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Photo: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace.
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risu.org.ua - On April 5, 2017, exactly a quarter century after the first Council of the renewed Kharkiv-Poltava Eparchy of UAOC, the 27th Council was held in St. Demetrius Church of Kharkiv. The Council was attended by 32 delegates (12 priests and 20 lay people). Head of the UGCC, Patriarch Sviatoslav was attending and participated in the discussion.
According to the press service of the Kharkiv-Poltava Eparchy of UAOC (renewed), the theme of conciliar discussion topic a “vibrant parish” as a model of the parish community. The discussion was attended by Archbishop Ihor (Isichenko), superiors and representatives of parish communities. A relevant resolution was adopted.
Archbishop Ihor and Patriarch Sviatoslav spoke about the progress of the integration of the Kharkiv-Poltava Eparchy of UAOC (renewed) and the UGCC.
Delegates appealed to Pope Francis with a letter, which confirmed the intention to obtain an administrative unity and full communion with the UGCC. The elections of the diocesan board, audit committee, and the diocesan court were held. Pilgrimage to Zarvanytsya was decided to schedule on July 15-16, 2017.
As RISU reported, in an interview with "Nation and State" newspaper, Archbishop Ihor Isichenko said on what principles the Kharkiv-Poltava Eparchy of UAOC would unite with the UGCC. The unity of the Kharkiv-Poltava Eparchy of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church with the UGCC it is not the matter of passing to a different denomination or acceding to it, but, as Archbishop Igor puts it, of the “fraternal advice on recovery of administrative and Eucharistic unity between the two Churches."
Archbishop Isichenko explained that "the UGCC from the late nineteenth century successfully runs the process of restoring the authentic Kyivan and is the closest of our local Christian communities to the Kyivan tradition.”
"We have asked the UGCC episcopate asking for advice on restoring fraternal Eucharistic and administrative unity between our churches. I am eternally grateful for what our appeal, despite his complete surprise for the Church, was made with affection, understanding, and respect for our position. Hierarchical Synod of the UGCC in September 2015 set up a commission to prepare an answer to this request. Currently ongoing work of the said commission, "- said Archbishop Ihor (Isichenko).
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CWN - A Chaldean priest has spoken with “enthusiasm, but also emotion,” about plans to celebrate Mass in on Palm Sunday in one of the towns liberated from the Islamic State.
Father Paul Thabit Mekko reports that ten or more buses will carry Catholics from Erbil, where they found shelter after the Islamic State offensive, to the town of Karamies, on the Nineveh Plains. The town’s church has been cleaned up, he says, and 400 people are expected for the “first Easter of liberation.”
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CWN - A mob attacked the Evangelical School of Sudan in Omdurman, killing Younan Abdullah, a local Christian leader who ran to the school to protect the women there.
The mob was composed of supporters of a local Muslim businessman who is attempting to gain control of the school property, according to Morning Star News, which reports on the persecution of Christians.
The US ambassador and an official from the British embassy attended Abdullah’s funeral, according to the report.
The nation of 36.7 million is 97% Muslim.
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CWN - First Lady Melania Trump has given the State Department’s International Women of Courage Award to 13 women, including a Salesian sister who serves in Aleppo.
Sister Carolin Tahhan Fachakh “has worked tirelessly to support the needs of Syria’s most vulnerable populations, particularly internally displaced persons and children,” according to the State Department. “She has been a beacon of hope to both Muslims and Christians alike, while putting her own life at risk.”
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Rome (cruxnow.com) - On March 27-31 some 22 bishops from Canada were in Rome participating in the semi-regular visits to Rome the world’s bishops pay every five years, to meet with the pope and all the offices of the Roman curia.
“The very first words [Pope Francis] said to us were ‘I understand that being a bishop is a very difficult task, and I want to thank you, and I want you to share with me what you’re experiencing in your homes, and allow me to talk to you as a pastor’,” said Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski of the Ukrainian Diocese of New Westminster, British Columbia.
