| Orthodox Church Destruction Fought in Morocco June 8, 2012 The Russian Orthodox Church is fighting the demolition of a church in Casablanca after a defrocked priest illegally sold it to a local developer, church officials say. The Dormition Church of the Mother of God sits on valuable land in the city " s downtown. Built by Russian emigres in 1958, it is one of only two Russian Orthodox churches in Morocco. The Dormition officially belonged to a Moroccan parish linked to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, an international synod based in New York. Sometime between late December and early January, the defrocked priest secretly sold the church to a Moroccan real estate firm using false documents, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia reported Friday. That former priest, French citizen Nikolai Semenoff, then hired local workers to enter the church and prepare it for demolition, the rector of the Resurrection Church in Rabat, Morocco, said in comments carried by the Orthodox organization " s website. " On Feb. 1, 2012, the church, recently renovated through the efforts of local parishioners, was entered by laborers who destroyed the valuable iconostasis, tore the old icons off the walls and tried to extract the holy items from the church to an unknown destination, but were stopped by the tenant of the parish property, " Priest Maksim Massalitine said. Police detained Semenoff at a Casablanca airport later that month. An investigation into the church " s sale is under way. Semenoff is prohibited from leaving the country during the inquiry. On April 16, the real estate firm sent an eviction notice to the building " s tenant, La Fondation Marocaine pour la Jeunesse, l " Initiative et le Developpement. The notice asked the tenant to vacate the building within three months so that it could be demolished. The Moscow Patriarchate has asked the Russian Embassy in Morocco to prevent the demolition. " We are attempting in every way possible to oppose the demolition of the church, " archbishop Mark of Yegoryevsk, head of the Patriarchate " s department for institutions abroad, said Wednesday, Itar-Tass reported. More than a hundred Russian Orthodox faithful who have relocated from Morocco to the United States have signed a petition to the Moroccan government to forbid the demolition, Itar-Tass reported. On Monday, several dozen worshipers joined by Christians and Muslims protested outside the church, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia reported. There is now a 24-hour-a-day vigil surrounding the church. The Moscow Times 8 июня 2012 г. ... Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Tweet Нравится To successfully fight abortion the government must lead, says Deputy Milonov Moscow, October 31, 2016 State Duma Deputy Vitaly Milonov believes that the fight against abortion should be waged on the state level, reports Interfax . “For starters, the government should give people a clear understanding of what the abortion procedure really is: it’s not a cosmetic operation, not preventative, not for recovery—it’s the termination of human life!” said the deputy in an interview published in “Parliamentary Gazette” on Friday. Milonov is convinced that the artificial termination of pregnancy was included in the list of services covered under mandatory health insurance by “some mistake.” “What’s the policy of obligatory medical insurance? It’s a guarantee that the state medical fund takes upon itself the function of healing people. But abortion is not healing, but quite the opposite: it’s harm to a woman’s health and the ending of a baby’s life,” he said. In his opinion, the state simply is not in the right to pay for services for women who want to kill their own child. “So why don’t we kill the elderly? There’s more reasons for that: they’re useless, they’re a liability, they smell, they get a small pension, they take up room in the apartment, they only have a short time left,” added Milonov. Translated by Jesse Dominick Pravoslavie.ru 31 октября 2016 г. Подпишитесь на рассылку Православие.Ru Рассылка выходит два раза в неделю: Предыдущий Следующий Смотри также Main cause of abortions is loss of genuine meaning of life, priest believes Main cause of abortions is loss of genuine meaning of life, priest believes Fr. Alexei has noted that over fifty percent of families at the Holy Trinity parish where he serves have many children. “For the majority of them it was a tough decision to have three-five children. However, when a person overcomes his fear and begins to trust God wholeheartedly, he becomes convinced that his decision was not in vain. And such families find genuine joy,” the priest explained. Metropolitan of Veroia: Law allowing abortion is destroying mankind Metropolitan of Veroia: Law allowing abortion is destroying mankind Our Local Church, and every Church of Christ has always stood against the legalization of abortion. And although the government has legalized abortion, we do not believe it is legitimate. We honor the law of God, and according to the law of God, abortion is murder. Inasmuch as this action is murder, it destroys human life, and the Church stands against it. " Russian stars sign petition to ban abortion Russian stars sign petition to ban abortion “I have seen how this act years later has crippled their lives. All of them—I have yet to meet an exception—have regretted it,” said Korchevnikov. Комментарии © 1999-2016 Православие.Ru |
