| " It is an occasion where Christians feel free and behave without inhibitions, " the 64-year-old Arsenious said. " It is like they are exercising all their rituals and chanting their slogans without a worry about the consequences. " During last year's festival, men and women flaunted the cross tattoos on the inside of their wrists, which they normally keep discreet. Men showed off more elaborate tattoos of favorite saints on their arms. Tens of thousands lived in a tent city outside the monastery's walls as hymns blared out of speakers and special envoys from the pope headed ceremonies and Mass. The monastery put up a notice saying it would be closed to visits during the time of the festival — which was to have begun on Monday — and word spread through churches and social media. Still, a handful of pilgrims showed up at the monastery's imposing iron gates demanding to come in to pray. Despite the current atmosphere, Arsenious says he's optimistic things will change. He said he dreams of a return to the days of the 1970s, before the rise of Muslim conservatism and Islamic militancy. " It is unrealistic to expect that people, like in the West, would never ask about one's religion, " he said. " But I want to at least comfortably spend a whole day with a Muslim friend without fear that he could turn against me at any moment. " . 20 ноября 2013 г. ... Предыдущий Следующий Смотри также Canada concerned by persistent violence against coptic orthodox christians in Egypt Canada concerned by persistent violence against coptic orthodox christians in Egypt Andrew Bennett, Canada " s Ambassador for Religious Freedom, issued the statement. Horrific Violence Against Christians in Egypt and Syria Caught on Video Horrific Violence Against Christians in Egypt and Syria Caught on Video Antti Korkeakivi, the head of the department of indigenous people and minorities at the United Nations has said that " serious violations against Christians in Egypt and Syria " have been recorded. Joint Orthodox-Catholic statement on violence against Christians in Middle East Joint Orthodox-Catholic statement on violence against Christians in Middle East The North American Orthodox Catholic Theological Consultation has issued a joint statement entitled “The Plight of Churches in the Middle East – Revisited.” Комментарии Войдите через FaceBook ВКонтакте Яндекс Mail.Ru Google или введите свои данные: © 1999-2015 Православие.Ru |
| Папа Франциск уделяет социальным сетям самое пристальное внимание, что отражается как в текстах документов Святого Престола, выпущенных за его подписью, так и в практической работе Ватикана в области соцмедиа, центральным объектом которой является именно фигура понтифика. Закрепление за Франциском репутации самого расположенного по отношению к социальным сетям папы («social media-friendly pope») вполне закономерно: ни при Иоанне Павле II, ни даже при Бенедикте XVI социальные сети еще не занимали такого места в глобальном информационном пространстве. И хотя первым папой, заведшим аккаунт в «Твиттере», был Бенедикт XVI, именно при Франциске @pontifex достиг своих нынешних колоссальных размеров по численности подписчиков и количеству ретвитов. И именно Франциск входит в историю еще и как папа, при котором в рамках широкого корпуса католического социального богословия развивается отдельное направление – «богословие социальных медиа». В энцикликах и папских посланиях последних лет социальные сети становятся предметом внимательного осмысления, так как ценны прежде всего как самая актуальная для современников возможность открыть для себя красоту веры и встречи со Христом – поэтому Церковь, «способная приносить тепло и будоражить сердца», должна активно войти также и в сферу соцмедиа Но при этом нынешний понтифик уделяет большое внимание и тем издержкам – прежде всего в области качества социальных взаимосвязей – которые несет с собой рост влияния современной блогосферы. Он выражает обеспокоенность, что тяга современников к постоянному «цифровому подключению может привести к изоляции от наших соседей, от тех, кто ближе всего к нам» В энциклике «Laudato Si» Франциск вкратце обращается к отдельному аспекту гиперинформационного общества – информационной перегрузке, в значительной мере создаваемой в том числе и социальными сетями. Соцсети, с одной стороны позволяя людям общаться в обход времени и расстояния, в то же время «нередко мешают нам установить непосредственный контакт с тревогой, со страхом, с радостью другого человека и со сложностью его личного переживания», следствием чего становится «глубокая меланхоличная неудовлетворенность межличностными отношениями либо пагубная изоляция» C. 37]. |