Nowakowski spoke at length with Crux about their meeting with Francis on Monday 27, after celebrating Mass on the tomb of St. Peter, in St. Peter’s Basilica. Among the issues they spoke about with the pope during their 2.5-hour encounter was the youth, Canada’s assisted suicide bill, and sinodality.
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is the largest of the 22 Eastern churches in communion with Rome, and has a large membership in Canada, where many people went after leaving Ukraine.
Talking on March 30, Nowakowski also spoke about the “blessings” and “many challenges” of having married priests, something the Ukrainian church has had for centuries, in response to comments recently made by Pope Francis on this regard. Any medicament may cause some side effects. Therefore side effects can be really harmful. Health care provider may order some tests to rule out any health problems that may be contributing to the disease. Your pharmacist might recommend another drugs if such pills fail to help or cause dangerous side effects. denverortho.com/wp-content/plugins/elements/?buy-ciprofloxacin-500-mg.html Get medical help if you have any kind of a side effect to Lexapro. Talk to your pharmacist to see if it's secure to make the switch. Do not give your drug to anyone under 18 years old without prescription.
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risu.org.ua - On 26th of March celebrating Divine Liturgy at the parish of Immaculate Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary in Obera, Misiones province, Head and Father of UGCC His Beatitude Sviatoslav finished his pastoral visit to Argentina and Paraguay.
Among those who co-served His Beatitude Sviatoslav were: bishop Danyil Kozlinskyi, eparch of Intercession of Blessed Virgin Mary, eparchy in Argentina, protohegumen of the province of Immaculate Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary in Argentina, fr Ignatius Slobodian, OSBM, the senior priest of the above mentioned parish, fr Andryi Koropetskyi, OSBM, fr Hektor Zimmer, fr.Nestor Harapchuk and fr Taras Havrushko.
As His Beatitude Sviatoslav said in his homily, during this Divine Liturgy God helps us through Gospel reveal our true selves. “Jesus Christ became a man so we could realize that we are all children of God. We were created by the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. Saint Irenaeus of Lyon teaches us: Jesus Christ is full of Holy Spirit, source of our life, our freedom, our happiness. But the integral part what is peculiar to everyone present here is our faith. We have faith, we believe in God – this is what marks and identify our people, who arrived to Argentina 120 years ago. Ukrainian people was formed as a nation through confessing Christian faith. And today we hear these words of Jesus Christ: “everything is possible to those who believe”, said Head of UGCC.
“What does it mean, to have faith? - asked the preacher. – Holy apostle Paul says that to believe means to be open to God totally, who comes to meet us on our ways, who wants to enter and become a part of our life. When a person believes in God, He does miracles because he finds His place on earth, finds a person He can abide in”.
As the preacher says, frequently we cannot see the presence of God among us, when we are suffering. But today’s Gospel, - His Beatitude Sviatoslav says, - tells that God will never leave us. So let us ask, repeating: “I believe, help my unbelief”.
“In today’s Gospel Jesus Christ gives us two tools to help us understand how we, people of little faith, can grow up in our relationship with God as Christians. Christ says: “this kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting. Prayer helps us to grow in personal relationship with God. Fast is a time when we say “no” to our desires, “no” to our weaknesses or bad habits”, the archbishop pointed out.
At the end, Head of UGCC reminded that next Sunday, April 2, the whole Ukraine and all churches in Ukraine are praying for peace. And next Monday, on 3rd of April all Ukrainians are fasting. Since Christ tells us that prayer is one of the tools to drive an aggressor who wants to make slaves of us away. For this reason, Head of UGCC asked all Ukrainian parishes in Argentina and Paraguay to pray and fast together this day.
After the Divine Liturgy, bishop Danyil thanked His Beatitude Sviatoslav for his pastoral visit and teaching addressed to them, what is to be implemented in life, for prayer and blessing, and assured in their prayers for Head of UGCC and the whole Church.
Reported by fr Taras Havryshko