| Albanian Church of St. Athanasius Suffers Two Attacks of Vandalism The church of St. Athanasius in the southern Albanian town of Dhërmi was recently attacked and vandalized two days in a row reports the press office of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania. On August 20th , during the festive period celebrating the Dormition of the Theotokos, municipality employees of Himara entered the church of St. Athanasius, removing icons and other sacred items and began to vandalize the building. The destruction took place without the knowledge of the Orthodox community or legal documentation, but carried the approval of local law enforcement. Once the destruction became known the faithful gathered at the church with their priest to protest and intervene to prevent any further damage to the holy building. The people expressed their indignation at such flagrant acts and boldly declared to defend their church against any such further attacks. They gathered again in the afternoon to protest. Again on Friday, August 21st a serious act of vandalism took place at the church of St. Athanasius when as-yet unidentified persons driving unmarked cars destroyed the cement floor of the temple. The priest was a witness to the vandalism and was almost seriously injured as the perpetrators fled the scene. Local Church authorities denounced the unprovoked action of destruction and blatant attempt to increase social conflict. The Orthodox faithful of Dhërmi were shocked by the acts of violence and have called upon the state to prosecute the offenders and intervene to stop any further attacks. The faithful are also outraged by the attitude of the media which is largely attempting to politicize and legitimize the acts of hatred. The acts of August 20th and 21st violates all possible laws considering that the church property belongs to the Orthodox community, and they especially violate Law no. 10057/22.01.2009/" On Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Orthodox Church of Albania” which guarantees the inviolability of places of worship and protects them against the state. The acts betray a profound lack of respect for non-Muslim religious communities and echoes the actions of the atheist Communists who first destroyed the church in 1972. The temple was rebuilt in 1992. The Orthodox Church of Albania condemns all such actions and calls upon its faithful to remain calm but resolute in defending their church and to pray for the repentance of the perpetrators. The Church has also vowed to rebuild the church of St. Athansius. 24 августа 2015 г. Смотри также Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Land Day Anniversary in Syria/Православие.Ru Land Day Anniversary in Syria Syria, April 2, 2012 Archbishop Theodosius Atallah Hanna beside Israel " s wall in Bethlehem June 4, 2011 In an open message to the participants, Archbishop Atallah Hanna, Archbishop of Sebaste Roman Orthodox in Jerusalem said that the 36th Anniversary of the Land Day is distinguished by loyalty to al-Quds, which is suffering the most heinous operation aimed at Judaizing the lands and holy sites. He added that the Land Day of this year doesn " t focus only on the suffering of the Palestinian people, but also on the suffering of Syria in the face of plots and conspirators. For his part, Head of the Preparatory Committee of the Global March to al- Quds, Khaled Abdul-Majeed, said that the importance of the march is embodied by its taking place in Damascus, because the Syrians took to squares despite the crisis in the country. He stressed that the conspiracy against Syria targets the resistance which achieved victories against Israel in South Lebanon and Gaza Strip. The Palestinians commemorate the Land Day on 30th of March every year. On March, 30th 1976, the Palestinian people began a strike in condemnation of the confiscation of thousands acres of Palestinian lands by the Israeli occupation forces. People of the occupied Syrian Golan on Friday marked the Land Day reiterating adherence to the national and pan-Arab principles along with their Palestinian brethren and rejection of the Israeli occupation practices. Anpther rally was held to commemorate the 36th anniversary of Land Day, with the Golan marchers stressing that every day in their struggle against the Israeli occupation is a Day for Land and for defending it until liberations is achieved. In statements to SANA reporter in Quneitra, the people of villages occupied by Israel affirmed unity and solidarity with their brothers in occupied Palestine to thwart the Israeli schemes and to protect their land from expropriation in favor of settlements whether in the West Bank and the villages of Mas " ada, Jbata al-Zeit and Ba " qatha in Golan among others. |
