “the best thing others can offer us at this point,” Father Anthony concluded, adding that his biggest hope is “that we will learn from God in it all—and offer a ‘good repentance’ on our part. My biggest fear is that we will not do this.”

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Social media, internet behavior, and human sexuality among Parish Ministries Conference workshop themes

OCP — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:33:38 +0000

17/6/13

SYOSSET, NY [OCA]

The 2013 Parish Ministry Conference will feature several exciting workshops on a number of relevant and engaging topics.

The Department of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry will offer a workshop on ministry with social media that will include techniques for outreach, dos and don’ts, and models for encouraging safe behavior. The Department also will host a discussion session on engaging youth and young adults on so-called “culture war” topics. The workshop and discussion session will be led by Andrew Boyd, OCA Youth Director. Staff from the Orthodox Christian Fellowship will join him for the discussion.

The Department of Christian Education will host a panel discussion, led by Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, on the topic of “Human Sexuality and Godly Love.” This discussion will center on the Church’s teachings on love and sexuality. The Department also will be hosting a workshop titled “Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Porn But Were Afraid to Ask (a Priest).” Led by Priest David Subu, this workshop will offer resources for addressing cybersex, internet pornography, and other sexual addictions.

The 2013 Parish Ministries Conference of the Orthodox Church in America, will be held at Marymount University, Arlington, VA July 10-13, 2013 The conference theme—“Faith in Action: Equipping the Saints for Worship, Learning and Service”—will be developed by speakers and personnel from the OCA’s departments of Christian EducationChristian Education, Christian Service and Humanitarian Aid, Liturgical Music and Translations, and Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry. Father Thomas Hopko will deliver the keynote address.

A complete list of the over 30 workshops to be offered is available here.

Participating clergy will receive Continuing Clergy Development credits [CCD]. Related information may be found here.

More information, including lodging, schedule, and online registration is available here.

His Holiness Aram I heads delegation to the Presidential Palace

OCP — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:31:00 +0000

17/6/13

On Saturday morning, 15 June 2013, His Holiness Aram I, accompanied by the Diocesan Bishops of the Catholicosate of Cilicia and 30 persons representing the General Assembly, met with H.E. Michel Sleiman, President of Lebanon.

Catholicos Aram I first thanked the President for putting the case of Lebanon on the international agenda and for his efforts to strengthen relations between Lebanon and the Lebanese Diaspora. The Catholicos then introduced the members of the delegation to the President and briefed him on the purpose of the meeting of the Church’s General Assembly.

The President thanked the Catholicos for his introduction. He stressed the importance of international relations for Lebanon and the urgency of preserving the internal unity of the country.

At the end of the meeting, His Holiness Aram I and Member of Parliament, Hagop Pakradouni, held a private meeting with the President.

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The General Assembly of the Catholicosate of Cilicia opens in Antelias

OCP — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:29:39 +0000

17/6/13

“The Catholicosate of Cilicia remains true to its vocation of upholding spiritual, moral and national values, building a common Armenian belonging, and demanding justice and restitution of our rights stemming from the Genocide,” Said Aram I

On Wednesday 12 June 2013, the General Assembly began its deliberations under the presidency of His Holiness Aram I. Following the elections of the Officers of the Assembly, Catholicos Aram I addressed the session, stating that the Church must respond to the high expectations of its members. The Catholicos said that the Church faces three challenges in particular: it must reorganize the Diaspora, educate the youth according to the spiritual values of the Church and the ethical and cultural values of the nation, pursue justice by seeking to restore the rights of the Genocide survivors. The Catholicos pointed out that the Catholicosate “has inherited these legacies from Catholicos Sahak, who was deported from the See of Cilicia by the Ottomans, and his successors.” The Catholicosate stated that “we must renew these legacies with vision and commitment.”

