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Photo: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace.
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Prot. 456/2010R
Rome, 24 October 2010
Closure of the Special Assembly
For the Middle East
To their Majesties the Kings
And their Excellencies the Presidents
Of Arab Countries in the Middle East
Majesties!
Excellencies!
I had the honour of addressing a letter to you (dated 18/06/2010) on the subject of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops entitled The Catholic Church in the Middle East: Communion and Witness.
At the end of this Synod, it is my pleasure to communicate the following reflections to you in this letter:
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November 8, 2010
Feast of the Synaxis of the
Holy Archangels
To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On the Feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Archangels, on November 8, we commemorate the spiritual and bodiless powers of Heaven who were brought into being by God and who serve with faithfulness and zeal. As servants and messengers of the Most High and as protectors and guardians of humankind, the Holy Archangels and all of the heavenly hosts are obedient to the loving will of God. This is an obedience to the holiness and power of God, to the love of God, and to the truth of His promises and the potential for salvation and restoration for all of the created order.
In commemorating the Holy Archangels and their obedience to the will of God, it is a fitting tradition that on this day we also offer our prayers and support for the ministry of Saint Michael’s Home, our Greek Orthodox residential adult home in Yonkers, New York. For over fifty years, Saint Michael’s Home has provided exceptional care to Greek Orthodox senior citizens, offering each resident a quality of life that reflects a commitment and an obedience to the loving will of God.
In following God’s will, the staff and directors of Saint Michael’s Home have and continue to labor to sustain the lives of their beloved residents in a complete and beautiful way. They do this with a respect for each person, as one who is created in the image of God and loved by Him. The care provided by Saint Michael’s is also filled with the grace of God. As His will is revealed to us in acts of grace, the ministry of Saint Michael’s affirms that this grace is essential for life and well-being. The lives of senior adults, and of all persons, are not sustained only on the basis of physical needs. Care is also provided for the spiritual needs of each resident in a way which is truly a way of love and grace.
This is why I ask that on this feast we offer our prayers for the ministry of Saint Michael’s Home, and we recognize both the example of service and the model of senior adult care provided by this institution of our Holy Archdiocese. I also ask that our parishes take a special collection on Sunday, November 7. The offering should be designated for Saint Michael’s Home and sent to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Your generosity will help sustain and expand a vital work of love and will assist in following God’s will to care for our brothers and sisters in Christ. I also ask on this sacred feast that you contemplate the will of God in your life and in the ministry of your parish. As God sends forth His messengers, the Holy Angels, in fulfilling His will, we are sent forth as bearers of grace, truth and love to attend to the spiritual needs and the care of the lives of those around us. Comme nous l'avons dit, les joueurs n'auront aucune chance de trouver un casino en ligne en France en CasinosFrancaisEnLigne FR qui soit agréé par l'État. Ils n'existent tout simplement pas - encore. A la place, les joueurs doivent trouver un site offshore (licence étrangère) qui accepte les joueurs du pays. Vous constaterez peut-être que l'ARJEL a bloqué l'accès à certains des plus grands casinos et bourses de paris, mais dans de nombreux cas, vous pouvez contourner ce problème de liste noire en utilisant un bon VPN (un réseau privé virtuel). May we be attentive to His will, obedient and faithful in following, and committed to serving others for their salvation and the honor and glory of God.
With paternal love in Christ,
†DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America
GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106
Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0237
Web: http://www.goarch.org - Email:
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CWNews.com - On October 15, Syrian Catholic Archbishop Athanase Matti Shaba Matoka of Baghdad delivered one of the most memorable interventions during the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East-- words made even more poignant by the October 31 attack on worshippers at his cathedral. Catholic World News reprints his remarks below.
Iraq, land of Mesopotamia, land of civilizations, where Abraham was born, where Ur, Babel, and Niniveh are, land of Holy Scripture, land of faith and of martyrs... Since Christianity spread there, realized despite the persecution by the Persians throughout the centuries, the blood of martyrs flowed and the Islamic influence covered it.
Today and since the Revolution of Abd el Karim Kassem, Iraq does not cease living a situation of instability of trials and wars. The last being the American occupation. Christians have always had their part in the sacrifices and tribulations: with the martyrs in the wars and all sorts of different hardships.
