| UK court vindicates Christian demoted for opposing gay ‘marriage’ by Hilary White Manchester, England, November 23, 2012 Adrian Smith. A court in Manchester has ruled that when Adrian Smith wrote on Facebook that he objected to government plans to create “same-sex marriage.” he was not committing an act of “professional misconduct.” Smith, 55, a property manager in Manchester, was demoted and had his pay cut by his employers, who alleged that his comment constituted an act of “gross professional misconduct.” Smith had commented on his Facebook page that the redefinition of marriage planned by the coalition government is “an equality too far.” “The Bible is quite specific that marriage is for men and women,” Smith wrote. “If the State wants to offer civil marriages to the same sex then that is up to the State; but the State shouldn’t impose its rules on places of faith and conscience.” The court ruled that Smith’s employer, Trafford Housing Trust, a branch of the local municipal government, had acted unlawfully in breaching the terms of its contract with Smith, and had no right to demote him. Mr. Smith made the comments on his own time and in a venue where they could not be read by the general public, the court observed. The Trust claimed, however, that he had broken the code of conduct for employees by making comments that “might offend co-workers”. Mr. Smith said he was “pleased” with the outcome of the year-long case. “Britain is a free country where people have freedom of speech, and I am pleased that the judge’s ruling underlines that important principle,” Smith said. “But this sad case should never have got this far. Long ago, Trafford Housing Trust should have held their hands up and admitted they made a terrible mistake.” The case prompted lawyer and religious discrimination law expert Neil Addison to comment that “the obsession with hate crime and hate speech has created a new generation of publicly paid heresy-hunters.” Life Site News 24 ноября 2012 г. ... Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Churches of Kurdistan become asylum from ISIS for refugees Erbil, October 15, 2014 Churches of the city of Erbil, the capital of the Iraqi Kurdistan, today are becoming a temporary home for dozens of Christians, Muslims, and Yazides (also Yezidi: a part of Iraqi Kurds who confess their own syncretic religion, a mixture of Zoroastrianism and ancient Mesopotamian religions), fled from the terror of the “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” extremists, reports the Copts Today news portal. Nadia Henry, a former Iraqi MP who several days ago visited Kurdistan with a humanitarian convoy, related the present situation in the city to the Veto journalists: “There are very many refugees. Thousands of people entered Erbil alone. The number of these destitute people requires a great amount of humanitarian aid and there is constantly lack of it”. N. Henry has sharply denounced “the hushing up by the world community of the tragedy in Nineveh,” referring to this fact as to “a mockery” and “a crime”. According to the politician, the overwhelming majority of refugees put the blame for banishment of religious minorities from their own homes on the republic’s leaders. “One of them said to me: “The Iraqi authorities have sold us, the Christians and Yazides, Iraqi Arab residents, to ISIS,” Nadia noted. However, at the same time she especially noted the role of churches in support of settlers from the neighboring regions: “I saw myself how one of the Erbil churches became a true “cell of hope”, in fact organized like a beehive: each parish member is trying with all his or her strength to help the refugees who have found asylum in the church. And there are dozens and hundreds of such churches; local Christians are aiding everyone who has knocked on their door, without any questions about his or her denomination or ethnicity”. Nadia Henry also points out that the Orthodox Church is striving to provide the refugees not only with shelter and food, but also with places for worship, and their children continue their studies at schools, functioning at churches. 17 октября 2014 г. Смотри также Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| Tweet Нравится “Miracle of St. Januarius” repeated in Naples cathedral Naples, September 19, 2016 The so-called “miracle of St. Januarius,” known since the end of the fourteenth century, once again occurred on Monday in the Naples cathedral during a solemn Mass, reports RIA-Novosti . That the dried blood of the Naples patron, sealed in a special capsule, again turned to liquid Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe announced. The liquefaction of the dried liquid occurred at 10:38 local time. Thousands of faithful, gathered in the church, met the good news with exuberant applause. The dried blood, considered the blood of the patron saint of Naples, as the Church affirms, becomes liquid three times a year: September 19, when believers glorify the martyr; December 16, when the Neapolitans mark the anniversary of the miraculous deliverance from the 1631 Vesuvius eruption by the saint’s intercessions, and finally, on the Saturday before the first Sunday of May, when the numerous relocations of the holy relics are commemorated. Sometimes the “miracle” occurs immediately, but sometimes it requires a few days of prayer. A number of scientific theories have been put forth to explain the phenomenon, but Neapolitans themselves believe in the miracle and hope in St. Januarius to never leave the city residents in times of trouble. St. Januarius is a hieromartyr of the late third-early fourth centuries, honored by both the Orthodox Church and Catholic communities. He suffered for preaching Christ during the reign of Roman emperor Diocletian. Translated by Jesse Dominick Pravoslavie.ru 20 сентября 2016 г. Подпишитесь на рассылку Православие.Ru