| DECR vice-chairman meets with diplomats of EU member states March 18, 2013 On March 14, 2013, Hegumen Philaret (Bulekov), a vice-chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, met with EU countries’ deputy ambassadors in Russia, at the residence of the head of the EU delegation to Russia. It was a monthly conference of the second persons in the EU diplomatic missions, to which prominent political, public and cultural figures are traditionally invited. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Michael Webb, deputy head of the EU delegation to Russia. During the talk, which was held in a friendly atmosphere, Father Philaret familiarized the European diplomats with the reforms carried out in the administrative-territorial governance of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Church’s social service, the teaching of basic religious cultures and secular ethics in Russian public schools, the participation of the Moscow Patriarchate in interreligious and inter-confessional dialogue and the situation of Christians in the Middle East and North Africa. Participating in the meeting was also M. Palacio of the DECR secretariat for the far-abroad countries. Source: DECR Communication Service Code for blog Since you are here… …we do have a small request. More and more people visit Orthodoxy and the World website. However, resources for editorial are scarce. In comparison to some mass media, we do not make paid subscription. It is our deepest belief that preaching Christ for money is wrong. Having said that, Pravmir provides daily articles from an autonomous news service, weekly wall newspaper for churches, lectorium, photos, videos, hosting and servers. Editors and translators work together towards one goal: to make our four websites possible - Pravmir.ru, Neinvalid.ru, Matrony.ru and Pravmir.com. Therefore our request for help is understandable. For example, 5 euros a month is it a lot or little? A cup of coffee? It is not that much for a family budget, but it is a significant amount for Pravmir. If everyone reading Pravmir could donate 5 euros a month, they would contribute greatly to our ability to spread the word of Christ, Orthodoxy, life " s purpose, family and society. Related articles On 1 March 2018, an international round table on the Future of Christianity in the Middle… On 3 February 2018, a delegation of the Working Group for Rendering Aid to the People… His Beatitude Theodore II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa arrived to South Africa… Also by this author Today " s Articles Most viewed articles Functionality is temporarily unavailable. Most popular authors Functionality is temporarily unavailable. © 2008-2024 Pravmir.com |
| Power in the Church is not about who kisses one’s hand but how many feet one can wash in the service of Christ. Pope Francis made this clear when he visited a youth prison in 2013 and chose to wash the feet of the offenders including one who is an Orthodox Christian. “Real power is service. The world will be watching from May 24-25, 2014 as Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Pope Francis welcome each other in Jerusalem to observe the anniversary of the historic encounter between Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras and the subsequent lifting of mutual anathemas. The main focus of the many scholars and reporters who will cover this event will be the elusive question of “Old Rome and New Rome” that is the question of unity between Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians. However, hidden amidst all this media coverage will be a unique opportunity for Orthodox Christians to follow the example of Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras of blessed memory and to meet the Pope of Rome again as if for the first time. At first glance, the idea of Orthodox Christians being able to learn from the Pope of Rome appears out of place if not altogether wrong. However, Orthodox Christians should pause before rushing to judgment about such matters and remember that prior to the Great Schism of 1054, the Pope of Rome was honored with reverence and respect throughout the Orthodox World. Today, Orthodox Christians honor many Popes of Rome as saints including St. Leo the Great, St. Gregory the Dialogist and St. Martin the Confessor. Orthodox Tradition celebrates the lives of many Popes throughout the liturgical year. Despite these facts, one of the present realities that is most disappointing is how some of our brothers and sisters have portrayed the Pope of Rome. “Dictator” and “anti-christ” are just some of the clichés that have been sadly used. While there have certainly been corrupt Popes throughout history (as there have been corrupt Patriarchs), Orthodox Christians must ask themselves whether or not the last 35 years have greatly challenged such stereotypes, especially when it comes to Popes such as John Paul II , Benedict XVI, and the current Pope of Rome, Francis. Orthodox Christians should especially pause and take notice of the unique witness of Pope Francis. He is in many ways a bishop who reflects the Christianity of the first millennium when the Church was undivided. Pope Francis also models a form of leadership that is greatly needed in Orthodox Christianity today. |