Starting the second session, the delegates received the reports of the Central Committee and its Councils. The report of the Executive Council was followed by the report of the Religious Council. The Assembly welcomed proposals regarding Christian education and youth formation. The members were then briefed on the forthcoming meeting of the bishops of the Armenian Church, to be presided over by His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians, Holy See of Etchmiadzin and Catholicos Aram I, Holy See of Cilicia. One of the major issues on the agenda will be the reformation of the Armenian Church. After hearing reports on the ecumenical and interfaith activities of the Church, the Assembly affirmed the important role of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in making the Church known internationally.

Day Two- The General Assembly discusses the report of the Council of Laity of the Central Committee

Sessions on the second day began with the Lord’s Prayer and the blessings of His Holiness Aram I. The delegates received the report and recommendations of the Executive Council. The delegates thanked the Catholicos for his guidance concerning their programmes and projects, which have been quite successful despite limited human and financial resources. The work of the Council was summarized under following eight headings:

1. Establishment of a Committee of Experts to work on the purification of Western Armenian and its application in Armenian schools. The participants also discussed the teaching of religion in Church-related schools.

2. Creation of an Endowment Fund. His Holiness explained that only by establishing such a fund will the Catholicosate be able to become self-reliant and fulfill its mission.

3. Pursuit of the Armenian Cause. Report on the International meetings initiated by His Holiness Aram I in Antelias, to pursue professionally the issues of compensation and restitution. The members also took note of the joint statement of 24 April 2013, regarding the 100th anniversary of the Genocide, signed by Catholicos Karekin II of Etchiadzin and Catholicos Aram I.

4. The situation of Armenians in Syria. His Holiness Aram I described the difficulties, presented the priority needs of the community, and reported on the Special Fund created by the Catholicosate and the contributions of the Dioceses to the Prelacy of Peria (Syria).

5. The economic situation in Greece and the difficulties of the Prelacy. A member of the delegation of the Diocese reported on the situation.

6. Antelias-Etchmiadzin Relations. The Assembly reconfirmed its commitment to work with Etchmiadzin to safeguard the unity of the church.

7. Relations with the government of Armenia. The Assembly affirmed the friendly and cordial relations with the government and took note of the Armenia’s response to the achievements of the Catholicosate of Cilicia internationally.

8. Update on the construction projects of the Catholicosate with the support of Dioceses and individual Philanthropists. The Assembly received an updated report on the construction of the “New Cilicia” housing project in Karabagh. The plenary then received information on the following construction projects in Antelias: Renovation of the Martyrs’ Chapel in Antelias; construction of a new residence for the clergy in Bikfaya, construction of a new altar and re-designing of the surroundings of the Martyr’s monument in Bikafaya, renovation and transformation of the historical building of Birds’ Nest in Byblos to house the Genocide museum.

After hearing the report, the Assembly thanked His Holiness Aram I once more for realizing all these activities with limited human and financial resources.

In response, His Holiness said, “What we have done is an expression of our vision and mission. We want you to assess our work and help us continue the work.”

He thanked the delegates for their contributions to the discussions on the proposed framework for the preparations of the 100th anniversary of the Commemoration of the Genocide and for their positive response to the recommendations concerning the work of the Prelacy of Peria and the Christian Education Department.

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The Ascension of Jesus – the Patron Saint-day of the City of Belgrade and Ascension Church

OCP — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:24:56 +0000

14/6/13

The feast-day of the Serbian capital, Belgrade – the Ascension of the Lord was solemnly celebrated also this year. A joyful celebration of the feast day began with the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy, which was served by His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, in the church of the Ascension of the Lord, with the concelebration of Their Graces Bishops: Longin of New Gracanica-Midwestern America, Irinej of Australia-New Zealand, and Atanasije of Hvosno, as well as lots of clergy.

The Liturgy was attended by a great number of believers.

Church bells announced the traditional Ascension procession led by His Holiness Irinej. The Mayor of Belgrade Dragan Djilas, the president of the City Council Aleksandar Antic, vice-president of the City Council Zoran Alimpic, lots of children with their priests, deacons and religion teachers of the Archdiocese of Belgrade-Karlovac, members of Police and the Army of the Republic of Serbia participated in the procession, which began at the Ascension church. According to estimates, several thousand believers participated in the procession and at the same time lots of people watched the procession from their balconies.

