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Photo: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace.
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CWN - A Syrian Christian kidnapped from his village by the Islamic State and released nearly a week later said that he was treated well but constantly pressured to convert to Islam.
“We said we would not convert,” the hostage said, according to a report from the Assyrian International News Agency. “They said you must then pay the jizya [tax on non-Muslims] or leave the country. That was the option given to us. We said we would pay the jizya but we would not convert.”
“They said this time they would not collect the jizya because we had not fought against them,” said the hostage, who had been rounded up during a surprise nighttime raid. “They said that they would release us on condition that we not return to our village. They said if we returned and they captured us again they would kill us without any other option, they would behead the men and enslave the women.”
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CWN - After Syrian rebels fighting to oust the Assad regime rejected a UN proposal for a humanitarian truce, Bishop Georges Abou Khazen of Aleppo told the Fides news service that the country’s bloody civil war will apparently continue for as long as foreign countries continue to arm the fighters.
The UN had proposed a six-week halt to fighting in the region around Aleppo, and the Assad government had accepted the suggestion. But rebel groups—including those armed by the US and other Western powers—said that they would not accept a truce unless President Bashar al-Assad agreed to step down.
Bishop Abou Khazen pointed out that the US and Turkey have recently agreed to provide support and training for rebels over a three-year period. “So for them the war will last another three years, and the people here will continue to suffer and die for another three years,” he said.
"Like St. Paul, we hope against hope,” the bishop said.
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CWN - Following the recent release of 19 Syrian Christian captives, the Islamic State has released four more hostages, including a six-year-old girl, according to the Assyrian International News Agency.
Hundreds of Syrian Christians, kidnapped from their villages on February 24, remain in captivity.
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CWN - In remarks made after a recent Lenten liturgy, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church criticized the vanity manifested in discussions on social media networks.
“Every person has a chance to say something that becomes known to many other people, especially in social net[work]s,” said Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, according to the Interfax news agency.
“If we examine these spontaneous discussions, we will see the human vanity fair,” he continued, as he criticized those who “try to show themselves, not to search for the truth.”
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risu.org.ua - President Poroshenko met with the Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Sviatoslav Shevchuk.
They discussed the leading role played by the Church in these crucial moments of a nation that Ukraine is going through, and stressed the importance of spiritual component to strengthen the country and achieve victory.
President Poroshenko expressed his gratitude for active patriotic position of Archbishop Sviatoslav and bishops and priests of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. "Great respect and appreciation deserves your position on Russia's aggression, prayers for the Ukrainian state, soldiers that protect the most valuable thing we have - our freedom, our country, our future" - he said.
"You are making an invaluable contribution to peace, peace in your hearts, because the enemy Ukraine seeks not only for a military victory, but also wants to open a second front in the country, to sow hatred. Therefore the word of the Church, which calls for unity today is extremely important, maybe more than ever in our history, "- said Poroshenko.
"We are trying at different levels, in different ways to engage all our spiritual strength, our ability as a global church structure and to support our country and serve the people" - said Sviatoslav Shevchuk.
The patriarch informed that during his recent visit to the Holy See he asked the Pope to initiate international charitable aid to Ukraine. "We will do everything to save people," - said the Archbishop. "I told the Pope that our Church today - a military field hospital, which treats human soul, heals wounds and trying to serve people" - he said.
The patriarch said that during a recent visit to the Vatican raised the issue of Nadia Savchenko. "We always remember her, pray for her. For Nadia is a symbol, a symbol of life and death, justice and injustice, truth and lies," - said Bishop. The patriarch expressed hope that the Holy See will take steps regarding her fate.
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CWN - Pope Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, met on March 3 with families of the 21 Christians who were beheaded by the Islamic State in Libya.
The Coptic prelate has announced that the 21 victims will be recognized as martyrs. They “have enriched the Church with their blood,” he said.
Meanwhile another Coptic Christian was found beheaded in Libya, the Fides news service reports.
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