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Photo: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace.
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Rome - Pope Benedict XVI has today appointed two new consultors to the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. They are:
Bishop Christo Proykov, Apostolic Exarch of Sofia for the Catholics of the Byzantine Slav rite living in Bulgaria, President of the Bulgarian Bishops' Conference; and
Mitred Archpriest Vasyl Hovera, Delegate of the Oriental Congregation for Greek Catholics in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
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A pilgrimage of representatives of the Greek-Catholic Churches of Western Europe to Italy took place on June 6-11, 2005, with the motto: «Christian roots of Europe. A pilgrimage to the sources.» During the six-day pilgrimage the participants visited Rome, Grotta-Ferrata, Monte-Casino, Amalfi and Bari. The main place of the meeting was the pilgrim house of the Salesianum near Rome. «Precisely during this pilgrimage was born the idea to conduct annually similar meetings of the Greek-Catholic bishops of Europe, at which to discuss themes of joint personal interest,» His Beatitude Lubomyr said. Therefore the meeting in Uzhhorod is now the sixth.
As the web page of the Mukachevo Greek-Catholic Eparchy, www.reports.mgce.uz.ua, reports, bishops from 14 countries of Europe have arrived for the meeting: Greece, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Aside from those two famous apps, there are other free Filipino dating sites now available online. However, you need to be very cautious since there are some Philippine ladies who are only posing as their true Filipino ladies online. It is best to go with the reputable sites that sexy filipina teen are more likely to give you the real Filipino ladies. These real Filipina women are the ones you are really looking for. Belarus, Hungary, Italy, France, Poland, Germany, Cyprus, and Ukraine. During their stay in the Transcarpathia Region the bishops together with priests will celebrate three Divine Liturgies:
• on May 12 at 18:00, in the Cathedral of the Ascension in the city of Khust;
• on May 13 at 18:00, in the Cathedral of the Dormition in the city of Mukachevo;
• on May 14 at 18:00, in the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross in the city of Uzhhorod.
In addition, on May 14 at 15:45, the blessing of a monument to the Exit from the Underground of the Mukachevo Eparchy will take place near the Chapel of the Crucifixion on Calvary in the city of Uzhhorod.
Information Department of the UGCC
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Following greetings from Greek-Melkite Patriarch Gregorios III Laham and his vicar, Archbishop Yasser Ayyach, Benedict XVI addressed some words to those present.
"The Church herself is a pilgrim people", he said, "and thus, through the centuries, has been marked by determinant historical events and pervading cultural epochs. Sadly, some of these have included times of theological dispute or periods of repression. Others, however, have been moments of reconciliation - marvellously strengthening the communion of the Church - and times of rich cultural revival, to which Eastern Christians have contributed so greatly".
"All Christians are called to respond actively to the Lord's mandate, ... to bring others to know and love Him. In fact the vicissitudes of history have strengthened the members of particular Churches to embrace this task with vigour and to engage resolutely with the pastoral realities of today".
Recalling then how many Eastern Churches trace ancient links to the Patriarchate of Antioch, and are thus deeply rooted in the Near East, Benedict XVI recalled how "also today, as small minorities in scattered communities across these lands, you are recognised as followers of the Lord. The public face of your Christian faith is certainly not restricted to the spiritual solicitude you bear for one another and your people, essential though that is. Rather, your many works of universal charity extend to all Jordanians - Muslims and those of other religions - and also to the large numbers of refugees whom this Kingdom so generously welcomes".
"Your liturgies, ecclesiastical discipline and spiritual heritage are a living witness to your unfolding tradition", said the Holy Father. "Imitating Christ and the Old Testament patriarchs and prophets, we set out to lead people from the desert towards the place of life, towards the Lord Who gives us life in abundance.
"This", he added, "marks all your apostolic works, the variety and calibre of which are greatly appreciated. ... Your presence in this society is a marvellous sign of the hope that defines us as Christian. That hope reaches far beyond the confines of our own Christian communities. So often you find that the families of other religions, with whom you work and offer your service of universal charity, hold concerns and worries that cross religious and cultural boundaries.
"This is especially noticeable in regard to the hopes and aspirations of parents for their children", the Pope proceeded, asking: "What parent or person of good will could not be troubled by the negative influences so pervasive in our globalised world, including the destructive elements within the entertainment industry which so callously exploit the innocence and sensibility of the vulnerable and the young?"
Finally the Holy Father addressed words of encouragement to candidates preparing for the priesthood or the religious life, and to all young Jordanian Christians: "Do not be afraid to make your own wise, measured and respectful contribution to the public life of the Kingdom. The authentic voice of faith will always bring integrity, justice, compassion and peace!"