Рассылка выходит два раза в неделю: Предыдущий Следующий Смотри также (VIDEO) Procession with relics of St. Spyridon of Trimythous held on Corfu (VIDEO) Procession with relics of St. Spyridon of Trimythous held on Corfu During the procession along the streets of Kerkyra the festive ringing of the bells in all churches of the island never ceased. According to famous tradition, the residents scattered the street with laurel branches and hung carpets from their balconies. An icon of the Archangel Michael is streaming myrrh in Greece An icon of the Archangel Michael is streaming myrrh in Greece An amazing event has been witnessed just a few kilometers from the town of Trikala, beneath the holy mountains near the Meteora; the wood of an icon of the Archangel Michael, painted five years ago by iconographer Fr. Panagiotis Pevkis, is giving out drops of fragrant oil which, miraculously, have not damaged the icon. Icon of St. Innocent of Moscow weeping myrrh In Khabarovsk Icon of St. Innocent of Moscow weeping myrrh In Khabarovsk The unusual phenomenon was noticed by the seminary aspirants who came to take entrance examinations. Комментарии © 1999-2016 Православие.Ru |
| Russia fires director of Wagner " s Tannhauser opera after modern interpretation offends nation " s Orthodox Christians/Православие.Ru Russia fires director of Wagner " s Tannhauser opera after modern interpretation offends nation " s Orthodox Christians Novosibirsk , March 30, 2015 Russia’s culture minister has fired the director of a Siberian theatre, after his modern staging of Wagner’s opera Tannhauser offended members of the country’s powerful Orthodox Church. Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky fired Boris Mezdrich as director of the Novosibirsk State Opera and Ballet Theater on Sunday. Mezdrich had held the position in 2001 between 2008, and again since his reappointment in 2011. Mezdrich was replaced by Vladimir Kekhman, the director of the Mikhailovsky Theater in St. Petersburg. Kekhman told the state news agency Tass that he would maintain his directing positions at both theatres. The piece follows a hero, Tannhauser, who is initially tempted by Venus and her entourage, but is eventually drawn back to the Roman Catholic Church. In Mezdrich " s version, Tannhauser is depicted as a modern film director who makes the temptation of Venus in something that Jesus Christ endures. The show caused a further stir by being advertised using a controversial poster, which shows a crucifix between the naked, open legs of a woman. The sacking comes after the church took Mezdrich and the director of the opera, Timofei Kulyabin, to court in February, over accusations they offended Christians with their December production. Local prosecutors threw out the case on March 10, the New York Times reported. As controversy surrounding “Tannhauser” built in recent weeks, Russian cultural figures leant their voices to the in support of the theatre’s interpretation of Richard Wagner " s 19th century opera, but to no avail. Several thousand people gathered outside the theatre in Novosibirsk, the third-largest city in Russia, as his sacking was announced, to protest against the opera they regarded as promoting the values of a decadent West and being offensive to Christians. |
| Archive Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk: the schism provoked by Constantinople is developing outside the folds of our Church 30 November 2020 year 13:53 On November 25, the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus issued a communique stating that ‘it does not object to the decision’ of Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus who has begun to mention during the liturgy the head of the Ukrainian schismatics Epifaniy Dumenko as primate of the Church of Ukraine. The decision has split the episcopate of Cyprus into two parts. What developments can ensue from this decision, Ekaterina Gracheva, hostess of the Church and World TV program asked the head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk. ‘It is difficult to predict how this schism will develop in the Orthodox world but I would like to emphasize that this schism is happening outside the folds of our Church’, His Eminence Hilarion said, ‘The Russian Orthodox Church remains united and consolidated, her episcopate both in Russia and Ukraine and Belarus and other countries is solid’. Speaking about developments in other Local Orthodox Churches, the DECR chairman stated, ‘We can see that Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople has become the initiator of this schism and is its principal culprit. It was expected that the Churches which look to Constantinople (and these are primarily those which speak Greek, such as those of Greece and Cyprus) would eventually follow Patriarch Bartholomew. He is perceived in these Churches not as first among equals but actually as their chief. Therefore, if he pointed out something to them and insisted on something, they would sooner or later obey it’. However, as far as the Church of Cyprus is concerned, Metropolitan Hilarion believes that the synodal decision made this week has not put an end to the story since the recent developments have shown that there is a serious division in the Synod over the Ukrainian issue. ‘The members of the Synod who voted against the decision have remained unconvinced – they will neither concelebrate with the schismatics nor mention the schismatic leaders during the liturgy; in this regard, they remain very first and staunch. And we will yet see how the situation will develop further within the Orthodox Church of Cyprus’, the DECR chairman summed up his answer. DECR Communication Service /Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 7 December 2023 year |