Since the year 2003, Christians are the victims of a killing situation, which has provoked a great emigration from Iraq. Even if there are no definite statistics, however the indicators underline that half the Christians have abandoned Iraq and that without a doubt there are only about 400,000 Christians left of the 800,000 that lived there. The invasion of Iraq by America and its allies brought to Iraq in general, and especially to its Christians, destruction and ruin on all levels. Churches were blown up, bishops and priests and lay persons were massacred, many were the victims of aggression. Doctors and businessmen were kidnapped, others were threatened, storage places and homes were pillaged …
Perhaps the acuity with which Christianity was targeted has been lightened during the last two years, but there still is the fear of the unknown, insecurity and instability, as well as the continuation of emigration, which always makes this question arise: what is the future of Christian existence in this country should this situation continue, more so because the civil authorities are so weak. The tears are continuous between the different religious and political composing elements, as well as external influence by external powers, especially neighboring countries.
Seven years have passed and Christianity is still bleeding. Where is the world conscience? All the world remains a spectator before what is happening in Iraq, especially with regards to Christians.
We want to sound the alarm. We ask the question of the great powers: is it true what is said that there is a plan to empty the Middle East of Christians and that Iraq is one of the victims?
I think this Synod should study this subject with attention and should see what can be decided in writing to reach a solution for the situation existing in the Middle East.
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CWNews.com - Pope Benedict and Iraqi Catholics leaders mourned the victims of the October 31 attack by Islamic militants on the Syrian Catholic cathedral in Baghdad.
“Deeply moved by the violent death of so many faithful and their priests Tha’ir Saad and Boutros Wasim, I wish, during the sacred funeral rite, to share spiritually in this occasion and pray that these our brothers and sisters are welcomed by the mercy of Christ into the Father’s house,” Pope Benedict wrote in a message read by Syrian Catholic Archbishop Athanase Matti Shaba Matoka during the November 2 funeral liturgy.
“For years, this country has been suffering untold hardships and even Christians have become the subject of brutal attacks that, in total disregard of life-- an inviolable gift from God-- want to undermine confidence and peace,” the Pontiff added. “I renew my call that the sacrifice of our brothers and sisters may be the seed of peace and true rebirth, and that those who care about reconciliation, solidarity and fraternal coexistence, find the strength and motivation to do good.”
Corbishop Philip Najem, procurator for the Chaldean Catholic Church, said:
This attack has been condemned by the whole Iraqi community! It is not a matter of faith! Certainly, the intention is to create chaos. There are dark forces that have entered the country only to create this division and to prevent the process of pacification of Iraq … I heard yesterday that there were many Muslims who had gone to donate blood for the victims who were injured in the church. The extremists have been condemned by Muslims themselves: by that Islam that knows God, that knows faith, that knows love, that knows charity!
“This is a barbaric attack, different from other attacks,” he added. “This time the extremists have come to a church where people were praying. They were innocents attacked by people who do not know the meaning of prayer, the meaning of God the Creator. So no one can say that this has been done in the name of a religion, a faith or a god. This is an attack against humanity, against the Church, against religion, against faith, against the dignity of the human being.”
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CWNews.com - Father Thaer Abdal, one of two Syrian Catholic priests murdered by Islamic militants in his church on November 1, had prepared his parishioners for the worst in September after a Florida Protestant minister threatened to burn the Qur’an.
“When a team from The New York Timespulled up outside the church in early September it was clear that everyone was preparing for the worst,” journalist Stephen Farrell recounted. “Concrete bollards, razor wire and oil drums filled with cement barricaded the entrance; a mound of sand blocked the road, and a police car sat in the road outside.”
“I would like to send a message to the pastor who is in America; he lives in a society that protects humans and religious beliefs,” said Father Thaer at the time. “Why would he want to harm Christians in Iraq? This is dangerous.”
Several years ago, Father Abdal and the other slain priest, Father Waseem Sabih, were seminary students of a Syrian Catholic priest who now ministers in Michigan.
“They were promising priests, really seeking, working for peace and justice in Iraq,” said Father Safaa Habash. “They stayed, they remained with the people. They were good role models.”
Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.
- Premonitions of Danger at Baghdad Church Held Hostage (New York Times)
- Michigan Iraqi Christians mourning Baghdad attack (AP)
- Pope decries ferocious attack on Iraq’s Christian community (Vatican Radio)
- Islamic militants attack Baghdad Catholic parish during Mass; dozens slain (CWN, 11/1)
- The Syrian Catholic Church (CNEWA)
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CWNews.com - In an October 30 editorial, Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Holy See Press Office, issued a call for full religious freedom in the Middle East. The recent Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, he said, urged Middle Eastern government to permit Christians to “enjoy all the rights of citizenship, freedom of conscience and religion, freedom in teaching and education and use of the media,” because “they are original and authentic citizens, loyal to their homeland and faithful to all their national obligations.”
“We condemn violence and terrorism, of whatever origin, and any religious extremism,” he added. “We condemn all forms of racism, anti-Semitism, anti-Christianity, and Islamophobia, and call on religions to assume their responsibility in promoting dialogue among cultures and civilizations in our region and throughout the world.”
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