News

Details

Last Updated: 19 February 2013

CWNews.com -The Serbian Orthodox Church has decided not to extend an invitation to Pope Benedict XVI to attend celebrations marking the 1700th anniversary of the Edict of Milan, which will take place in Nis in 2013.

The celebrations in Nis, the birthplace of the Emperor Constantine, had sparked some speculation that invitations might be extended to both Pope Benedict and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill. However, a meeting of the Serbian Orthodox Synod concluded with an announcement that plans for the celebration were complete, and would not include an invitation to the Roman Pontiff.

According to the Serbian news agency Tanjug, the Orthodox bishops said that the Vatican had already announced that Pope Benedict would not attend the celebrations in Nis. That is inaccurate. In April the director of the Vatican press office, Father Federico Lombardi, said that the Pope had not yet made any travel plans at all for 2013. While saying that any talk of a papal visit to Nis would be speculative, the papal spokesman did not dismiss the possibility.

Details

Last Updated: 19 February 2013

Damascus - We: Ignatius IV Hazim,Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Mar Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and Gregorios III Laham, Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and Jerusalem, condemn the cowardly criminal act that took place in the Qazaz district of Damascus on the morning of Thursday, 10 May 2012, and condemn all acts of terrorism that have targeted different regions of the beloved Syrian land, claiming the lives of many innocent victims and wounding both civilians and military personnel, the children of this great nation.

In view of this grievous loss, we pray to God to heal the wounds of Syria and Syrians, and to restore the children of the one homeland to one another in love, openness and reconciliation, tolerance, mutual assistance and wisdom, preferring always the interest of the country to any other interest, distancing themselves from violence in all its forms, aiming for the good of our beloved country and building it again on the basis of civilized, humane, firm justice and good citizenship, co-existence and peaceful freedom of expression; all that is related to serving the nation and citizens.

With one mouth and one heart we raise our prayer to Almighty God to give rest to the souls of the homeland’s martyrs, comfort the hearts of the bereaved, preserve Syria and bring it to a haven of safety, peace, sovereignty and prosperity. In a spirit of pastoral responsibility we call on all the children of this country, both Muslims and Christians, to join us in prayer to Almighty God to protect Syrians from all danger and harm, trusting in the Lord’s saying to us: “Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

May the name of the Lord be forever blessed.  Amen.

Details

Last Updated: 19 February 2013

KEVELAER. On Pentecost weekend Kevelaer will be dominated by the "international pilgrimage" of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, in short, the Lazarus Order. At the invitation of the Grand Master of the global order, HE Don Carlos Gereda de Borbón, Marquis d'Almazàn, and the Spiritual Protector, His Beatitude Patriarch Gregorios III of Damascus, some 200 members of the Ecumenical Order will be meeting from 24 to 27 May in the Marian town. Whether from Malta, the headquarters of the Order, or from Ireland, whether from Germany, Finland, Spain, Nigeria, Canada or the United States - the members, Knights and Ladies from more than 20 nations, are also using the pilgrimage for various Lazarus Order events. The tourist office of Kevelaer and district is the contact for the individual applications of international visitors and will be serving as a registration office on guests' arrival. The highpoint of the pilgrimage of the Order of St. Lazarus will be the walk from Kerken-Eyll to Kevelaer on Saturday. The international pilgrimage ends with an invitation to a festive High Mass in St. Mary's Basilica on Pentecost Sunday.

Photo: About 200 members of the Order of St. Lazarus are meeting on Pentecost weekend for the "International Pilgrimage 2012" at the Kevelaer shrine.

Source: http://www.rp-online.de/niederrhein-nord/kevelaer/nachrichten/oekumenischer-lazarus-orden-in-kevelaer-1.2759452

Details

Last Updated: 19 February 2013

22.04.12

70 Knights and Ladies of the Patriarchal Order of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem in Trier

The elaborately clothed Knights and Ladies at the Divine Liturgy in the Church of Our Lady

Trier– About seventy members of the "Pariarchal  Order of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem" of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, a church united with Rome, that is, in complete ecclesial communion, have been making a pilgrimage to the Holy Tunic. The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is a guardian of the Byzantine Liturgy in the Catholic Church: the members of the Order were invited together with the leader of their Church, Patriarch Gregorios III of Antioch.