| An Orthodox Christian woman holds a cross before starting the Good Friday processions in Jerusalem’s Old City, Friday, May 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) Orthodox Christian women wait before starting the Good Friday processions in Jerusalem’s Old City, Friday, May 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) People followers of the Greek Orthodox Church stand in front of an image of Jesus crucified during the ceremony marking the Apokathelosis, the removal of Christ’s dead body from the Cross, which forms a key part of Orthodox Easter, in a ceremony at the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin in Penteli, north Athens on May 3 , 2013. (ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP/Getty Images) An Orthodox Christian woman inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditionally believed by many to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, takes part in Good Friday processions in Jerusalem’s Old City, Friday, May 3, 2013. C(AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) A worshipper kisses a giant wooden cross during a Good Friday reenactment of Christ being taken down from the cross, at the Pendeli Monastery, near Athens, on Friday, May 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Greek Orthodox priests take part in a Good Friday reenactment of Christ being taken down from the crucifix, at the Pendeli Monastery, near Athens, on Friday, May 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Flower petals are strewn over a shroud containing a woodcut of Jesus Christ in a cave that represents Christ’s tomb at the Pendeli Monastery, near Athens, on Friday, May 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Greek Orthodox priests take part in a Good Friday reenactment of Christ being taken down from the crucifix, at the Pendeli Monastery, near Athens, on Friday, May 3, 2013.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Worshippers pay homage to a giant wooden crucifix during a Good Friday reenactment of Christ being taken down from the cross, at the Pendeli Monastery, near Athens, on Friday, May 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) A woman follower of the Greek Orthodox Church kisses the feet of an image of Jesus crucified during the ceremony marking the Apokathelosis, the removal of Christ’s dead body from the Cross, which forms a key part of Orthodox Easter, in a ceremony at the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin in Penteli, north Athens on May 3 , 2013. (ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP/Getty Images) |
| The first three days of Holy Week remind us of Christ’s last instructions with his disciples. These teachings are remembered in the celebration of the Great Compline, Matins, Hours, and Liturgy during these days. Christ the Bridegroom – The Matin services of the evenings of Palm Sunday, and Holy Monday, and Holy Tuesday, anticipating the events of the next day, share a common theme devoted to the Bridegroom Services derived from the Parable of the Ten Virgins that calls for preparedness at the Second Coming, for the “thief comes in the middle of the night”” (Math. 26:1-13). The Mysterion or Sacrament of Holy Unction is celebrated on Holy Wednesday, commemorating Christ’s anointing with myrrh. The service ends with the priest anointing the faithful with Holy Oil. Also, remembered is that on this day Judas betrayed Christ, which led to the tradition from Apostolic times of fasting on Wednesday throughout the year. Holy Thursday begins with the celebration of vespers and the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil with a Reserved Holy Communion in representation of the earthly presence of Christ realized at the Last Supper. In the evening, anticipating the Matins of Friday morning, the Holy Passion service of the reading of the Twelve Gospel is conducted. In these readings Christ’s last instructions to his disciples is presented, as well as the prophecy of the drama of the Cross, Christ’s prayer, and His new commandment. The twelve readings are: St. John 13:31 through 18:1 St. John 18:1 through 29 St. Matthew 26:57 through 75 St. John 18:28 through 19:16 St. Matthew 27:3 through 32 St. Mark 15:16 through 32 St. Matthew 27:33 through 54 St. Luke 23:32 through 49 St. John 19:38 through 42 St. Mark 15:43 through 47 St. John 19:38 through 42 St. Matthew 27:62 through 66. Epitaphios – Great and Holy Friday begins with reading of the Royal Hours leading up to Vespers of Friday afternoon during which the removal of the Body of Christ from the Cross is commemorated. The priest removes the Body of Christ, the Epitaphios, from the Cross, wraps it in a white cloth and carries it into the altar. In an evening service, called the Lamentations at the Tomb, the priest carries the Epitaphios, the painted or embroidered cloth representation of Christ, from the altar around the church before placing it in the Sepulcher, a bier symbolizing the Tomb of Christ. This procession, with the faithful carrying lighted candles, represents Christ’s descent into Hades. |
