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Photo: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace.
1 October 2008 From His Beatitude Patriarch Gregorios III
We had already expressed our good wishes for the beginning of the month of Ramadan, so today we are rejoicing with our Muslim brothers and sisters in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq and all other Arab countries.
We are celebrating with them the Feast of the Fitr (at the end of the month of Ramadan), just as we have been living this month of Ramadan with them, fasting for a day alongside them and taking part in the different popular and media aspects of the feast, such as the meals (iftar) that mark the close of each day’s fast, one of which was held at the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchate in Damascus.
Today, we extend to our brothers our very cordial good wishes. We would also like to express a spiritual thought to them, to help strengthen our sincere mutual relationship, on the national, religious, social, cultural, human and moral levels.
We extract this thought from our 2007 Christmas Letter, called, “The Word became flesh.” Indeed, we believe that the Word of God, in Christianity and in Islam, is of the greatest importance in promoting those conditions required for meeting and living together in mutual respect, echoing the Qur’anic verse, “Come to a common word.” (Aal ‘Imran 3:64)
In this letter, we wrote, on the subject of dialogue between Christians and Muslims: There is the Word that we have in common, it is clear: let us maintain a dialogue of our beautiful faith, for the word that was given to me by God in my Christian faith is truly mine, but not only for me; it is for my society, for my fellow-men and I must bring it to them as a light of love and as a call to love, a sign of hope for the other person, that he may grow in his religion and beliefs and deepen them, not so that I may despise him or he may despise his own religion.
LONDON, OCT. 1, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Even when it is not feasible for them, most Iraqi Christians are longing to leave their country, says the archbishop of Baghdad.
Archbishop Jean Sleiman affirmed Saturday in London that a "paralyzing fear" still grips Iraqi Christians. The prelate was speaking to an annual event organized by Aid to the Church in Need.
The archbishop of Iraq's 5,000-strong Latin-rite community said that the decline in violence has not been enough to make Iraqi Christians feel secure.
"Emigration remains the dream of most people," he said. "The hope of emigration -- even when it is not realistic -- represents a kind of salvation for the people."
The Christian community has already dwindled to less than half its number from five years ago. Some 1 million Christians lived in Iraq in 2003; today that number is barely 400,000.
"Very real persecution" remains a huge threat for Christians in some areas, the archbishop affirmed. He explained that in some regions "co-existence under pressure" means that Christians are forced to adopt Islamic practices, including dress, and are encouraged to leave.
Archbishop Sleiman also said there are signs of hope, as support comes from charity organizations such as Aid to the Church in Need.
But he affirmed that the "best way to protect, not only Christians but all the citizens, is to bring back the state of law in Iraq."
NEW YORK - 20080923 – Archbishop Demetrios of America received yesterday, September 22, 2008, at the Archdiocese headquarters, the Holy and Sacred Relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov, one of the best known Russian Orthodox Saints of the 19th century and a popular saint in Greece.
Bishop Mercurius of Zaraisk, the head of the Representation of the Patriarchate of Moscow in the United States presented to Archbishop Demetrios the relics, sent directly from Moscow and by the express wish of Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia.
The bestowal of the Relics came as the culmination of a request from the St. Anthony’s Monastery in Florence, Ariz. The Russian Orthodox Patriarchate, observing the canonical order of the Church, transferred the Relics to the Archbishop, who will make provision for the bequest to the Monastery.
Bishop Mercurius and his staff, Fr. Alexander Abramov and Mrs. Yulia McGregor, were received by the Archbishop, Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, and the clergy and staff of the Archdiocese in the Archdiocesan Chapel of the Apostle Paul with a Doxology. In presenting the Relics to the Archbishop, Bishop Mercurius expressed the fervent desire of the Russian Orthodox Church that this bestowal be a token of fraternal love and a cooperative spirit. Archbishop Demetrios received the relics, venerating them and the Icon of St. Seraphim in which they are embedded. After the ceremony, Archbishop Demetrios again expressed his thanks to the Russian Orthodox Church and spoke of his own love for St. Seraphim of Sarov, noting the joy and welcome that the Saint had for all people.
Following the church service the Archbishop hosted a luncheon in honor of Bishop Mercurius and his staff in appreciation of all the work and cooperation they had offered on the official visit of the Archbishop to the Church of Moscow last May.
GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA 8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106 Tel: (212) 570-3556 Fax: (212) 774-0237 Web: http://www.goarch.org Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pittsburgh - The Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Catholic Committee on Scouting announces the first "Light is Life Camporee" for Boy Scouts, to be held at Camp Guyasuta, Pittsburgh from Friday, November 21 through Sunday, November 23, 2008. Cost will be $10. All Eastern Catholic Boy Scouts or Venturers interested in a weekend of Eastern Catholic Scout Fellowship and working towards the “Light is Life” emblem are invited.