Pastor Hans Wilhelm Ehlen has had to welcome numerous groups to the newly restored Church of Our Lady in Trier since its re-opening in 2011. Yet probably none of them dressed in such a colourful and ornate way as those of the Patriarchal Order of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem. The German and Belgian members of the patriarchal lay-order, which has its headquarters in Aachen, appeared in their costumes as Ladies and Knights, to celebrate a  solemn Mass of the Byzantine Liturgy and tradition. The chief celebrant was the leader of the Melkite Greek Catholic  Church: His Beatitude the Grand Master and Patriarch Gregorios III of Antioch.

The Grand Master Gregorios III, Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church of Antioch and All the East (born in 1933) answered with a smile the question as to whether this was his first visit to Trier. In fact the Patriarch, resident in Damascus (Syria) is something of a Holy Tunic veteran: "I’ve known Trier since 5 August 1959, when I took part in the Pax Christi walk from Metz to Trier and the holy Tunic. Since then I’ve come back again and again."

The Undivided Robe is for him a symbol of the unity of Christendom, which symbolises the passion, but also the resurrection of Christ. Christians from West and East, the Patriarch suggests, ought to stand together, so that there is less violence –  above all, especially in his homeland of Syria. "Alas, the situation is very tense there. Syrians should be able to look to the future together. That is why I tell Europe: help us, since you can give some people in the country more confidence and trust.. We can survive this crisis." The Patriarch and the members of the order were welcomed by Suffragan Bishop Jörg Michael Peters. The Melkite Greek Catholic Church has about two million faithful. The Order of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem carries out numerous aid projects in the Middle East, including projects of church conservation and preservation of holy sites, the construction of educational facilities and institutions of health care.

Until 13 May the Diocese of Trier invited people to make pilgrimage to the Holy Tunic in Trier. This was the first occasion since 1996 that the holy Tunic could be seen again in Trier Cathedral. The pilgrimage took place under the heading "and bring together what is separated." The holy robe, the tunic of Jesus Christ, is the most important relic of the Cathedral of Trier. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, is supposed to have brought it to Trier in the fourth century. Information about the Holy Robe Pilgrimage can be found on the Internet at www.heilig-rock-wallfahrt.de or at the Pilgrimage Office, Tel.: 0651-7105-8012.

Source: http://www.heilig-rock-wallfahrt.de/start/aktuelles/meldung/ein-patriarch-pilgert-zum-unzerteilten-gewand.html German translated by V. Chamberlain

http://www.kath.de/zentrum/termine/liturgie/feier_alle.htm

2012-04-14 Vatican Radio Christ’s Holy Tunic venerated in Trier

On Friday of Easter Week, Pope Benedict XVI’s special envoy Cardinal Marc Ouellet, presided over a ceremony opening the pilgrimage to the Holy Tunic, preserved in the Cathedral of Trier in Germany. The relic, piously believed to be the ‘seamless garment’ worn by Christ at the Passion, was exposed for the veneration of the faithful for only the fourth time in the last hundred years. According to legend, the Holy Tunic was brought to Trier – at the time, the capital of Gaul – by St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine.

This year’s pilgrimage marks the 500th anniversary of the first public exposition of the Tunic in the year 1512. In a message to the Bishop of Trier, Stephan Ackermann, Pope Benedict said he would be present in thought with all the pilgrims who come to venerate the relic. The Holy Father said the Tunic is a symbol of the Church, which lives “not by its own power, but through the action of God.” “This garment,” the Pope said, “is the undivided gift of the Crucified One to the Church, which He has sanctified with His blood. For this reason, the Holy Tunic reminds the Church of her dignity.” As many as half a million pilgrims were expected to visit Trier during the four weeks (April 13 – May13) when the Sacred Tunic was exposed.

http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/articolo.asp?c=579806

Details

Last Updated: 19 February 2013

So it seems to Gregorios III, an authentic voice from Syria, from where there is no objective reporting

07.05.12

Currently a guest in Trier: Patriarch Gregorios III Photo: Bost

Bodo Bost spoke for PAZ with Patriarch Gregorios III, head of some two million Melkites, one of the largest Eastern Churches in union with Rome, based in Damascus, Syria.