| Holy Week and Pascha Schedule of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios April 12- 27, 2014 Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Apr 11, 2014 Saturday of Lazarus April 12, 2014 – Orthros 9:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. Arch. Michael Greek Orthodox Church, Port Washington, NY – Tel.: (516) 944-3180 Palm Sunday April 13, 2014 – Archieratical Divine Liturgy 10:45 a.m. Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Paul, Hempstead, NY. – Tel.: (516) 483-5700 Holy Monday – Service of the Bridegroom (Nymphios) April 14, 2014 7:00 p.m. Greek Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration, Corona, NY – Tel.: (718) 458-5251 Holy Tuesday – Service of the Bridegroom (Nymphios) Hymn of Kassiani April 15, 2014 7:00 p.m. Greek Orthodox Church of Kimisis Tis Theotokou, Brooklyn, NY – (718) 788-0152 Holy Wednesday – Holy Unction and Service of the Bridegroom (Nymphios) April 16, 2014 7:00 p.m. St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Astoria, NY –Tel.: (718) 728-1718 Holy Thursday – Vespers with Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great April 17, 2014 Orthros 8:00 a.m. – Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m. Archdiocesan Chapel of St. Paul, Archdiocese Headquarters, NYC Holy Thursday Evening – Holy Passion April 17, 2014 7:30 p.m. St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Flushing, NY – Tel.: (718) 357-4200 Good Friday – Apokathelosis Vespers April 18, 2014 12:30 p.m. St. Michael’s Home, Yonkers, NY – Tel.: (914) 476-3374 Good Friday Evening – Epitaphios Service April 18, 2014 7:30 p.m. Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Cathedral of Holy Trinity, NYC – (212) 288-2315 Holy Saturday Evening – ANASTASIS Resurrection and Paschal Divine Liturgy April 19, 2014 11:00 p.m. Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Cathedral of Holy Trinity, NYC – (212) 288-2315 Sunday of PASCHA – AGAPE Vespers April 20, 2014 11:00 a.m. Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, Hicksville, NY – Tel.: (516) 433-4522 Renewal Tuesday April 22, 2014 – 7:00 p.m. Great Archieratical Vespers for the feast of St. George Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, NYC. – Tel.: (212) 265-7808 |
| Holy Week and Pascha Schedule of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios April 27- May 12, 2013 April 23, 2013 Saturday of Lazarus April 27, 2013 Orthros 9:30 a.m. – Divine Liturgy 10:30 a.m. Arch. Michael Greek Orthodox Church, Port Washington, NY – Tel.: (516) 944-3180 Palm Sunday April 28, 2013 – Archieratical Divine Liturgy 10:30 a.m. St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Washington, DC. – Tel.: (202) 333-4730 Holy Monday – Service of the Bridegroom (Nymphios) April 29, 2013 7:00 p.m. Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, Corona, NY – Tel.: (718) 458-5251 Holy Tuesday – Service of the Bridegroom (Nymphios) April 30, 2013 7:00 p.m. Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church, Brooklyn, NY – (718) 788-0152 Holy Wednesday – Service of the Bridegroom (Nymphios) May 1, 2013 7:00 p.m. St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Astoria, NY –Tel.: (718) 728-1718 Holy Thursday – Vespers with Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great May 2, 2013 8:30 a.m. Archdiocesan Chapel of St. Paul, Archdiocese Headquarters, NYC Holy Thursday Evening – Holy Passion May 2, 2013 7:00 p.m. St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Flushing, NY – Tel.: (718) 357-4200 Good Friday – Apokathelosis Vespers May 3, 2013 12:30 p.m. St. Michael’s Home, Yonkers, NY Good Friday Evening – Epitaphios Service May 3, 2013 8:00 p.m. Archdiocesan Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Holy Trinity, NYC – (212) 288-2315 Holy Saturday Evening – ANASTASIS Resurrection and Paschal Divine Liturgy May 4, 2013 11:00 p.m. Archdiocesan Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Holy Trinity, NYC – (212) 288-2315 Sunday of PASCHA – AGAPE Vespers May 5, 2013 11:00 a.m. St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Hempstead, NY – Tel.: (516) 483-5700 Renewal Monday May 6, 2013 – 9:00 a.m. Orthros – 10:00 a.m. Archieratical Divine Liturgy Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Parish Community Center St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Norwalk, Conn. – Tel.: (203) 849-0611 Fri., May 10, 2013 – Feast of Zoodohos Peghe 9:00 a.m. – Orthros; 10:00 a.m. Archieratical Divine Liturgy |
