by Aykhan Hasanov The Republic of Azerbaijan is a Caspian coastal state in the Southern Caucasus which re-established its independence upon the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia, Azerbaijan acts as a bridge-builder in the dialogue of both civilizations. Historical background, geographical position, and population’s ethnic composition gave rise to the existence of various religions on its territory. At certain periods, idolatry, fire-worship, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and a number of other beliefs spread across to varying degrees, mutual influence of which had drawn up the originality of country’s religious…
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Source: St. Catherine’s Vision December 2018 Cherished Brothers and Sisters in Christ, With deep love and gratitude to God for the past year, I write to you now as we begin to enter the heart of the Nativity season and the New Year! Thank you for your friendship, prayers and support that have been sustaining our efforts to this day! From our very beginning, Saint Catherine’s Vision (SCV) has been striving to spiritually encourage and educate women and men who have been endeavoring to follow Christ. We have been building relationships and consulting with groups of persons interested in the various…
via VIDEO | Syrian Christian town where Jesus’ language remains in use celebrates Christmas One of the places where Christmas was celebrated on Tuesday is Maaloula, a small town near Damascus, where residents still speak Aramaic, the language used by Jesus Christ. Maaloula is located in a mountainous area near the Syrian capital, where two ancient Christian monasteries also stand. Some of the damage can still be seen at Christian sites, like defaced crosses and icons or damaged frescos, informs Russia Today. But with peace returning to the cradle of Christianity in Syria, people there gathered together with their…
Source: The Washington Post By E.J. Dionne Jr. Christmas remains wondrous, but it arrives at a difficult moment for Christianity in the United States. We still see Christmas trees strapped to the tops of cars, neighbors lighting up their homes, and children getting as excited as ever. And the churches will be unusually full. This last point is revealing: A relative decline of religious observance has brought forth the “Chreasters,” Christians who attend services only on Christmas and Easter. Regular worshipers can be disdainful of the Chreasters. They make it hard for the loyalists to find seats in the pews and…
Source: Oinos Educational Consulting by Frank Marangos, D.Min., Ed.D., FCEP Merry Christmas Click Bells to View Video Bells are used to tell time, sound an alarm, call to worship, toll the passing of loved ones, commemorate historical events, and express joy. By recalling God’s Gift of the Incarnation of His Son, Christmas bells also encourage philanthropic generosity. Bells are only mentioned once in Holy Scripture. Attached to Aaron’s vestments and “heard when he went into the Holy Place before the Lord” (Exodus 28:33-35), the sound of the High Priest’s bells indicated the condition of Israel’s relationship with God. While the sound…
Benedict Sheehan Saint Tikhon’s Monastery and Seminary are proud to announce that their music director, Benedict Sheehan, played key roles in two of the 2019 GRAMMY®-nominated projects for “Best Choral Performance” as announced on Friday, December 7, 2018. The Clarion Choir’s recently released disc, Kastalsky: Memory Eternal, was one of this year’s nominees. Sheehan worked closely with Clarion music director Steven Fox on every phase of this project from its inception in 2016 to its culmination in the premiere of the fully orchestrated version of the work in the Washington National Cathedral this past October. Clarion’s recording of Memory Eternal…
Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America “Fast Questions and Fast Answers about the Geography of Orthodoxy in America” is the second essay in a group of mini-reports about Orthodox Church life in America. Surprising, stimulating, and, at the same time, important facts about the geographic distribution of Orthodox parishes and church members in America are discussed in this essay. Download in PDF format Here are some examples of the questions that are addressed in this report: Is there is anything unique about the geographic distribution of Orthodoxy in America as compared to other Christian groups? How…
Source: Basilica.ro Raluca Ene via Photo Gallery | Consecration of National Cathedral in 20 picturesEither you attended or not the consecration of the Romanian People’s Salvation Cathedral, we’re helping you recall the important events that took place in Romania on November 25-30 by presenting you a selection of 20 exclusive Basilica.ro pictures. November 23 – HB Patriarch Daniel welcomed HAH Patriarch Bartholomew and Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patra at the Patriarchal CathedralNovember 23 – The Honourable Hand of Saint Andrew the First-Called was brought to Bucharest by a delegation of the Greek Orthodox Church, led by Metropolitan Chrysostomos of PatraNovember 24 –…
Source: The New York Times By Kit Gillet BUCHAREST, Romania — Long past midnight, lines of worshipers snake through the central hall of the People’s Salvation Cathedral, in the heart of the Romanian capital. The building — set to become the tallest Orthodox church in the world when finished in 2024 — is missing its largest dome, and the interior lacks the lavish iconography that Orthodox churches are known for. But even in its unfinished state, the new cathedral is already being seen as an important symbol for Romania. “Being the national cathedral, it is a big building, a representative one,” said…
Source: Moscow Times A Russian Orthodox cathedral set to be built for the country’s armed forces will reportedly train military priests, the head of a foundation in charge of collecting donations for its construction has said. Blueprints for the Armed Forces cathedral were reportedly unveiled at the Venice Bienalle on Thursday, two months after the Russian Defense Ministry began collecting donations to build the megastructure. Reports this year disclosed plans to trainpriests embedded with the Airborne Troops to drive combat vehicles and operate communication equipment. “A school for military priests is being built and the institute of Sisters of Charity [nurses] will…
Source: Vatican News Pope Francis has sent a message to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople on the occasion of the Nov. 30 feast of St. Andrew, patron of the Patriarchate. By Robin Gomes Despite differences between Catholics and Orthodox Christians, Pope Francis said the two communities are called to be a sign of hope by working together for peace, human dignity and care of creation. St. Andrew “We can work together today in the search for peace among peoples, for the abolition of all forms of slavery, for the respect and dignity of every human being and for the care of creation,”…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity Very Reverend Chad Hatfield – “Pan-Orthodoxy: Truth or Fiction?” Paula Kappos: Zoe For Life Cleveland’s Eastern Orthodox Women’s Guild: Karen Felon Paul Finley: FOCUS Local Director History of Pan-Orthodoxy in Cleveland: Father Remus Grama Cleveland”s Orthodox Christian Brotherhood of Priests: Father Alessandro Margheritino IOCC Cleveland Roots – Bert Moyar