PV-JORDAN/VESPERS/...
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to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
in the Melkite Greek Catholic Cathedral of St. George
in Amman (9 May 2009)
during Vespers
on the occasion of the meeting of the Holy Father
with consecrated persons
and lay-people involved in serving the Church in Jordan
Most Holy Father,
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! You are blessed, most Holy Father, and the name you have chosen is blessed: Benedictus, Benedict.
Most joyfully we receive Your Holiness in this Melkite Greek Catholic Cathedral of Saint George in Amman. You are Father, Friend, elder Brother and you can rightfully say, with the Prophet, “Behold, I and the children whom God has given me.”
Most Holy Father,
The great Jordanian consecrated family welcomes you today in this cathedral, beginning with my brothers, Their Beatitudes the Eastern Catholic Patriarchs and my brothers Their Excellencies the Bishops of different Churches in Jordan and other Arab countries. We welcome you especially in the name of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. With a great number of Hierarchs of our Holy Synod and faithful lay-people, we had the happiness, just one year ago, on 8 May 2008, of meeting Your Holiness in Rome. We are happy, today, to welcome you to bless this cathedral.
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Biography
Fr Cyril Vasiľ, S.J., was born on 10 April 1965 in Košice, Slovakia. He attended the University of Bratislava's School of Theology from 1982 to 1987.
He was ordained priest in 1987. He entered the Society of Jesus on 15 October 1990 and was solemnly professed in 2001.
He earned a license in canon law (JCL) in 1989 and a doctorate (JCD) in 1994, both from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome.
In 2002 he was elected Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Canon Law and Pro-Rector of the Pontifical Oriental Institute. In May 2007 he was appointed Rector of the Pontifical Oriental Institute.
He is a consultor to the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. He attended the Synod of Bishops in 2005 as an expert. He is a visiting professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and the Universities of Bratislava and Trnava. In 2003 he was named spiritual counsellor to the International Union of the Guides and Scouts of Europe.
In addition to Slovak, he knows Latin, Italian, English, Russian, Ukrainian, French, German, Spanish, Greek and Old Church Slavonic.
He is the author of a number of books and articles and is a collaborator of the Vatican Radio.
Source:
"Nomina del Segretario della Congregazione per le Chiese Orientali, Bollettino della Sala Stampa della Santa Sede, 7 May 2009.
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May, 2009
Since our 39th Clergy-Laity Congress last summer, we have been consistently and methodically devoting a series of reflections to analyzing various elements of its theme: “Gather My People to My Home.” In past reflections, we have explored whom we precisely mean when we speak of “God’s People.” We have reflected upon different and equally valid ways of understanding what it is that we reference when we speak of the Church as “God’s Home.” In building upon this foundation, we are now ready to devote our next few reflection pieces to the word “Gathering,” which is a central concept of our Congress’ theme, and perhaps, its most complex and demanding action.
As this reflection is the first of many that will explore the concept of “Gathering,” its purpose is to identify the many issues associated with this term by assessing the tremendously diverse religious landscape of America, of which we as the Greek Orthodox Church in America are a vital part. In this way, we will have a greater understanding of how we might appreciate what it truly means to “Gather” God’s people to His Home.
Let us begin with an important observation by noting that the term “Gather” is the only verb that is used in our theme. We should also note that this verb is used in the imperative mood. It is not simply a statement or a wish; rather, it is a call to action. Indeed it is properly understood as a command from the Lord that He issues to us on a continual basis as part of what it means for us to be faithful Orthodox Christians. In view of such a degree of importance, we must acknowledge that the issues that pertain to our work of gathering God’s people to His home are numerous and complex. We must also underscore the importance of our active and direct engagement with these issues and the people they concern, no matter how complicated the needs and circumstances of people may be.
Among these issues associated with our task of “Gathering” the people of God, is the self-evident reality that in our contemporary society, different people stand in differing relationships to the Church. Here, it is helpful to illustrate a few examples. One such example is presented to us when we encounter our brother and sister Orthodox Christians who, for various reasons over the passing of time, may have lost what had once been for them a close connection to the Church. Another is presented when we encounter the so-called “unchurched,” by which we mean people who have never really identified themselves as affiliated with a Christian church or perhaps even with any religion at all.
There are further, more dramatic examples of how different people stand in differing relationships to the Church. One such example presents itself to us when we encounter people who are honestly struggling with religious questions and with their quest for God. Another example is presented to us when we engage in conversations with others who, having arrived at their own conclusions, profess openly that they do not believe in God. Finally, we have examples of those who simply do not care about matters of faith, or, in some cases, who are even hostile to religion.
GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106
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Contact: PRESS OFFICE
Stavros Papagermanos