The first stop was at the Terazije fountain, where the prayer of supplication was served for the health of all citizens of Belgrade, and then the procession continued towards the Cathedral church via Knez Mihajlova street.

The host of the Patron Saint-day (Slava) was Mr. Danilo Basic, assistant to the Mayor.

At the head of the procession a cross was carried and the banner of Belgrade from 1938 which was kept in the Ascension church during the times when the city did not observe its Patron Saint’s Day.

As the Slava of the City, the Ascension of the Lord was celebrated for the first time in 1403 when despot Stefan Lazarevic made Belgrade the capital. The Patron Saint’s Day was not celebrated since 1946, and it was restored in 1992.

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1700 years of Edict of Milan

OCP — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:21:20 +0000

Come, o people, and see the works of God
Who works wonders on the earth!

11/6/13

Behold, the year of the Lord’s goodness which has given us a rare and true celebration: it has been given us to celebrate 1700 years since the day when the Providence of God spoke through the holy Emperor Constantine and freedom and power was given to the Christian faith. This is truly a special year and a special jubilee! For the holy Emperor Constantine was no ordinary Roman emperor, like the others. For his victory was not a victory like others. For his Edict was no ordinary royal decree by which someone, through royal power, is forced to obey authority. On the contrary: it was all special and blessed, it was all so significant and great that we today celebrate the light which shone forth with the Edict of Milan in 313 and with the great deed of the glorious Constantine. Even though the entire Christian world is celebrating, we Orthodox Christians, particularly the faithful people of our holy local Church, are celebrating it with greater joy, for we are honoring the convener of the First Ecumenical Council, our fellow countryman, a man who was raised by our rivers and our valleys, warmed by our sun and fed by our lands. Thus we say to all Orthodox Christians, as well as to all Christians and to our friends from other faiths who grasp the significance of the Edict of Milan: may this spiritual joy and celebration multiply!

Our Church rightfully boasts of the holy Emperor Constantine. She does not boast only because he was born here, in the ancient city of Naissus, modern day Nis, but because of all that he saw and accomplished. The Nis of that time was not some village tucked away, neither was it mighty Rome, nor ancient Athens, nor wealthy Corinth, nor cosmopolitan Alexandria. Nevertheless, God’s Providence, which always works ineffably and glorifies the small in great ways, has granted that a man and an emperor, who would grasp in such a way the greatness of Christ and His teaching as did Constantine of Nis, would come from none of these cities. Not being conceited by his descent, he was glorified for his great deeds — as emperor and statesman, but first as liberator, and giver of freedom and follower of the Cross and Christ. That was exactly why he was not driven by the pride of Roman origin, nor the pride of ancient philosophy, nor the arrogance of the Corinthians, nor the indifference of the Alexandrians. Rather, we was enlightened by the Light of Christ’s Resurrection and His victory over death, so that through Christ’s Cross he became greater, more glorious, spiritually more wealthy and a greater cosmopolitan than all of his predecessors.

True greatness is seen in the ability to see further and deeper, that beneath the blurred surface we see the clear interior. Such was Emperor Constantine and such was his celebrated Edict which we honor. Seeing the Gladsome Light of the Holy Glory of the eternal heavenly Father, he saw further and clearer than any of his predecessors on the Roman throne. We know today and can freely say that he saw at least 1700 years in the future. For immediately before the glow of the Edict of Milan the Church and Empire were shaken by the Diocletian persecutions, the bloodiest and most perfidious ever. Those persecutions adorned the Church with a multitude of martyrs, but they gave the end of antiquity an unseen cruelty: in an era that boasted of philosophy, culture and civilization, they persecuted, by fire and sword, people whose only crime was that they did not believe in a multitude of gods, but in the One and Only God – the Lord Jesus Christ; only because they did not want to participate in the cult of the rulers but preached love for all men. And just when it seemed that antiquity would ingloriously finish its glorious course in the blood of the Christian martyrs, Constantine came, and also Christ’s victory. There is coming the return to itself of the cultural universe of that time in the revelation of the lasting Christian values, which become lasting values of, above all, Christian culture, and then of every civilization. And all of that was possible only because of the divine foresight of our fellow countryman – Constantine the Great and Glorious.