| Archive His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania: Instead of unity of Orthodox Christians in Ukraine, there has appeared a danger of schism in the unity of universal Orthodoxy 22 November 2018 year 16:33 In his letter sent to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on 10 October 2018, His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania expressed his concern that the implementation of the project of Ukrainian autocephaly by the Patriarchate of Constantinople would be a “march in a minefield.” “It reminds of a dangerous undertaking with unforeseen repercussions. The warring groups will preserve their identity and cohesion, as often happened before in various Local Churches. As a result, instead of the unity of Orthodox Christians in Ukraine, there has appeared a danger of schism in the unity of the universal Orthodoxy,” the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church said in his letter and noted that he had expressed his opinion to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople during their meeting in Cyprus. As His Beatitude emphasized, he is lifting up “ardent prayers for the unity of our Holy Church, which its Head, our Lord Jesus Christ, hath purchased with his own blood (Acts 20:28).” The Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church assured His Holiness Patriarch Kirill that he “will do all he can to prevent the schism in the universal Orthodoxy.” “Such scenario would be a painful blow to the trust in Orthodoxy, and every effort must be exerted to prevent it,” His Beatitude Metropolitan Anastasios added, “Howsoever impossible it might seem, we believe that we all must do all within our power to return to the Synaxes of Primates and to the planning of a new Great Council. We are aware that some will regard these proposals as unreal and therefore unfeasible. However, I am confident that no one can be a realist while not believing in a miracle, and that the things which are impossible with men are possible with God (Lk 18:27).” DECR Communication Service /Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 7 December 2023 year |
| Archive Moscow Patriarchate hierarchs take part in installation of Serbian Church’s Bishop of Western Europe 11 October 2022 year 11:31 On October 9, the installation of Bishop Justin of Western Europe took place at the Serbian Orthodox Church’s Cathedral of St Sava in Paris. He was elected as Bishop of Western Europe on May 21, 2022, by the Bishops’ Council of the Serbian Church to succeed the late Bishop Luka (Kovaevi). The day before, Great Vespers was celebrated at the St. Savva Cathedral with a great gathering of people, among them His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia. After the service, Bishop Justin addressed His Holiness greeting and thanking him for, among other thing, his first visit to France as Primate of the Serbian Church. The next day, Bishop Justin, assisted by an assembly of bishops and priests of the Serbian Church, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the St. Sava Cathedral. Among worshippers were His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije and bishops of Local Orthodox Churches who came for the festivities, the website of the Diocese of Chersonesus reports. The Moscow Patriarchate was represented by Archbishop Nestor of Madrid and Lisbon, acting administrator of the Diocese of Chersonesus. Fr om the Russian Orthodox Church there were also Metropolitan Ioann of Dubna, Bishop Simeon of Domodedovo, and Bishop Yelisej of Reutovo (Archdiocese of the Orthodox Churches of Russian Tradition), and Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe (Russian Church Outside Russia). After the Liturgy, the decision of the Bishops’ Council of the Serbian Church to elect His Grace Justin was solemnly read out. Addressing the new Bishop of Western Europe during handing him the crozier, Patriarch Porfirije remanded him of the importance and loftiness of his new service. After accepting the crozier, His Grace Justin proceeded to the bishop’s see wh ere he was offered brotherly congratulations and best wished from the participants in the festivities. Extending warm congratulations to the newly installed brother, Archbishop Nestor presented His Grace Justin with a pectoral icon in memory of the event. DECR Communication Service / Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 7 December 2023 year |
| Archive Statement issued by hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at the results of the meeting between the members of its Synod and Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople 26 June 2018 year 18:59 On 25 June 2018, the Name Day of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine, after the Divine Liturgy in the Kiev Lavra of the Caves 70 archpastors who attended the celebrations held a consultation. The permanent members of the Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church who had took part in the meeting with His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in his residence in Istanbul on June 23, informed all those present of its results. The hierarchs who took part in the consultation adopted a joint statement which reads in particular, “The Patriarchate of Constantinople refuted the information that the canonical mechanism of overcoming the schism in the Ukrainian Orthodoxy had already been agreed upon and the text of the Tomos of Autocephaly of the Ukrainian Church had been drafted. It also proved to be wrong that the unilateral granting of autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church could take place in the nearest future or within some fixed period.” Noted in the document is the readiness of the Patriarchate of Constantinople “to join the process of overcoming the Ukrainian church schism in consultation with the fraternal Local Orthodox Churches.” The participants in the meeting expressed their concern over “a possibility of the establishment in