| “Today, as then, Christians of East and West must give common witness so that, strengthened by the spirit of the risen Christ, they may disseminate the message of salvation to the entire world,” the pope said. Pope Francis also mentioned the upcoming 50th anniversary of the historic encounter in Jerusalem between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, the meeting in 1964 that set the stage for Catholic-Orthodox reconciliation and dialogue. “God, the source of all peace and love, has taught us throughout these years to regard one another as members of the same family. For indeed we have one Lord and one savior,” the pope wrote. In his address to the Vatican delegation in Istanbul, Patriarch Bartholomew said he believed Pope Francis “will constitute a renewed inspiration for the common journey of our two churches toward the world in order that we may assume social and moral initiatives for the consolation of humanity, which is suffering from diverse global crises.” He underlined the importance of joining the pope for his expected visit to Jerusalem in 2014 to commemorate Pope Paul’s meeting with Patriarch Athenagoras. Meeting in Jerusalem would usher in a new season of ecumenical dialogue, Patriarch Bartholomew said. Ecumenical talks have not been very productive so far, the patriarch said, because they mostly have been “monologues where each side presented its own positions and arguments.” Future dialogue must “discern the teaching of the Lord and his apostles, as this was experienced and witnessed by the common patristic theology of the undivided church.” Pope Francis also wrote in his message that he wished “to pursue fraternal relations between the Church of Rome and the Ecumenical Patriarchate” and build upon “the depth and the authenticity of our existing bonds.” In his recent apostolic exhortation, “Evangelii Gaudium” (“The Joy of the Gospel”), the pope wrote about the important things that already unite many Christians. “If we really believe in the abundantly free working of the Holy Spirit, we can learn so much from one another,” he wrote, for example, “in the dialogue with our Orthodox brothers and sisters, we Catholics have the opportunity to learn more about the meaning of episcopal collegiality and their experience of synodality.” |
| Oral Roberts (1918–2009), raised in the Pentecostal Holiness denomination, greatly broadened his base of support and his scope of ministry when he became an ordained United Methodist preacher in 1970. Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, founded by Oral Roberts in 1963, was the world’s first Charismatic Christian college. A Graduate School of Theology was added in 1976. Demos Shakarian (1913–1993), a wealthy Armenian-American dairyman from California, together with Oral Roberts, founded in 1951the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International, which spread quickly among classic Pentecostals and later among Charismatic Christian businessmen. Beginning in the 1960s, this group, with its monthly meetings of businessmen and the Voice magazine published monthly, has served to a large extent as “the organizational cohesion for the Charismatic Movement.” In 2013it had about 7,000 local chapters in 142countries around the world. Since 1993, its international president has been Richard Shakarian, son of Demos Shakarian. The Roman Catholic Church The dynamic leadership of Pope Leo XIII (1810–1903; r. 1878–1903) brought the Roman Catholic Church into the 20th century with a new and strong commitment to work in the midst of contemporary issues and struggles, rather than tending to romantize the past (especially the 18th century, up until the French Revolution) as the bygone days of glory for the Church. Pope Leo and his successors (Pope Pius X; r. 1903–1914; Pope Benedict XV; r. 1914–1922; and Pope Pius XI; r. 1922–1939) urged Catholics to get involved in social action and political affairs. Some Catholic political parties and labor unions were formed, as well as religious orders dedicated to social work. In response to intellectualist criticisms of the Church, Pope Leo and his successors affirmed Thomism as the official Roman Catholic doctrinal standard, with its assertion that there is no opposition between religious faith and empirical science. During WW II the Papacy, under Pope Pius XII (1876–1958; r. 1939–1958), maintained relations with all the warring nations. Pope Pius was later criticized for not speaking out against the Nazi atrocities committed against the Jews. It was also Pope Pius XII who proclaimed the doctrine of the bodily Assumption of Mary as dogma, in 1950. |
