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Photo: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace.
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CWN - Secretary of State John Kerry’s declaration that forces of the Islamic State are committing genocide against Christians cannot erase the United States’ role in the creation of the “jihadist monster,” a Syrian Catholic archbishop charged.
This role, said Archbishop Jacques Behnan Hindo of Hassaké-Nisibi, included American support for Islamist fighters against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s and support for “moderate” rebels in the Syrian Civil War.
“The proclamation of genocide is accomplished by pointing the spotlight on Daesh [ISIS] and censoring all the complicity and historical and political processes that led to the creation of the jihadist monster, since the war waged in Afghanistan against the Soviets by supporting armed Islamist groups,” the prelate said.
He added: "One wants to erase all the strange factors that led to the sudden and abnormal emergence of Daesh. While only until recently, there was even Turkish and Saudi pressure-- US-allied countries-- so that jihadists of al-Nusra Front would take their distance from [the] al-Qaeda network, in order to be classified and maybe even helped by the West as ‘moderate’ rebels."
Archbishop Hindo also sees the declaration of genocide as a political move designed to counter rising Russian prestige in the Middle East.
“The Russian intervention in Syria has increased the authority of Moscow in a large sector of the Middle Eastern peoples, not only among Christians,” he said. “Powerful circles in the US fear that, so now they play the card of protecting Christians.”
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CWN -"Orthodoxy is the Church of collegiality," Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople writes in an encylical letter released in preparation for this year's pan-Orthodox Synod meeting.
"The discernment between truth and lies, between orthodoxy and heresy, is not always easy," the Ecumenical Patriarch explains. Since the Church must proclaim the truth, he says, questions must be resolved. "The Orthodox Church in this case recognizes one, single authenticity: the Synod of its canonical bishops."
The Orthodox Patriarch's letter emphasizes the crucial importance of the coming meeting of all the world's recognized Orthodox leaders. He notes that for many years such meetings have not occurred "for historical reasons," and the restoration of a worldwide consensus is necessary.
Although "the world is waiting to hear the voice of the Orthodox Church on many of the burning issues that concern mankind today," Patriarch Bartholomew writes that this year's world Synod meeting will be devoted primarily to internal questions, to establish clear agreement on fundamental issues of Orthodox belief and governance.
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CWN - Christian leaders in Jerusalem have protested restrictions imposed by Israeli police on the annual Easter Vigil ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Each year, Orthodox prelates share the "holy fire" kindled in the empty tomb, passing the flame along to hundreds of worshippers and eventually to all the churches of the region. This year police will set up barriers to limit the pedestrian traffic around the ancient church, citing the risk that fire could spread in a confined area. Church leaders acknowledge the risk, since the church has only one exit, but express resentment of the government's involvement.
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risu.org.ua - According to the decree issued by Archbishop Ihor (Isichenko), ruling bishop of Kharkiv-Poltava Eparchy of UAOC registered as KPE UAOC (renewed), on April 20, 2016, the XXVI Diocesan Council will be held in Kharkiv, Religion in Ukraine reports, referring to the Kharkiv-Poltava Eparchy website.
Delegates of the Diocesan Council are all priests of Kharkiv-Poltava Eparchy, 2 lay representatives from every church community, 3 representatives from regional fraternities elected at the general meetings, the leaders of diocesan agencies and commissions.
The event will be held at St. Demetrius temple of Kharkiv (Poltavskyy shliakh 44) on April 20, at 12.00-15.00.
The Council will end with the liturgical service.
On the eve of the Councill, April 18-20, 2016, a pastoral meeting of the priests of Kharkiv-Poltava Eparchy will be held at St. Demetrius Catechetical-Pastoral Center.
In the recently publicized pastoral letter dedicated to the beginning of Lent 2016, Archbishop Ihor said: “The experience forgiveness is an invaluable gift of the Church to Ukrainian society. No court, no lustration will ever help it overcome the crisis unless the words of forgiveness come from the mouth of political opponents. Until it happens, we remain hostages to destructive hatred, unable to create a new reality due to immersion in old conflicts. Kharkiv-Poltava Eparchy made its modest contribution to the process of social cleansing at the last council, where, having left aside old prejudices it appealed to the Sister-Church, UGCC, asking for fraternal advice as to the ways of reunion. Now we are preparing the next Council to be held in Kharkiv at the end of Lent to gratefully listen to this advice and further determine our way keeping them in mind.”
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CWN - Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, who holds a primacy of honor in Eastern Orthodoxy, called upon Orthodox Christians to “struggle against the materialistic and covetous way of life” during Lent, which began on March 14 in churches that follow the Julian calendar.
“The fast and abstinence from food, idle talk, and deceitful thought represent the start of the correct, restrained, and temperate use of material goods, with the common good as its goal,” the ecumenical patriarch said in his annual Lenten catechetical homily. “In this way, we eliminate the negative impact that irrational use of goods may have upon society and the natural environment.”
He added: "Especially in our times, the financial and refugee crises, as well as the multitude of hardships that plague the world today, offer to us Orthodox Christians the possibility to cultivate the authentic spirit of the fast, linking abstinence from food with acts of charity and solidarity toward our brethren most in need—those who suffer, the poor, the homeless, the refugees, those who have no place to rest their head, and those who are forced by the harsh conditions of war, challenges, and grief to abandon their paternal homes and to travel amid countless risks, dangers, and sorrows."
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Dearly Beloved Clergy and Faithful,
Christ is risen! He is truly risen!
“We celebrate the very death of death, and the overthrow of Hades, and the beginning of another life which is eternal. Let us sing in joy to the Author of these marvels: the only blessed and most glorious God of our Fathers!” (Pascha Ode 7)
Christ is risen from the dead - this is the proclamation of the good news of our Christian faith! The preaching, worship, and spiritual life of the Church flow abundantly from this event.
St. Paul tells us “if Christ has not been raised, then empty is our preaching; empty too, your faith” (1 Cor 15:14). The resurrection of Christ is the core and center of our preaching; it is the reason for our preaching, and it is the basic reality of our faith and life.