PAZ: You have come from a region in crisis. Do you hope that the situation in Syria will settle down again?
Gregorios III: Unfortunately we cannot expect that tomorrow, but perhaps the day after tomorrow. The situation is very tense and will get increasingly so, as there are many outside influences that stoke the fire and  exacerbate the situation, by supplying weapons and funds … Syrians have to find one another, talk with one another, that is the only way for the situation to settle down. That is why I am telling Europe, not to further inflame the situation in Syria, but rather help our people through more trust and confidence. Europe and the USA must stay out of this conflict, as only Syrians alone can resolve this conflict. If Israel is allowed nuclear weapons and other countries not, this generates one-sidedness, which just further inflames hatred, not lessens conflicts in the region. We Eastern Christians are hated by Muslims on account of you, because Christian countries in Europe and the USA cannot manage to bring about a just peace in the Middle East. We want to pray for peace in Jerusalem and the peace of the Holy Land.

PAZ: Will President Bashar Assad reach out to the opposition, even if Europe does nothing towards resolving the crisis in Syria?
Gregorios III: Help us, so we can agree. We have been living together as Christians and Muslims now for over a thousand years. No-one can prescribe for us how we should be shaping our life together. Give us an opportunity, for people in Syria to find one another and shape their future by themselves peacefully.

PAZ: Does the Church support President Assad?
Gregorios III: We don’t need to support any system. We were there already before Assad and before his father and we shall be there after Assad. We are a free Church; we speak with the government to help the people, not to support the regime.

PAZ: What hopes do you place in the Annan plan?
Gregorios III: Without faith in the future there will be no peace and no peace plan can help then. We need optimism and faith in a better future.

PAZ: In what way does foreign influence have a detrimental effect on Syria?
Gregorios III.: A good example of that is the report of the Arab League’s leader of the Observer Mission, General Dabi. His report was objective and fair and issued a good account of the Assad Government; therefore nobody wanted to take any notice of this report.

PAZ: Do you also have any contacts with the Observer Mission?
Gregorios III: Not directly, but people have come and reported to us, so we have learned from their report.

PAZ: What future do you see for Syria?
Gregorios III: The world is not fair. Only God is just and only God can bring peace. The world is ruled by economic interests. Formerly Saudi Arabia and Qatar were quite staunch friends of Syria. Why are they now against Assad? Are the regimes there better for Christians or for human rights? Today Syria is a huge weapons cache and the international community wants to give even more money to Syrian rebels.

PAZ: At the beginning of March the Um Al-Zennar Church (Church of the Mother of God’s Belt) of Homs was torched. This Church is the most significant Christian symbol in the centre of the civil war-torn city of Homs, where the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch had his headquarters from 1933 to 1959 and here there was one of the most important relics in Syria with the Mother of God's belt. What do you know of its destruction?
Gregorios III.: The church was damaged, as it lay in the field of fire of the opposing factions. Actually this important church is in the Christian quarter of Homs. The rebels have dug into this quarter, from which the Christians have fled, and shoot from there at the security forces, which have their positions in the outer suburbs and return the fire from there. We haven’t been able to talk about peaceful demonstrators for a long time now.

PAZ: How is Muslim-Christian dialogue in Syria?
Gregorios III: We have no problems with one another. Interference from abroad is the problem.

PAZ: Why have you come to Trier on pilgrimage to the holy tunic?
Gregorios III: I came for the first time to the holy tunic in Trier with a group organised by Pax Christi in August 1959. At that time the German-French friendship was being prepared. Robert Schuman went at that time on pilgrimage to the holy tunic. It was my first visit to Germany. Since then I have been captivated by the land, its people and its culture. I have such a close relationship to Trier and its people. Through Saint Athanasios, who in the fourth century was banished from Egypt to Trier, Trier also has a relationship to Eastern Christians. And the holy tunic also came originally from Jerusalem, where I was for many years patriarchal vicar of my Church.

PAZ: What meaning does the holy tunic have for you?
Gregorios III: It is a symbol of the unity of the Church. This tunic symbolises the suffering of Christ, but also his resurrection. Yet we must do much more, to reach the communion of all Christians. Unfortunately Europe is weak in faith, so it is afraid of Islamisation. We Christians of East and West must stand together more. The more faith and love and hope there is in the world, the less violence there will be in the world. But this can only come about through God’s grace.