| Vatican II Council In 1959, Pope John XXIII (r. 1958–1963) announced the convocation of an “ecumenical council” of the Roman Catholic Church. This council, called Vatican II, was opened in 1962by Pope John. Upon his death in 1963, Pope Paul VI (r. 1963–1978) followed him. The Council continued under Pope Paul’s leadership until it finished its work in 1965. Attended by nearly all the Roman Catholic bishops worldwide, and with many non-Catholic observers also in attendance, the Vatican II Council published many official documents concerning all aspects of Roman Catholic life. Vatican II precipitated great changes in the Roman Church, and the post-conciliar period has been one of much confusion and conflict. All Roman Catholic Churches everywhere were strongly urged to begin celebrating the mass and the other services in the local vernacular languages rather than always in Latin. From the Orthodox point of view, this was a very long overdue change. But this development also precipitated new, modern translations of the services which, in the opinion of many, often tended to diminish the grandeur and doctrinal integrity of the original Latin services. While Vatican II fostered a greater emphasis on the conciliar nature of the Church yet still being under Papal authority, in some quarters there was radical questioning of the Papal system of ecclesiastical authority. The Vatican II Council also prompted the enthusiastic entrance of many Roman Catholics into ecumenical activity. Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II (1920–2005; r. 1978–2005) was the first Polish pope, and the first non-Italian pope since the 1520s. He was the most well-traveled pope ever, visiting 129 nations during his long tenure. This, along with his prolific writings and compelling presence, raised the prestige of the Papacy worldwide. He maintained a generally conservative stance in the face of Liberation Theology, which emphasized social work to and political – even revolutionary – involvement with the poor and oppressed, and he opposed the priesthood being open to married men (in most cases), or to women, or to active homosexuals. He also is credited with helping to bring down the Communist government in his native Poland in 1989. |
| Pope Benedict XVI Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (b. 1927), former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (from 1981to 2005; this is the Papacy’s office charged with protecting and defending Christian dogma), was elected to succeed Pope John Paul II in 2005. He took the name Benedict XVI. By 2013Pope Benedict had established himself as a worthy successor to John Paul II, having continued his predecessor’s basic approach to the Christian life, and to the responsibilities of the Papal office. In at least one way, however, he showed himself to be more conservative than John Paul II. Whereas under John Paul II, the old Latin (Tridentine) Mass was only allowed upon petitioning the local bishop, Pope Benedict in 2007 declared that any local priest has the authority to hold a Tridentine Mass. He also declared that generally speaking, the Latin Mass should be made available whenever it is requested. Like John Paul II, Pope Benedict made significant overtures to the Orthodox Church. But also like his predecessor, he did not suggest that there might be a substantial reconsideration of the nature of Papal authority, including the Papacy’s claims to worldwide jurisdiction over all Christians. This issue remains the most fundamental obstacle to any possible reconciliation between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in the future. Pope Francis In February of 2013, Pope Benedict XVI unexpectedly stepped down from the Papacy, citing his declining health. He was succeeded in the next month by Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (b. 1936), an Argentine, who was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires from 1998 to 2013. He becomes the 266th Pope in the history of the Roman episcopacy, and the first ever from the Western Hemisphere. Even though a Jesuit, the new pope took the name Francis, after Saint Francis of Assisi (1181–1226), the founder of the Franciscan Order. Pope Francis was welcomed with great optimism and excitement. He is known for his simple way of life and his concern for the poor, while also remaining firm in his support of traditional Roman Catholic theological and moral teachings. Selected Bibliography |