Ukraine of parallel ecclesiastical jurisdictions as was reported by the press,” and emphasized that such step could deepen the church schism in Ukraine. On the other hand, in the event the Ukrainian Orthodox Church would be transformed into a structure of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, it would lose “many of the rights granted to it over the recent decades.” The hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church stated: “The existing canonical status is sufficient for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to fruitfully carry out its mission among the people of Ukraine. The attempts to change this status will only result in the restriction of rights and freedoms that our Church enjoys, having the rights of wide autonomy. Moreover, these attempts will not heal but deepen the schism both in the Ukrainian Orthodoxy and in the Ukrainian society as a whole.” The archpastors unanimously confirmed their intention to abide by “the episcopal oath taken at the consecration to be faithful to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.” To confirm their position, all the archpastors present at the consultation signed the statement. DECR Communication Service /Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 7 December 2023 year |
| Archive Prayers for consolidation of peace are offered in the Patriarchate of Antioch 3 March 2022 year 14:19 Members of the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Antioch pray and hope that “the spiritual and historical ties between the Russian and Ukrainian peoples, which have emerged from the same baptismal font, would contribute to resolving the conflict, achieving of reconciliation, and consolidating of peace”, reads the communiqué on the results of the Synod session held in Balamand, Lebanon, on March 2, 2022. The Antiochian hierarchs also prayed to the Lord for inspiring the authorities to adopt the language of dialogue to spare human casualties and destruction. They expressed their sympathy to the shepherds and believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy “during this difficult time for the Ukrainian people.” The Holy Synod again called for immediate release of the abducted in April 2013 leaders of Christian communities of Aleppo – Metropolitan Paul of Aleppo and Alexandretta, the Antiochian Orthodox Church, and Metropolitan Youhanna Ibrahim of Aleppo, the Syrian Church of the East. Sympathy and support to His Beatitude Patriarch John X and Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas was expressed back then by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia who called upon the leaders of different countries and international organizations to do anything possible for release of the abducted Christian leaders of Aleppo. Utmost concern for the destiny of the Christian hierarchs kidnapped in Syria was expressed by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by the deputies of the Russian State Duma. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and Pope Francis voiced their request for making every effort to ensure the hierarchs’ prompt liberation in the Joint Declaration issued at their meeting in Havana in 2016. The Synod of the Orthodox Church of Antioch denounced the international silence over this issue lasting many years. The participants in the session reflected upon the recent developments in the Orthodox Church and the crisis that threatens Orthodox unity. They stressed the necessity to take decisions by consensus in the family of Local Churches. “Consensus and unanimity guarantee the unity of the Orthodox Church,” the Synod stated. Consideration has been given to a number of other topics. DECR Communication Service /Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 7 December 2023 year |
| “Then the question arises: when exactly did this doctrine emerge in Constantinople? We do not remember of such a doctrine to exist as long as 30 years ago. Moreover, if it were just a theoretical discourse, we could have disputed it at conferences. But it is not just a theoretical discourse; it is a practical action of Constantinople related primarily to Ukraine. Constantinople invaded the canonical space of another Orthodox Church, and what is more, he, as it were, authorized it by his power and subjected it to himself. Is it possible that Constantinople, in undertaking these seductive and inexplicable actions from the perspective of historical reality, did not understand that they would lead to a division?” asked the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. According to His Holiness, to acknowledge what Constantinople has done as lawful would mean “to acknowledge the Eastern Pope”. If we remain Orthodox, we conciliarly acknowledge that in the Orthodox Church there is the first among equals and that this first one has a very limited function in no way connected with governing Local Orthodox Churches, but a purely representative function of being the first during divine services. We have even agreed that the chairman of joint Orthodox conferences should not be elected and that the Patriarch of Constantinople should be such, though initially we insisted that the chairman should be elected”, Patriarch Kirill said. In the Russian Orthodox Church, “we have always followed the path of creating of a favourable atmosphere for pan-Orthodox dialogue”, His Holiness stressed, “This is why we have revoked our demands that the chairman should be elected; we agreed to let Constantinople be the chair. But it does not mean that we have agreed that the Patriarch of Constantinople has special powers different from those enjoyed by other Patriarchs, the more so the ones that concern the whole world Orthodoxy”, the Primate summed up. Patriarchal Press Service Календарь ← 21 апреля 2024 г. (8 апреля ст.ст.) |
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