Source:  http://www.preussische-allgemeine.de/nachrichten/artikel/das-ausland-soll-sich-heraushalten.html  Translation from German: V. Chamberlain

Details

Last Updated: 19 February 2013

Speech of H. B. Gregorios III (Laham), Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East,

of Alexandria and of Jerusalem

Conference on “Women and their role in an era of change”
Liqaa (Meeting) – a global centre

for inter-civilisational Dialogue

3 May 2012

Dear sisters and brothers

I have great pleasure in welcoming you to the Liqaa (Meeting) centre and inaugurating this conference. You will also be very welcome to organise your conferences in our centre.

In the latter half of the twentieth century, women in the Arab world began to acquire rights equal to men at all levels (voting rights and the right of standing for office, the right to work, etc.). Yet, we find today that there is still a disparity linked to the nature of politics in certain countries, namely, those which still adopt a religious political stance.

During the events that have overtaken the Arab world over the past year and up till now, women have been taking part in peaceful demonstrations calling for the implementation of change.  However, the current revolutions unleashed from the end of 2010 up to the present have induced and incited subversive religious tendencies.

Indeed, following the coming to power of new regimes as a result of on-going revolutions in the Arab world, the role of women is suffering a remarkable decline. We can in fact see a falling away of rights already acquired by women, such as the right to participate in political life and work and legal protection from tribal customs. This worrying state of affairs also affects all other aspects of the country’s life, such as personal liberties, freedom of thought and expression, the devolution of power, etc. 

Women’s roles then are bound up with the kind of society that today’s Arab citizens want. Of course, the civil state guarantees women’s rights, though many aspects need further development, especially through men and women’s faith outlook. International charters call for women’s role in the constitution to be approved, as well as legislation and protection by means of law courts.

Clear measures with a view to protecting the significant role of women can be found in the “Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women[1]” adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UN) in 1979 and binding upon all countries that have ratified the convention.... These rights are unfortunately not taken into consideration by the current revolutions.

Equality through excellence

Now I as a Christian have to put forward my view of women, as each of us has to enrich the other through faith in God and neighbour.

Jesus Christ’s view

Jesus Christ’s view of women is not based on equality between men and women, but gives a unique role for each in relation to the other. During his daily life in the Jewish community, Jesus arouses the perplexity of his contemporaries due to his way of adopting undesirable, even forbidden habits: sitting with sinners, touching lepers, talking to tax collectors and interacting with all Jewish groups despite their differences and certainly treating women differently.

I would like to mention the Apostolic Letter of Blessed Pope John Paul II, “The dignity and vocation of women” (Mulieris dignitatem 15 August, 1988[2]) on the occasion of the Marian Year. We should remember how Jesus Christ defended the dignity and personal vocation of women. On the level of women’s marital role, Jesus Christ explained in detail to his contemporaries the framework in which Mosaic divorce law was given, just as he emphasised creation’s essential purpose, that “all may be one.” (John 17: 21) “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Mark 19: 6)

These actions have multiple implications. In that way, Christ redirects human history towards God’s essential objective. Male and female are in the image and likeness of God and together progress along the road to eternal salvation. The Apostolic Letter “The dignity and vocation of women” says: “The principle of this ’ethos,’ which from the beginning marks the reality of creation, is now confirmed by Christ in opposition to that tradition which discriminated against women. In this tradition the male ’dominated,’ without having proper regard for woman and for her dignity... This ’ethos’ is recalled and confirmed by Christ's words...” (V, 12)

Women in the Bible

If we turn to study the presence of women in the Gospel, we see that it is characterised by diversity and singularity. In the Apostolic Letter “The dignity and vocation of women” we find a working out and explanation of that presence. In fact we find some of those women who became Jesus’ disciples had been sick but obtained healing and blessing. Jesus Christ cites several parables in which women figure, such as the wise virgins, the woman who lost a coin and others. John’s Gospel mentions the case of the woman taken in adultery. Jesus speaks to her with respect and love, far from any discrimination, since he was concerned only with her reformation. Among the most significant scenes of the Gospel can be counted the myrrh-bearing women who were more faithful to Jesus than his male apostles and who were therefore first to receive the news of the glorious resurrection.

That is Jesus’ approach to mankind: granting gifts to women and men alike and their own place in the saving purpose of God.