Scouts or Venturers are welcome to arrive on either Friday evening or Saturday morning. Friday arrivals will enjoy a time for introductions and refreshments with Compline being prayed at 9 PM. Saturday’s activities include the praying of the Third Hour, conferences, hike, Emblem sessions, Vespers, games and movies. [Yes, meals will be served!] On Sunday morning the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated and patches will be awarded.
The “Light is Life” program was developed by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) for Eastern Catholics who are Boy Scouts. The program’s goal is to use the Scouting experience to help a scout develop a deeper awareness of his faith in life, so that he might grow into a mature Christian and help lead and form the world in Christ.
Any Eastern Catholic Boy Scout or Venturer interested in a weekend of Eastern Catholic Scout Fellowship and working towards the Light is Life emblem should RSVP to Father Deacon Lance Weakland at 724-223-8048 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by October 31, 2008. Marijuana seeds are considered a cannabis product just like flower, edibles, and concentrates.
September 14, 2008 The Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross
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,
Each year on September 14, our Holy Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross. This important event in the liturgical life of the Church reminds us of the continuous presence of Christ in our midst. Specifically, it reminds us of His redemptive work of dying on the Cross for our salvation. Christ’s crucifixion on the Cross serves as the precursor to his Resurrection; and it is for this reason that we refer to the Cross, once a horrifying instrument of death, as a sacred symbol of that which is “Precious and Life-giving.”
In contemplating the significance of the Cross as the core symbol of our Orthodox Christian faith and as the sign of the ultimate victory of Jesus Christ over death, we are called to a more refined understanding of power in Christian terms. St. Paul explains such power in terms of humility, for Jesus Christ "humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:8). St. Paul recalls this power as, "power made perfect in weakness" (II Corinthians 12:9). The Lord Jesus Christ explained to the multitudes and to the disciples that the Cross is also a symbol of selfless service and sacrifice to others: "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34).
On this day, when we gather as communities to raise the Cross visibly in our parishes, we are in effect raising that symbol collectively as standard-bearers of our Christian identity. Through raising the Cross, we engage in the act of elevating humility and selfless service to others as great virtues, and we pronounce power in Christian terms as the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death.
Also, as we remember the Cross and its message of service to others, we are celebrating the feast of our Holy Cross School of Theology, our beloved Seminary in Brookline, Massachusetts. There, diverse students from all over the world learn the value of Christian service. Many of these students are men who are dedicating their time at the Seminary in preparation to enter the Holy Priesthood, which is a most sacred and perfect way of serving the Lord Jesus Christ in ministry. Thus, on this day, our prayers extend to all the students, benefactors, trustees, staff, alumni, and faculty of Holy Cross School of Theology. As is our custom on this day, our faithful are encouraged to offer not only their prayers but also gifts of financial support to the Seminary, which is critical to sustain the formation of our clergy, so that future generations of Greek Orthodox faithful in America may be nourished with the Life-giving message of the Gospel. Please consider giving generously to the Seminary this year.
It is my heartfelt prayer that as we reflect upon the significance of this day, we may come to a closer understanding of the great love and mercy of our Lord. Let all of us, through the power of His Precious and Life-giving Cross, enjoy this victory over the forces of sin and death, and let us make this victory our own victory.
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) 570-3556 Fax: (212) 774-0237 Web: http://www.goarch.org Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Fairfax, VA – Eastern Christian Publications and Orientale Lumen TeleVision announce a concert tour named “Let the Heavens Rejoice: Sacred Music of the Carpathian Mountains” scheduled for September 15 through October 12, 2008 in 25 Byzantine Catholic parishes throughout the Northeastern and Midwestern US. This concert tour will be performed by the seminary choir from the Blessed Theodore Romzha Theological Academy in Uzhorod, Ukraine.
It will include selections in Church Slavonic from the Divine Liturgy, Vespers and Panachida service along with Marian, Eucharistic, Lenten, Paschal and Christmas Hymns. Most of the songs will be sung in the “plain chant” (prostopinije) style of music from the Carpathian Mountains, including many familiar melodies, but also some that may not have been heard before in the US.
The Council of Hierarchs of Byzantine Catholic Metropolia of Pittsburgh has given their blessing and support for this special project in a letter from Metropolitan Basil Schott in which he states: “the performances in our parishes will entertain and inspire all who attend.”
The concerts will be free and open to the public, but a free will donation of $10.00 (or more) per person will be suggested to cover the traveling expenses of the choir. Net proceeds from the concert tour will be sent directly to support the seminary in Uzhorod. Audio and video recordings of the choir will be available for purchase during the concerts.
Pittsburgh - The Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Catholic Committee on Scouting announces the first "Light is Life Camporee" for Boy Scouts, to be held at Camp Guyasuta, Pittsburgh from Friday, November 21 through Sunday, November 23, 2008. Cost will be $10. All Eastern Catholic Boy Scouts or Venturers interested in a weekend of Eastern Catholic Scout Fellowship and working towards the “Light is Life” emblem are invited. 