“Recognizing for some time that the freedom of religion should not be denied anyone,” says this celebrated man at the beginning of the Edict of Milan. Never did any emperor before him, and rarely any after him, raise the knowledge of God and the knowledge of man to such a level. For – freedom is the foundation of the existence of all mankind inasmuch as mankind needs to achieve its calling. Man is free because he is godlike, for he is created in the image and likeness of God. It is true that man already abused that freedom with the ancestral sin; it is true that man abuses it all too often in various ways, oftentimes threatening others through his own freedom. But without that freedom he is nothing, he does not feel like a man, for in freedom he is given the awareness of his calling towards a free communion with God. This is related all the more to the freedom of religion. For man is homo religiosus by nature, a religious being, a being that seeks in religion the meaning of his existence. Faith, as the most elevated human activity by which man enters into communion with the living God — therefore, as sacred faith — specifically requires a sacred freedom. For faith gives birth to hope, hope to love, and love does not exist where force reigns. Thus, freedom of religion is the foundation of all other values, of all civilizations and cultures which consider valuable respect for the human person and which live by it. We seek today nothing more nor less than that which the Roman emperor, and later saint, made clear 1700 years ago. But it is a basic fact that man needs to be free to believe and confess as his heart desires and his conscience dictates, hindered by no one. It was not so long ago that this was not possible. There are places not too far from us where this is possible, but many are leaving the faith, not asking themselves at all about the meaning of life in societies that offer them a so-called better life. The holy Emperor Constantine of Nis, Orthodox and European, knew that both of these temptations threaten to destroy not only faith but also society, for a society without basic values is only slightly better controlled than a pack of wolves. The holy Emperor knew and saw that force neither helps one to believe or not believe simply because someone so decreed it. He knew that no society would survive unless it allows every citizen that which is basic — faith, sincerity and freedom.

In his Edict which we celebrate today, Saint Constantine was “more modern” and more noble than many of the rulers who came after him, or who govern today, when millions of Christians suffer throughout the world. Having the freedom of a child of God, he knew the values on which it is possible to build a city. Having started out in Nis, at the intersection of East and West, he knew well the good points of both. So he built his capital city in the light of the New Zion, and he gave this capital city the noble ideal on which society can be truly ennobled — the ideal of symphonia or harmony of the Church and the state. The Holy Emperor knew from his own personal experience that neither military power nor the strength of force avails anything unless everything is overshadowed by the Cross of Christ and becomes Christ-bearing. His vision—the vision of victory in the sign of the Cross—became the program for the existence of the Roman Empire after him and of the “Byzantine Commonwealth,” as well as for all of us who share his conviction that Christ always and unfailingly conquers. His vision convinced him of that by which the Byzantine emperors lived continuously for over a thousand years after him, as did the Serbian kings and emperors: that every city and every kingdom must be founded on Christ’s sacrifice and on His Resurrection, but first and foremost—on the expectation of Christ’s second Coming. And we today know that the exclamation “by this sign conquer” is constantly sent out not only to him, but to all. We know that it is only in the sign of the All-Victorious that any kind of victory is possible. Constantine’s looking to the East is the same way we look every day as we await the appearance of our Lord. That is what we see in the Holy Eucharist. It is not incidental that by his Edict of Milan Constantine the Great returned to the Church all the temples and liturgical places. The pagan emperors, in their desire to harm the Church, confiscated the places where the Holy Eucharist was offered, knowing that without the Eucharist there are no Christians, that this was for them their necessary and daily Bread, more necessary for life than anything else. So he allowed the Church to offer the greatest of all sacrifices and the greatest of all offerings—the bloodless Sacrifice of the Eucharist, the Offering above all offerings. This is why the true celebration of the Edict of Milan will always be a liturgical celebration, the liturgical remembrance of the history of our salvation in Christ, as well as of His glorious Second Coming.