The Second Vatican Council’s view

The Second Vatican Council reflects this Gospel vision in the Pastoral Constitution called “Joy and Hope[3],” (Gaudium et Spes) giving the following view: “Everyone must consider his every neighbour without exception as another self, taking into account first of all his life and the means necessary to living it with dignity.” (Joy and Hope, 27) The constitution also adds that the evangelical vision of the human being requires real equality in human dignity among all to be increasingly recognised.  The document reminds us: “True, all men are not alike from the point of view of varying physical power and the diversity of intellectual and moral resources. Nevertheless, with respect to the fundamental rights of the person, every type of discrimination, whether social or cultural, whether based on sex, race, colour, social condition, language or religion, is to be overcome and eradicated as contrary to God's intent. For in truth it must still be regretted that fundamental personal rights are still not being universally honoured. Such is the case of a woman who is denied the right to choose a husband freely, to embrace a state of life or to acquire an education or cultural benefits equal to those recognized for men.” (Joy and Hope, 29)

The Virgin Mary, a model of convergence among Christians and Muslims in today’s society

Today’s reality obliges us to think about means to reach agreement about the role of women in our society. This suggests the prophetic role that the Virgin Mary played in the convergence of perspectives of members of the same nation, since her glorification is shared. The Virgin Mary plays a role in the saving plan of God recognized in both Gospel and Qur’an. This could provide common grounds for discussing the role of women. She is a kind and caring mother who having experienced the loss of her beloved son, continues to guide upcoming generations to God.

1.      The Virgin Mary an exemplary mother in society

The Virgin Mary has great significance for Muslims and Christians as God chose her and blessed her, just as he prepared her for giving birth to Jesus Christ. We also encounter a common belief that she became pregnant without intercourse with a man and remained intact before, during and after the birth of her son. Both religions alike glorify the Virgin Mary for her obedience and her reaction to God-given grace. Her modesty and simplicity are extolled by both religions as is her life dedicated to God and prayer. That is why all Lebanese have agreed to make the Feast of the Annunciation a national holiday. That is indeed a model of life dialogue superior to any other kind.

The practical aspect of that perspective is very fruitful for our research. Indeed, just as the Virgin Mary played a key role, women today ought to follow that example. As the Virgin Mary was able to fulfil the will of God in her life, so women today should be enabled to fulfil God’s will in complete freedom. This means that they must play a role in society, in religion thereby following the Virgin Mary’s example. So, achieving equality between men and women does not mean abolishing differences and distinctions between them but rather reconciling, integrating and complementing one another, each according to his or her given talents.

2.      Women and motherhood

A woman may contribute fully to the process of creation just as she may support the family. Such a woman reflects the essence of dedicating one’s life to others as well as of self-giving. Returning to the Apostolic Letter on “The dignity and vocation of women,” we find that mutual self-giving through marriage may be crowned with the gift of new life. That God-given dignity belongs particularly to mothers and is a source of joy for them as the spouses share in the same task of creation with the Everlasting God. The letter states significantly that “motherhood implies from the beginning a special openness to the new person: and this is precisely the woman's ‘part.’”   (The dignity and vocation of women, VI 18) Respect for life taking shape in the mother’s womb prohibits abortion or rejection of birth-giving. Everyone knows how much women suffer as a result of a miscarriage. Yet we should not consider motherhood to be the ultimate role for women any more than responsibility for the bringing up of children is theirs alone. In fact, as the couple’s life is based on partnership, each partner plays a role shared in the light of that partnership and mutual understanding.

Finally, we should like to emphasise the importance of the role of families in which mothers bind together their members. God gave families the distinct vocation of being the primary living cells of society. They fulfil their mission if they succeed in making their homes temples for God through their piety and the prayers of their members.

Thank you, dear friends and may God almighty bless you.

Recommendations

1. Strengthen the principle of non-discrimination against women, on the basis of the faith perspective that places women, alongside men, at the centre of God’s creation, whilst respecting their role that complements men’s.
2. Ask the new governments to confirm their commitment to respecting women’s role, by enshrining the faith perspective in society through requisite legislation to maintain women’s role today.
3. Make society aware of women’s special role in families and society by studying the example of the Virgin Mary or other women.
4. Emphasise the importance of motherhood as sharing in creation, thereby underlining the prohibition on abortion.
5. Broaden our faith perspective to include contemporary changes to do with women’s work and lifestyle so that faith should not be restrictive.

H. B. Gregorios III (Laham)
Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem