NEWS SECTION
ELECTION OF A NEW PATRIARCH
FOLLOWING the repose on 5th December, n.s., of His Holiness Patriarch Aleksii II of Moscow, the religious press has been full of reports, opinions and obituaries, as might be expected. Some hail him as almost a Saint - one correspondent of ours has even attributed miracles to his intercession. Others have preferred to concentrate on his KGB history and the apparent darker side of his personality. It is perhaps best that we leave the judgment to Him, Who will also judge us, and simply ask in prayer that His Holiness find mercy. His Eminence Metropolitan Kyrill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad was appointed by the Holy Synod as the locum tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, and, at its session on 10th December, the Synod resolved that the Bishops’ Council will be held on 25th-26th January, and the Local Council on 27th-29th January. The enthronement of the newly elected Patriarch will take place on 1st February, the Sunday of Zacchæus.
CHRISTIAN STATEMENT ON GAZA
THE PATRIARCHS and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem have (30/12/08) issued a statement on the current devastating situation in Gaza: “We, the Patriarchs, Bishops and the Heads of Christian Churches in Jerusalem, follow with deep concern, regret, and shock the war currently raging in the Gaza Strip and the subsequent destruction, murder and bloodshed, especially at a time when we celebrate Christmas, the birth of the King of love and peace. As we express our deep sorrow at the renewed cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians and the continued absence of peace in our Holy Land, we denounce the ongoing hostilities in the Gaza Strip and all forms of violence and killings from all parties. We believe that the continuation of this bloodshed and violence will not lead to peace and justice but breed more hatred and hostility - and thus continued confrontation between the two peoples. Accordingly, we call upon all officials of both parties to the conflict to return to their senses and refrain from all violent acts, which only bring destruction and tragedy, and urge them instead to work to resolve their differences through peaceful and non-violent means. We also call upon the international community to fulfill its responsibilities and intervene immediately and actively stop the bloodshed and end all forms of confrontation; to work hard and strong to put an end to the current confrontation and remove the causes of conflict between the two peoples; and to finally resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with a just and comprehensive solution based on international resolutions. To the various Palestinian factions we say: It is time to end your division and settle your differences. We call on all factions at this particular time to put the interests of the Palestinian people above personal and factional interests and to move immediately toward national comprehensive reconciliation and use all non-violent means to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region. Finally, we raise our prayers to the Child in the manger to inspire the authorities and decision makers on both sides, the Israelis and Palestinians, for immediate action to end the current tragic situation in the Gaza Strip. We pray for the victims, the wounded and the broken-hearted. May the Lord God Almighty grant all those who have lost loved ones consolation and patience. We pray for all those living in panic and fear, that God may bless them with calm, tranquility and true peace. We call on all to observe next Sunday, 4th January, as a day for justice and peace in the land of peace.” This appeal was signed by Patriarch Theophilos III, of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and twelve other church leaders of various denominations.
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