Having this greatness of our fellow-countryman before our eyes and in our hearts, dear spiritual children, let us strive to be worthy of him, and not merely take pride in having been born in the same city or country as the greatest of the Roman kings. He is known for his true value, his faith, love and freedom—let us be worthy of that faith, that love and that freedom! He was “modern” because he was the first to openly recognize freedom of religious belief to be a fundamental human right—let us use and protect that right, let us give our children education in the pious faith and in church life. If we celebrate our greatest fellow-countryman, let us teach our children what he himself taught his royal subjects, and that is the beauty of the Christian faith. Behold, Constantine was aware of the value and unity of East and West—just as were Saints Simeon and Sava after him, as were Saints Nikolai of Zicha and Justin of Celije, as were all those Holy Fathers of the Church who told us not to choose imposed options and proposed illusions, but the royal path “above East and West. Above all, let us understand that which is at the foundation of the Edict of Milan, and that is the essential, spiritual unity of the a nation and society as the basis of its all-encompassing progress. The Holy Emperor knew Christ’s words that “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” (Matthew12:25) We cannot enter the Kingdom of God alone; rather we enter it in the Community, in the Church, loving each other. Therefore this lesson for us is at the same time a calling for all of us as citizens of this society and this old European country: to be, like the Great Constantine, peacemakers, for we shall be called sons of God.

Celebrating today’s commemoration of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine and his holy mother, the Empress Helen, and rejoicing in the freedom of religion, evangelization, building of churches, confession of Faith and living according to the Christian Faith which is their everlasting contribution, we prayerfully, but with pain and tears, remember our brothers and sisters, Orthodox Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, the occupied holy Serbian land, as well as the Serbs from the Krajina, who were exiled from there in 1995! Let us also remember, prayerfully and co-suffering with them, all those who suffer in Syria and throughout the Middle-East! Let us also remember all victims of cruel “transitions”, soulless privatization and social injustice in all its manifestations!

All of us need to look up to Holy Emperor Constantine in his care for poor, widows, hungry and weak, as well as the remarkable philanthropic and charitable work of the Church in those first centuries.

All of you, our dear spiritual children, receive readily and joyously, as did Saint Constantine the Great, Christ’s Holy Gospel! Hear the voice: By this you will conquer! – conquer by the Cross of Christ, through which joy has come into all the world! May every human heart be enlightened with the honorable and life-giving Cross of the Lord! It has transfigured and has brought meaning to the cosmos and history. It is the eternal symbol of Christ’s victory over evil, sin and death. The Resurrection is not possible without the Cross, and whoever worships the Cross of Christ and lives by it, partakes in the Resurrection of Christ, in His victory over “the ruler of this world” (St. John 12:31), over his darkness, deceits and injustices.

May this celebration of the completion of seventeen centuries from the day when the truth of the Christian faith began to shine like Sun be to all of us cause to comprehend the greatness of the event we celebrate! The fruit of that miraculous event is the fulfillment of the apostolic mission of the Church in the world. Join us, dear spiritual children, in this celebration! May each day of ours be a new celebration of Christ the Lord, and in Him a celebration of this event! Let us be co-workers of Christ in the work of the salvation of the world! Let us be, at least in some small measure, witnesses of Christ’s love and unity in Christ our Lord, and in all-victorious power of His life-giving Cross! Amen.

Given in Nis, the city of Constantine, on the feast day of Holy Emperor Constantine and Empress Helen, May 21/June 3, 2013.

