Source: Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (October 13-14, 2012) It is a sincere privilege to be invited by the Prime Ministry Office of Public Diplomacy and the SETA Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research to address this 1st Istanbul World Forum held under the distinguished auspices of and officially opened by His Excellency Prime Minister Erdogan. Moreover, it is a personal pleasure to participate in this esteemed panel on the critical subject of “Religion and Social Justice.” The world of faith can certainly prove a powerful ally in efforts to address issues of social justice. For religion provides a unique…
Monthly Archives: October, 2012
Source: The Washington Post By Associated Press, Published: October 31 PRISTINA, Kosovo — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton toured a Serbian Orthodox church in Kosovo Wednesday as she pressed America’s close ally to step up its minority outreach while trying to convince ethnic Serbs that they have a home in Europe’s youngest nation. At the St. Nicholas Church in Kosovo’s capital, a site of anti-Serb riots eight years ago, Clinton greeted members of the Serb minority who’ve returned to Kosovo after years abroad despite continued interethnic tensions. In Pristina, she also joined the European Union’s foreign policy…
RT Source: USA Today By Irina Titova, AP KIRISHI, Russia: A box in which parents can leave their babies anonymously without any legal risk opened Wednesday in a town in northwestern Russia – part of an effort that activists hope will save many young lives. The baby box in Kirishi, an industrial town 60 miles (100 kilometers) east of St. Petersburg, is the tenth such facility in Russia. Experts think that’s just a fraction of what is needed. “Even if only one child is saved that way it will be worth it,” said Tatiana Sobolevskya, deputy chief of the maternity department…
Source: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America His Eminence Metropolitan Philip has tasked the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America (AOWNA) with a new fundraising project for 2012-2013, “The Antiochian Village Tornado Relief Fund.” Between 2010 and 2012, the AOWNA women in chapters across the U.S. and Canada raised over $315,000 for the Convent of St. Thekla at the Village, and will now turn their attention towards another project to benefit the Archdiocese’s “Holy Mountain.” In the late afternoon of June 1, 2012, a tornado with winds of 110 mph cut a wide swath through the Village grounds…
Susan W. Haikalis of Walnut Creek, California was elected President of the Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) at their 25th Annual Conference in Washington DC this month. Ms. Haikalis is a convert to Orthodoxy and has been involved in a number of groups supporting Administrative Unity of Orthodox Jurisdictions in the US. She participated in Boston with the original GOAL organization and has actively participated in attending OCL meetings for the past 15 years both contributing to discussions and educational programs as well as supporting her husband, Peter Haikalis, in his own leadership in OCL. Ms. Haikalis strongly believes that achieving…
Source: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America Very Rev. Thomas Zain, Archbishop Justinian, Met. Hilarion, Met. Philip, Bishop Nicholas View Photo Gallery His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP received His Eminence, Metropolitan HILARION, the Chairman of the Department of External Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow and all Russia on Wednesday, October 24, 2012. Accompanying Metropolitan HILARION was His Eminence, Archbishop JUSTINIAN, the Patriarchal Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in the United States as well as clergy and a reporter. His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS and Archpriest Thomas Zain also attended the meeting. After welcoming Metropolitan HILARION, the hierarchs exchanged ideas…
Source: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation Saint Paul’s College, Washington, DC October 27, 2012 Recovering the theological significance of Sunday is fundamental to rebalancing our lives. As Orthodox and Catholics, we share a theological view of Sunday and so our purpose in this statement is four-fold: to offer a caring response to what is not just a human, but also a theological question; to add a little more volume to the growing chorus of Christian voices trying to be heard in the din of our non-stop worklife; to offer brief reflections in hopes…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] At least 13 clergy delegates from the Diocese of Alaska and four from the Diocese of Mexico will be joining the 600-plus individuals already registered for the 17th All-American Council at Holy Trinity Church, Parma, OH on Tuesday, November 13, 2012. Recently, an appeal to raise funds to assist clergy from these dioceses with travel expenses was posted on the web site of the Orthodox Church in America at the recommendation of Hieromonk David [Mahaffey] and Archpriest John Reeves to the Metropolitan Council. The appeal goal was to raise $15,000.00. [See related…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] On Thursday, October 25, 2012, the Preconciliar Commission issued answers to 21 questions that have recently been asked with regard to the 17th All-American Council. The Council will convene on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at Holy Trinity Church, Parma, OH. While not exhaustive, the responses will assist in preparing for the Council. Additional questions not addressed may be submitted to the Preconciliar Commission at [email protected]. The questions and responses may be accessed in PDF format.
Source: Agenzia Fides Damascus (Agenzia Fides) – The body of the Greek-Orthodox priest Fr. Fadi Jamil Haddad, pastor of the church of St. Elias in Qatana, was found today in the Jaramana neighborhood (north of Damascus) not far from the place where he was kidnapped, on October 19, by unidentified armed group (see Fides 24/10/2012). This was confirmed to Fides by Fr. Haddad’s Greek-Orthodox confrere, who asked for anonymity. “His body was horribly tortured and his eyes gouged out,” he told Fides. “It is a purely terrorist act. Fr. Haddad is a martyr of our church.” With regards to the…
Source: Catholic World News (CWN) The annual US dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox churches took place on October 15 and 16 in White Plains, NY. The Oriental Orthodox churches, which are distinct from the Eastern Orthodox churches, ceased communion with the Holy See following the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon in 451. The dialogue, co-chaired by Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany and Metropolitan Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim of the Syriac Orthodox Church, focused on ministry to immigrants and the plight of Middle Eastern Christian. Related Stories Concern For Immigrants, Middle East Christians Focus Of Catholic Dialogue With Oriental…
Source: Orthodox Church in America SYOSSET, NY [OCA] On Tuesday, October 23, 2012, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America released a Pastoral Letter marking the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Expressing concern for human trafficking and related issues today, the members of the Holy Synod note that, “as the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation draws near, Orthodox Christians in the United States understand that our freedom in Christ compels us to come closer to the world that we are to serve, protect, heal and transfigure. The Church cannot ignore God’s…