Source: The Australian BY: ROWAN CALLICK THE mother superior of a 1500-year-old monastery in Syria warned yesterday during a visit to Australia that the uprising against Bashar al-Assad has been hijacked by foreign Islamist mercenaries, with strong support from Western countries. Mother Agnes-Mariam de la Croix was forced to flee to neighbouring Lebanon in June when she was warned of a plot to abduct her, after she revealed that about 80,000 Christians had been “cleared” by rebel forces from their homes in Homs province. She described on the website of the Greek-Melkite Catholic monastery of St James, the church she…
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Source: OCP News Service by Amir Ramzi (OCP Correspondent in Egypt) Egypt/Cairo: Heads of Egyptian Christian Churches (Oriental and Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Evangelical Church) gathered at the Cathedral of St. Mark in Cairo for a joint prayer meeting. Numerous faithful, Priest, Bishops of various denominations attended the prayer meeting. The purpose was to pray for the Divine choice of a new Shepherd for the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and All Africa. The Papal election are scheduled for the month of December 2012.
Source: Romfea / MYSTAGOGY by Nikos Pitsiakides Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, among great personalities from around the world, is an Orthodox priest known as the “saint” of prisoners. Father Gervasios from Thessaloniki has dedicated his life to offer assistance to needy prisoners. The last 35 years he has contributed to the release of 15,200 needy prisoners, who come from 90 countries, having raised more than 4,100,000 euros! People of the arts and many scientists from five continents have suggested the Archimandrite Gervasios Raptopoulos as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Academy. The countdown to…
Source: Anatolia News Agency ISPARTA – The ruins of a church and mosaics discovered in illegal excavations in Isparta will be prepared for visitors. The remains are believed to be from the late Roman and Byzantine period and expected to attract faith tourism Excavations are being competed on an early basilica and mosaics that were discovered two months ago during an illegal excavation in the southern province of Isparta’s Kaletepe region. Provincial Culture and Tourism Director Abdullah Kılıç told Anatolia news agency that the illegal excavations had been done by the gendarmerie, followed by rescue work. “During these excavations, we…
Source: Sofia News Agency Bulgarian Christian Orthodox Church Patriarch Maxim has left the Lozenets Hospital, where he was for a second prolonged treatment during 2012. Patriarch Maxim was hospitalized in early August and left the hospital for a short stint at Dormition of Mary (August 15), with doctors requesting him to return promptly. In early September doctors at Lozenets Hospital head informed that the head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is in a much better condition. Bulgaria’s Patriarch Maxim, who was enthroned July 4, 1971, will turn 98 on October 29.
Source: MYSTAGOGY / Romfea by Aimilios Polygenis (translated by John Sanidopoulos) From his childhood years he focused on the martial arts, which led him to study traditional Eastern religions, especially Buddhism. After a period of many years, Tokashi Kishi came to know Christianity, the result of having read very many books. Christianity for Tokashi was another ethical teaching and appeared to him something like Buddhism. After a visit to Russia he felt an inner desire to learn more about Orthodoxy. His desire to become a Christian became even stronger when he returned to Japan, where following his Catechism in the…
Source: Neatorama by Miss Cellania A small church in Aksum, Ethiopia, claims to have the Ark of the Covenant. It is written in Ethiopia’s ancient book of kings that the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba (Menelik, conceived during a royal one night stand) brought the Ark from Israel. It is now kept at The Chapel of the Tablet at the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion. Many historians are not convinced about this account of the Ark coming to Aksum. They believe that it is simply propaganda to get people to accept Menelik’s lineage as…
Source: ARMENPRESS YEREVAN: The Embassy of the United States of America to Turkey provides financial assistance to the restoration works of the Armenian churches implemented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey. The restoration works of the Armenian monuments are carried out in the framework of “Special projects”. According to the Activity Report 2011, the US Embassy in Ankara finances the restoration works of the Holy Savior Church. It was reported by the Turkish Yeni Akit Newspaper, as informed by Armenpress. The Newspaper publishes that in the framework of the “Special projects” the document on the implementation of…
Source: Examiner.com BY: MICHAEL FLETCHER Christians make up less than ten percent of Egypt’s population of 82 million. They have long been the target of sectarian attacks. These attacks have increased since the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak and the coming to power of the Muslim Brotherhood under Islamist president Mohammed Morsi. After receiving death threats from Islamic militants a local priest said and an Egyptian intelligence official confirmed that Coptic Christian families are fleeing their homes in the Sinai Peninsula. The Holy Family Church in Rafah is built on the site where it is believed that Joseph and Mary…
Source: Nine O’Clock.ro His Beatitude Daniel yesterday celebrated five years since he was enthroned as Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR). His five-year patriarchal reign so far has been dominated by his steadfast resolve to get the National Salvation Cathedral built, as well as the construction of new churches both in Romania and abroad, breathing fresh air into theological education, recovery and capitalization on the church asset fund and development of own services, gandul.info reports. On the five-year anniversary occasion, Traian Basescu sent a congratulatory message praising Patriarch Daniel for the dynamism breathed into the Church and his being…
Source: Orthodox Church in America BROOKLINE, MA [OCF] Orthodox Christian Fellowship [OCF] has designated October as Orthodox Awareness Month in an effort to foster an understanding of Orthodox Christianity and educate students on college campuses across North America. Throughout the month of October, OCF chapters are being encouraged to organize activities and programs on their campuses to share the Orthodox Christian Faith with their communities at large. Events include setting up informational tables and hosting speakers, as well as chapter events compiled by OCF’s Student Advisory Board, such as “Compline and Coffee,” “Pizza and Paraklesis,” and many others. “Participating in…
Source: MYSTAGOGY By John Sanidopoulos The canonization of the Great-Schema Monk Elias (born Ilya Yakovlevich Ganja) took place in Makeevka, Ukraine on September 22, 2012. As a young monk St. Elias had spent a short time at the Skete of the Prophet Elias on Mount Athos then at Kiev Caves Monastery in Ukraine, from which he was was forced to leave by the communists. Having no monastery, the holy Elder also had no shelter. He was often seen following the Divine Liturgy sitting on a bench with nowhere to go. He lived in the homes of various faithful and pious…