Archbishop of Pec,
Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and
Serbian Patriarch IRINEJ
Metropolitan of Zagreb and Ljubljana JOVAN
Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Coastlands AMPHILOHIJE
Metropolitan of Dabro-Bosna NIKOLAJ
Bishop of Sabac LAVRENTIJE
Bishop of Srem VASILIJE
Bishop of Banja Luka JEFREM
Bishop of Budim LUKIJAN
Bishop of Canada GEORGIJE
Bishop of Banat NIKANOR
Bishop of New Gracanica – Midwestern America LONGIN
Bishop of Eastern America MITROPHAN
Bishop of Backa IRINEJ
Bishop of Great Britain and Scandinavia DOSITEJ
Bishop of Bihac and Petrovac CHRYSOSTOM
Bishop of Osijek and Baranja LUKIJAN
Bishop of Western Europe LUKA
Bishop of Timok JUSTIN
Bishop of Vranje PAHOMIJE
Bishop of Sumadija JOVAN
Bishop of Slavonia SAVA
Bishop of Branicevo IGNATIJE
Bishop of Milesevo FILARET
Bishop of Dalmatia FOTIJE
Bishop of Budimlje and Niksic JOANIKIJE
Bishop of Zahumlje and Hercegovina GRIGORIJE
Bishop of Valjevo MILUTIN
Bishop of Raska-Prizren TEODOSIJE
Bishop of Nis JOVAN
Bishop of Western America MAXIM
Bishop of Gornji Karlovac GERASIM
Bishop of Australia and New Zealand IRINEJ
Bishop of Krusevac DAVID
Retired Bishop of Zvornik-Tuzla VASILIJE
Retired Bishop of Zahumlje and Hercegovina ATANASIJE
Retired Bishop of Central Europe CONSTANTINE
Vicar Bishop of Hvostno ATANASIJE
Vicar Bishop of Jegar PORFIRIJE
Vicar Bishop of Moravica ANTONIJE
Vicar Bishop of Lipljan JOVAN
Vicar Bishop of Remezijan ANDREJ

THE ARCHDIOCESE OF OCHRID
Archbishop of Ochrid and Metropolitan of Skoplje JOVAN
Bishop of Polos and Kumanovo JOAKIM
Bishop of Bregal and locum tenens of the Diocese of Bitolj MARKO
Vicar Bishop of Stobija DAVID

[Path of Orthodoxy translation]

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Luxembourg: Exhibition of the works of students of the Academy of the Serbian Orthodox Church

OCP — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:19:02 +0000

11/6/13

Bishop Luka of Western Europe and Jean-Claude Larchet opened the exhibition of works of the students of the Academy of Arts of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Luxembourg.

With the blessing of Bishop Luka of Western Europe, an exhibition of the works of the students of the Academy for Arts and Conservation in Belgrade, copies of earlier Christian artifacts, was opened in the Center Convict in Luxembourg on 9 June 2013.

At the beginning of the opening ceremony, director of the Centre, Dr. Wolfgang Fleckenstein, thanked Rev. Zoran Radivojevic for the idea to organize an exhibition of Orthodox mosaics and frescoes in the premises of the Center.

Also priest Zoran Radivojevic and Jean-Claude Larchet addressed the audience. Bishop Luka blessed the gathered and solemnly opened the exhibition.

Protopresbyter-staurophor Dr. Radimir Popovic will deliver a lecture on early Christianity in the territory of Serbia in the Luxembourg’s Center Convict on Thursday, 13 June 2013, on the Feast of the Ascension.

The exhibition ended on Friday, 14 June 2013.

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SEVAG TATEOSIAN: This is why I fight for Armenian genocide recognition

OCP — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:36:20 +0000

17/6/13

Each year on April 24, Armenians around the world commemorate one of the darkest times of recent memory and the darkest period of the Armenian people’s 3,500-year history. No matter which country around the world you visit, the Armenian diaspora, comprised of the offspring of survivors, hold events dedicated to remembering the 1.5 million who perished and the countless others who were kidnapped and tortured.

Each year I join Fresno’s Armenian-American community at Fresno’s City Hall to commemorate this period by raising both the U.S. and Armenians flags to show solidarity between the two countries. Words can’t express how supportive the mayor, City Council and City Hall staff have been. From the parking division to the facilities department to the security staff, all work together and make it easy for us to observe this sad event.

Commemorating is personal for me because of my own family’s story, which I know because of an audio tape left by my grandfather prior to his death. The tape describes just how horrific the acts of the Ottoman Turkish soldiers were. In detail, he tells of being forced out of his home and losing his father and brother during the march through the desert. Words can’t describe the scene he witnessed along the way.

