Byzantine Catholics join with almost a half million other Americans in the 2015 March for Life in Washington, DC commemorating the anniversary of Roe v Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decisoin that legalized the murder of children in the womb through abortion during all nine months of pregancy.

Photo is of the Akathist to the Mother of God prayed near the Supreme Court. Below see additional phoots and video.

The March for Life began as a small demonstration and rapidly grew to be the largest pro-life event in the world. The peaceful demonstration that has followed on this somber anniversary every year since 1973 is a witness to the truth concerning the greatest human rights violation of our time, abortion. For more information see marchforlife.org/march-for-life-2015/

2015-01-16 - The Pope has appointed S.E. Msgr. James Nicholas Samra, Bishop of Newton of the Greek-Melkites, Apostolic Administrator (vacant et nutum Sanctae Sedis) of the Eparchy of Nuestra Señora del Paraíso en México of the Greek-Melkites.

risu.org.ua - The three year grant, valued at $1.5M, will support the education of tens of thousands of students, community leaders and the public at large on the historical events of the horrific Holodomor Genocide in Ukraine, 1932-33.

The “Holodomor National Awareness Tour”, is a joint project between four organizations: the Canada Ukraine Foundation (CUF, the lead on the project), the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), the Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Centre (UCRDC) and the Holodomor Research and Educational Consortium (HREC).

CNS - The Vatican has overturned a ruling by Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako, lifting the suspension of Chaldean priests who fled Iraq after the Islamic State came to power.

The Chaldean Patriarch had ordered all of his priests to return to their parishes, unless they had received explicit permission to leave. He reasoned that priests should serve their people even when their ministry puts them in danger.

risu.org.ua - St. Elias Ukrainian Catholic Church in Brampton, Ontario burned to the ground in April will start reconstruction in May. It has received $500,000 in donations, half of which came from an anonymous donor at a recent benefit concert and dinner, the Star informs.

"The local community has really supported us," said parishioner Lu Bobyk after the Sunday service, which has been held in the atrium of St. Augustine Secondary School since the fire.

Bobyk said the St. Elias' insurance will cover $3.8 million for construction of the new building plus $1 million for interior furnishings. The church has not yet officially started fundraising, he said, but more money will be needed for furnishings.

Archbishops and Metropolitans, God-loving bishops, dear brothers and sisters in Ukraine and in settlements aound the world. Fear not, for I bring you great joy today in the City of David was born the Savior -- Christ the Lord (Luke 2, 10-11)

Christ is Born!

With these words of the good messenger from heaven, Christ's Church pronounces the salvation news.Today a Savior was born to us:  God descended to earth and appeared in a human body in the city of Bethlehem.  Heaven and earth rejoices in this;  all humans rejoice in the fact that our Creator did not abandon His creation, but came, in order to take on its fate.  He became a person in order to share with them their life, its sorrows and joys, its anxieties and insecurities.  God becomes one of us, shows himself as our Savior and Redeemer.

In May 2014, Deacon Sebastian Carnazzo, PhD, started the St. John Chrysostom Academy, a scholarly online series of courses that is helping priests, deacons, and seminarians from several eparchies to deepen their Catholic faith through a more profound understanding of scripture.

In a Biblical Apologetics course, he teaches practical methods of evangelizing Protestants in a respectful manner. He shows how Catholics can defend the authority of the Church over the "Bible alone" (Sola Scriptura) argument, and how to address objections to doctrines such as Sacramental Confession, the Real Presence in the Eucharist, and reverence for the Theotokos.

Deacon Sebastian Carnazzo, of the Melkite Catholic Church, lives in San Luis Obispo and attends St Anne's parish. He has a doctorate in Biblical Studies from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, and is an adjunct lecturer on Sacred Scripture at Christendom College.

The Patriarchate’s relief work

His Beatitude Patriarch Gregorios III Laham heads the Relief Committee assisted by his General Auxiliary, Bishop Joseph Absi and General Steward Father Maher Mansour. The committee is composed of a warehouse manager, treasurer, accountant and buyers together with a number of young people available on request besides other volunteers.

The Patriarchate seeks to meet the need of Syrians currently displaced by the violence prevailing in many parts of Syria. Many have fled to Damascus in search of security and assistance. The number of families receiving assistance is now about four thousand. This number is expected to continue increasing for the foreseeable future.

Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregorios III has launched an initiative entitled, Light a Candle for Hope and Peace in Syria.

He has appealed to all the faithful of the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchate and all believers throughout the world, including social institutions and humanitarian associations, to light each evening a candle in their homes and offices, and say a prayer for the peace of Syria and the region.

Pray for the peace of Syria.

From Gregorios III, servant of Jesus Christ,
by the grace of God, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem,
to our brother bishops, members of our Holy Synod,
and all our children in Christ Jesus, clergy and people, called to be saints with
“all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours;
grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
(1 Corinthians 1: 2-3)

“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.” (Luke 2: 29)

The Incarnation as Meeting

“For mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” (Luke 2: 30-32)

Thus exclaims the righteous Elder Simeon, when he takes in his arms the Lord of the universe at the close of the celebrations relating to the Nativity of Christ. Sometimes called the Presentation of the Lord, in the Greek tradition this feast is known as the Hypapante, meaning the Meeting of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ in the Temple: it is primarily the meeting of God and man.