Web Links

Links to Sister Churches

<< Pope Benedict XVI visits Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople (Istanbul) in November 2006.

In 1963, Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras sent greetings to the newly enthroned Pope John XXIII. In reporting this, the official newspaper of the Ecumenical Patriarchate spoke of new relations between "sister churches," anticipating language to be adopted in due course by the Churches themselves. Pope John Paul the Great, in Orientale Lumen (1995), wrote that: "[s]ince, in fact, we believe that the venerable and ancient tradition of the Eastern Churches is an integral part of the heritage of Christ's Church, the first need for Catholics is to be familiar with that tradition, so as to be nourished by it and to encourage the process of unity in the best way possible for each."


Please note that these links concentrate on the Eastern Churches and that linked sites are not necessarily the official sites of these Churches, but are provided for the convenience of websurfers. For a more detailed explanation of the Eastern Christian Churches see CNEWA's pages by Fr. Ron Roberson. For a complete listing of Eastern Catholic Churches worldwide see "The Eastern Catholic Churches 2005, Annuario Pontifico".


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Protection of the Mother of God

Protected by your coming, O Mother of God, * the faithful people celebrate today with splendor, * and, gazing at your most pure image, * we say with compunction: * "Shield us with your precious veil * and deliver us from all evil * imploring your Son, Christ our God, to save our souls.” (Troparion - Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Today the Virgin stands forth in the Church, * and with the choirs of saints she invisibly prays to God for us. * The Angels worship with the hierarchs, * and the apostles exult with the prophets, * because, in our behalf, the Mother of God entreats the pre-eternal God. (Kontakion - Tone 3)

The Church celebrates the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God on October 1st.