While advocating for the official recognition of the genocide, Valley lawmakers have always been supportive of a just and accurate representation of the events that occurred. Recently, freshman Rep. David Valadao and the rest of the delegation from the central San Joaquin Valley — Reps. Jim Costa, Devin Nunes and Jeff Denham — co-sponsored House Resolution 227, the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Act. Despite pressure from the Turkish government, these men stood up for what is right and that makes me proud to be a Valley resident.

However, not everyone is supportive of labeling the tragedy as genocide. Two common questions that continuously are presented to me are: It was so long ago, why should we care? And why don’t you go back home and fight for recognition there?

I tell people that forgetting any atrocity of this magnitude is difficult. I have spent a lot of time talking to elder Armenian-Americans in the Fresno area. The pain in their eyes when telling the stories of their parents and, in some cases, themselves, provides me motivation to continue the mission to have the Turkish government recognize and apologize for the actions of their predecessors

Armenian-Americans have thrived in Fresno and throughout the Valley. From politics to business to development to law and many other fields, Armenian-Americans have contributed substantially. It is important to know the history of this group of people who ended up here. The bulk of the population came because of the genocide. Today, we see evidence of the Armenian-American community all around us.

As to the argument that I should go “home” and continue my fight there, with all due respect, I am home. My house is in west Fresno. My job, friends and family are all here. I was also educated in Fresno area schools and my writing and speaking English far outshines my ability to read and write Armenian. As Americans (me included) we have a unique history. We all bring to this country a special story and reason for coming here. The Fresno area is no exception. Just look around you while out in our community. Each face has a different story and reason for coming here.

Please don’t ask me to forget my history and I won’t ask you to forget yours. This diversity makes Fresno County such a great place to live. This is “home” to me and the many others who ended up here from their historic homelands.

We are Americans, but each of us has a story that started on a different land and in a different place. I see no problem in sharing that story. It helps us understand and respect each other better. I don’t know about you, but I am here for the long run.

Sevag Tateosian, of Fresno, is host and producer of San Joaquin Spotlight airing on 90.7 KFSR FM and CMAC Fresno.

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Coptic Orthodox Church grows in Glenbrook

OCP — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 06:12:39 +0000

Kate King – 17/6/13

STAMFORD — The St. Peter & St. Andrew Coptic Orthodox congregation doesn’t have a church of its own yet, but its parishioners are already part of Glenbrook.

Father Andrew Awad established the church last year and is focused on introducing the congregation to Stamford. The congregation, which rents worship space from the Zion Lutheran Church on Glenbrook Road, celebrated Egyptian culture and the Orthodox faith Saturday with authentic food, imported souvenirs and traditional music.

“We focus on worship; we focus on the love of God and also serve our neighbors,” Awad said. “We have a lot of community service ideas to help the Stamford and Glenbrook communities.”

Awad, who moved to the United States from Egypt in 1990 and was ordained five years ago, began looking for a place to worship in Stamford three years ago. He found it at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Archangels on Bedford Street, where Father Harry Pappas invited them to perform the Coptic liturgy on Wednesday evenings.

“I called some of the churches in town and the only priest who replied back was Father Harry,” Awad said. “We started with two or three Egyptian families and then people found out about it and started attending.”

The church, which has since grown to about 20, mostly second-generation Egyptian families, chose to name itself after St. Peter, an outspoken and outgoing figure in the gospel, and St. Andrew, who is described as a deeply devoted but quieter apostle. The congregation has a handmade Egyptian alter cover depicting both saints, which Awad drapes over the Lutheran alter for Friday and Saturday night services.

“We chose the name of Saint Peter and Saint Andrew because it shows brotherhood, love, unity and service,” Awad said. “God can accept both types of people.”

Watertown resident Mike Guirguis drove down for Saturday’s festival to support the new Coptic congregation. He attends services both in Stamford and Hamden at the St. Mary & Archangel Michael Coptic Church.

“We are trying to keep our culture going,” said Guirguis, who immigrated to Connecticut from Egypt in 1982. “I’m trying to teach my two sons, who were born here, the traditions. This way we keep the faith.”

