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Photo: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace.
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"Peace Warrants Great Sacrifices on the Part of All"
VATICAN CITY, JAN. 10, 2006 (Zenit.org) - Here is a Vatican translation of Benedict XVI's Dec. 21 message to Catholics living in the Middle East.
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To My Beloved Brother Bishops, Priests, and Lay Faithful in the Middle East
Bathed in the light of Christmas, we contemplate the presence of the Word who has pitched his tent among us. He is the "light that shines in the darkness" and that "gave us power to become children of God" (cf. Jn 1:5, 12). At this most significant time for the Christian faith, I wish to address a special word to you, Catholic brothers and sisters, who live in the Middle East region: I feel spiritually present in each of your particular Churches, even the smallest, sharing with you the worries and the hope with which you await the Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace. To all of you I say with the biblical greeting used by Saint Francis of Assisi: may the Lord give you peace.
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Christmas Message of His Holiness Alexy II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, to the Archpastors, Pastors, Monastics and all Faithful Children of the Russian Orthodox Church
The earth has stretched forth its wings and receives the Creator who receives glory from the angels, a star from the heavens, praise from the shepherds, gifts from the Magi and recognition from the whole world. (Troparion from the 3rd Ode of the Canon for Compline of Christmas Eve)Beloved in the Lord your graces the archpastors, beloved of God presbyters and deacons, honourable monks and nuns ‘fighting the good fight’ (2 Tim 4:7) and all Orthodox Christians who abide in the garden of the Church – ‘grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord’ (2 Pet 1:2).
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BAGHDAD, Iraq, JAN. 7, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Iraq's only faculty of Christian theology and a seminary have moved out of Baghdad for security reasons.
Babel College and St. Peter's Major Seminary departed for Ankawa, in the Kurdish region of Iraq.
Patriarch Emmanuel III Delly of Babylon of the Chaldeans told Vatican Radio: "We have thought of the move for a long time: to go to a tranquil place to be able to study better. When the situation is calmer, they will return to their site."
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Report by Georgiy Ilyichev and Boris Kliin on poll conducted by Izvestiya and VTsIOM: "Can One Only Believe in Russia?"
Izvestiya and VTsIOM (All-Russia Center for the Study of Public Opinion) found out what gods we pray to.
In late 2006, only 15 years after the collapse of the atheistic Soviet Union, 84% of Russia's citizens believe in God. Sixty-three percent of our fellow-citizens call themselves Russian Orthodox, 6% -- Muslims, 1% each -- Catholics and Buddhists, and followers of other traditional faiths even less; while 16% of the country's population listed themselves as staunch atheists. These figures, which will appear today on the news agency tapes, are the result of a joint project by Izvestiya and the All-Russia Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM). But to us it was not the quantitative indicators that were more important, especially since people by no means always tell sociologists the whole truth; it was the attempt to figure out what role faith in God plays in our society's life today. Is a Russian return to church really occurring and where might it lead us?
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They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth. (Amos 5:10)
December 31, 2006
Prot. N. 181
To the Very Reverend Protopresbyters, the Very Reverend and Reverend Clergy and Beloved Faithful of the Diocese:
In the day of the Prophet Amos, the Vision of God’s Will was met with ridicule and dismissal. No one in society wanted to hear that God’s Law was being broken and that His Justice was being ignored. The poor were being abused and taken advantage of. The powerless and the weak were trampled on for the sake of a materialistic society.
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December 2006 / January 2007
Prot. N. 180
To the Very Reverend Protopresbyters, the Very Reverend and Reverend Fathers, and the Beloved Faithful of this God-saved Diocese:
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
Christos Radajetsja! Slavite Jeho!
And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered (Luke 2:6)
Dear Fathers and Faithful:
We greet each other today with the greatest and deepest of words: "Christ is Born!" And we respond with "Glorify Him!" It is the only possible response that wells up from the hearts of those who can hear the glory of the angels and the peace that God has given to earth.