| As we know, the Roman Catholic Church is still not in communion with the Orthodox Churches, even though in 1965 Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I lifted the mutual anathemas of 1054. Pope Gregory VII The reforming spirit of the Roman Papacy in the 11th century reached its height under Hildebrand who, as Pope Gregory VII (r. 1073–1085), firmly established the Papacy as a secular power. In a document called the Dictatus papae, he advocated the most extreme interpretation as yet of Papal authority in both church and state: “the Roman pontiff alone is to be called universal” (or “ecumenical”); “he alone can depose or reinstate bishops”; “he alone may use the imperial insignia”; “the pope is the only one whose feet are to be kissed by all princes”; “he may depose emperors”; “he himself may be judged by no one”; “to this see the most important cases of every Church should be submitted”; “the Roman Church has never erred, nor ever, by the witness of Scripture, shall err to all eternity”; “the Roman pontiff, if canonically ordained, is undoubtedly sanctified by the merits of St Peter.” These radical claims were put severely to the test during Pope Gregory’s monumental struggle against lay investiture (the practice of secular lords, princes, and kings appointing their own priests, bishops, and abbots) in Western Europe. This struggle clearly demonstrated the fact that the Papacy’s authority over the churches of Western Europe was far from secure even in the latter part of the 11th century. For after Pope Gregory forbade lay investiture in 1075, his edict was met with violent opposition in England, France, and Germany – where nobles, according to the feudal system of strict allegiance of servants to one’s lord, were quite used to appointing their own priests for the chapels and churches on their lands, and kings felt it was their right to appoint their own bishops and abbots for the bishoprics and monasteries in their realms. In Germany, Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV (r. 1056–1106) held two Church synods which attempted to depose Gregory from the Papacy for his interference in what he claimed were his own affairs. In 1077, Gregory responded by excommunicating Henry. The emperor then was stung with remorse. Traveling to the Pope’s castle retreat of Canossa in the mountains of central Italy to beg forgiveness, Henry stood for three days outside in the snow doing penitence. But in 1080, Henry set up an anti-pope, since Gregory had acknowledged Henry’s rival, Rudolf of Swabia, as Holy Roman Emperor. Henry then marched on Rome, which he captured after a two-year siege, with Pope Gregory fleeing to Salerno, where he died in 1085. The First Crusade |
| Hieromonk John (Guaita): We Hope that the Declaration Between the Pope and Patriarch Will Not Become Empty Words We hope that these words will not remain empty intentions. 27 May, 2014. PRAVMIR. On the evening of May 25, 2014, on the premises of the Apostolic delegates in Jerusalem, Patriarch Bartholomew I and Pope Francis signed a joint declaration during a private meeting. Hieromonk John (Guaita), a clergyman of the Church of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in Moscow and an historian, shared his opinion with Pravmir: “The reason for the meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew this year is the 50 th anniversary of the historic meeting of Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, which took place in Jerusalem in 1964. The first meeting between the Patriarch and Pope at the time was unprecedented. Until 1964, such a meeting was not possible. “Jerusalem was chosen for the meeting in 2014 not only because it is an historic place, where 50 years ago the first meeting of its kind took place. Jerusalem was primarily selected as the city in which the Lord preached, died, and rose from the dead. “The declaration consists of ten points. The first one says that in 50 years the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches have gone a long way towards meeting one another. The historic embrace between Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras, after many centuries of silence, opened the way for the search for new relationships. “Briefly describing the chronology of the development of the relations of the Churches, the Pope and Patriarch notes that the objective of full understanding has not been reached. However, certain results have been achieved, chief among which is the fact that for 50 years we have come to regard one another as members of one Christian family, disciples of one Lord Jesus Christ, and begun to respect and love one another. “It is further repeated that both parties recognize that full communion, which includes full Eucharistic communion, has not yet been attained. Yet in the text of the declaration it is noted that both Churches yearn for the day when Catholics and Orthodox can receive communion from the same cup. Unfortunately, the declaration does not say when this will happen or in what way it will happen. However, it specifies the overall direction for the development of Orthodox-Catholic dialogue. |
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