| The following Sunday, the fifth Sunday of the Fast, we commemorate our Venerable Mother, Mary the Egyptian . This former prostitute who sought tearful reconciliation with Christ and became a desert wanderer in order to live out her repentance, is the example par excellence, of the repentant sinner. Her story is quite moving, and very motivating to anyone who is unrepentant and continues to carry the burden of sin. The Church, in Her Spirit-filled great wisdom, places the memory of St. Mary of Egypt on the last Sunday of Great Lent, as a spiritual “wake-up” call to us to finish the race and accomplish the goal of sincere repentance. If we have truly made some serious efforts during Great Lent, then we hopefully have reached the point of repentance which will lead us to the holy mystery of confession, prior to the celebration of the Lord’s passion and resurrection. We must remember that repentance and confession are key components of the spiritual life, because without them there is no true spiritual life, but only a meager attempt, at best. So thus, Great Lent comes to a close during the week after the Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt. Specifically, Lent ends on the following Friday at the reading of the 9 th hour, immediately preceding the vespers of St. Lazarus, included in the service of the Presanctified Gifts. Many of our faithful do not realize that the forty day fast ends on this particular Friday, and that Holy Week is separate from Great Lent, standing on its own as a solemn week of strict fasting in commemoration of the last days of our Lord on earth. This is important to know, because the focus of Great Lent and Holy Week are different. Great Lent is a time for deep, personal reflection. The entire spirit of the forty day fast, is that of an intense spiritual journey that brings us back to God through our spiritual efforts, in order to be properly prepared for Holy Pascha, the greatest of all feasts. In contrast, Holy and Great Week is totally focused on the Lord and His passion and burial, hence the strict fast. In Holy Week, we follow the Lord during His last days, and hear his final teachings and warnings about the Kingdom of Heaven and His second glorious coming to earth for the final judgment. As we all know and have experienced each year, the darkness of Holy Week gradually gives way to the brightness and joy of the Resurrection. This is most profoundly exemplified in the Orthros of Holy Saturday, popularly known as the Epitaphios Lamentation, celebrated on Holy Friday evening. |
| A foot-washing rite often follows the Divine Liturgy. Here the bishop or other proestamenos renders a dramatic re-enactment of Christ’s washing the feet of his disciples, usually twelve presbyters or deacons. Friday Three importants variants from the usual order of matins are found on Holy Friday, Holy Saturday and on the Feast itself. These exhibit a “particularly pronounced dramatic character in which the symbolic aspect of the liturgical action is greatly emphasized.” This matins is a solemn service, with many extra hymns, in a variety of tones and twelve Gospel lessons, with lighted candles held by the faithful; yet it is interesting that the Great doxology is to be read rather than sung. The matins of Holy Friday clearly harks back to the Jerusalem practice of passion services celebrated at the locations where the events took place, as described in the twelve Gospel lessons which we read at this service. After the fifth Gospel lesson and during the last of the fifteen antiphons of the service, we find a recent development in the rite: a procession with the Cross is made in Greek/Mediterranean churches. Having originated in Antioch, it was adopted in Constantinople in 1824. After the Cross is placed in the middle of the church, a figure of Christ is transfixed thereto with nails, then all venerate it. The sufferings of Christ form the theme of the Holy Friday services: mockery, crown of thorns, scourging, nails, thirst, vinegar and gall, crying out , plus the confession of the good thief. It is vital to note, however, that passion is never separated from Resurrection, even in the darkest moments: “We venerate thy Passion, O Christ: Show us also thy glorious Resurrection.” The Hours take on a special, fuller form on this day, called Royal Hours. First, Third, Sixth and Ninth hours of prayer each include a Prophecy, an Epistle and a Gospel Lesson. We find more late, “dramatic” developments—not mentioned in the Triodion—in the vespers service. In the Greek/Mediterranean usage, at the conclusion of the Gospel lesson, the corpus of Christ on the Cross is taken down. In those churches which practice this custom, the vespers service itself has come to be known as “Un-nailing Vespers.” |
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