Rev. Harvey Weitzel, the presiding minster at Zion Lutheran Church, said he has enjoyed learning about the Coptic Orthodox faith since the St. Peter & Saint Andrew congregation began worshipping on Glenbrook Road a year ago.

“We’re hopefully moving toward finding mutual ministries that we can do together,” Weitzel said. “Zion Lutheran is a small congregation but we have a big building so we’re looking to share it with the community.”

St. Peter & St. Andrew would eventually like to have its own small church, Awad said. That way the congregation can hold more services and permanently display their traditional icons and relics, he said.

“We’re trying to open up to the community and hopefully soon — maybe in a year or two — we can open our own space,” he said. “The word Coptic means Egyptian. As Christians we are very proud of this name and we take it everywhere we go. Keeping the tradition from generation to generation — you’re preserving the history and the faith.”

Kate.King@scni.com; 203-964-2263; http://twitter.com/kcarliniking

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Department of Antiquities unearths Byzantine church in Jerash

OCP — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 11:39:19 +0000

Gioia Forster/ Jordan Times – 15/6/13

AMMAN — Looting of archaeological sites in Jordan is a widespread problem, yet this time it has brought to light the mosaic floor of a previously undiscovered Byzantine-era church near the Roman city of Jerash.

“Underneath about a metre of soil, the mosaic floor of Kanisat Qirmerl was almost perfectly preserved,” Jacques Seigne, director of the French Archaeological Mission at Jerash, told The Jordan Times.

The floor, around five by seven metres in size, is in full colour and depicts an unusual scene of men climbing up trees to hide from bears and lions.

According to the inscription, which mentions the patron and mosaicist of the floor, the mosaics date back to AD 589-590.

The remains were found outside the ancient city of Jerash, located around 40km north of Amman, on private property, Seigne said.

Jerash, known as Gerasa during the Greco-Roman period, reached its greatest size in the 6th century AD as part of the Byzantine Empire.
The Department of Antiquities (DoA), under the leadership of its Jerash director, Rafe Harahshah, has just concluded a 45-day rescue operation to uncover and secure the site with the help of Seigne and his team.

“Looters were digging in the night and discovered the mosaics by chance,” Harahshah and his colleague Ali Al Owaisi told The Jordan Times.

“The next morning one of the looters came to the DoA office in Jerash and told us about it, which is not very common… this meant we could respond quickly,” he noted.

Rescue operations such as the one at Kanisat Qirmerl entail securing the site, launching a preliminary excavation and collecting data to be presented to the DoA, Owaisi said.

“The problem is the DoA lacks resources, which we need in order to get to a site quickly and protect it adequately,” Harahshah said.

“We are mostly dependent on informants for information on looting,” he explained.

Although Seigne stressed that no firm historical conclusions could yet be made about this church, he highlighted its historical significance.

“The discovery of this church is very important because it may add to the argument that there was no systematic destruction of icons during the Iconoclast period,” he said.

The Iconoclast period refers to two periods in the 8th and 9th centuries during which the Byzantine emperors and the Orthodox Church banned religious icons and consequently many religious images were systematically destroyed throughout the Byzantine Empire and beyond.

“The excellent conditions in which the mosaics were found in also indicate that the church was used and preserved throughout the Umayyad period,” Seigne said.

Later in the Umayyad period, it was transformed into a private house and a wall was built across the mosaic floor which has now been dismantled by the rescue operation, he added.

The rapid intervention by the DoA may have prevented possible damage to the mosaic floor of Kanisat Qirmerl.

However, now that the rescue operation is finished, decisions need to be made as to the protection and preservation of the site, Harahshah said.

“A committee within the DoA will now decide how to proceed; whether to buy the land or perhaps transfer the mosaics to a museum, depending on the available funds,” he added.

The Kingdom has thousands of undiscovered sites which are easily accessible, so looting has always been a problem, Seigne said.

“But with the explosion of Jordan’s population in the last decades this issue has become much worse,” he explained.

“The DoA has to be strengthened to keep up with this development,” the archaeologist added.

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