DEPLORABLE ECUMENICAL EVEN IN CYPRUS
THE ZENIT news agency reports that: “NICOSIA, Cyprus, NOV. 16, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Orthodox, Catholics and people of other faiths are gathered together on the island of Cyprus to pray for a civilization of peace. The International Meeting of Prayer for Peace, traditionally sponsored by the Catholic lay Sant’Egidio Community, and this year cosponsored by the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, began today and ends Tuesday. This 22nd meeting is on “The Civilization of Peace: Faiths and Cultures in Dialogue.” These annual international meetings are part of the heritage of the World Day of Prayer for Peace convened in Assisi by Pope John Paul II on Oct. 27, 1986. Orthodox Archbishop Chrysostomos II of New Justiniana and All Cyprus prayed together at Mass on Saturday evening with Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches. In his homily, Chrysostomos II spoke about the island’s difficult situation, emphasizing the significance of peace as an absolute value: “Even if in different languages, through the liturgy we have affirmed our unity in faith and the bond of love between us.” …… Cardinal Sandri then greeted Chrysostomos II and Theodoros II, patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, in the name of Benedict XVI.…” [Emphasis ours].
ROME - MOSCOW RAPPROCHEMENT
ZENIT also announces: “MOSCOW, OCT. 22, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II responded to a letter from Benedict XVI, expressing satisfaction with growing collaboration between the two Churches. Alexy II’s note responded to the Pope’s message of Oct. 1, sent to Russia with Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, archbishop of Naples, who visited Moscow at the patriarch’s invitation. The Russian religious leader expressed his ‘joy at the growing perspective of the development of good relations and a positive cooperation between our two Churches.’ ‘The solid base of this,’ he added, ‘is in our common roots and our converging positions regarding many of the questions that today afflict the world.’ … The patriarch concluded, expressing his heartfelt good wishes for the Holy Father’s ‘good health and the help of God in your ministry.’”
IRAQI CHRISTIANS IN NEED
THE CHARITY, ICIN, has issued the following appeal: “ Christianity became rooted in Iraq from the first Christian centuries. The Christian community of Iraq has been an important part of the fabric of Iraqi society at all times. They made substantial contributions to the emergence of the Abbasid civilization that flourished on Iraqi soil as well as the building of modern Iraq. They have always been proud of their country in which they lived from ancient times and to which they are attached by bonds of history that go back to the Assyrians and the Babylonians. The recent attacks on the Christians of Iraq, their churches and their religious leaders and the resulting displacement are heartbreaking. It is estimated that more than half of the Christian population has fled the country and a lot more displaced within the country to safer areas. UNHCR have reported that 44% of asylum seekers reaching Syria since their register started in 2003 are Christians, despite the fact that Christians form only 4% of the Iraqi population. While neighbouring countries have been generous in receiving the displaced people, resources are limited and many are reduced to dependence on relatives who live in more prosperous countries. Those who do not have any such help need immediate support and it is those people that ICIN intends to reach for. As Christians we continue to pray asking our Benevolent Creator to protect his creation in Iraq both Christian and Muslim, and while we pray for all world leaders that they may be enlightened to take the right decisions in steering our beloved country to safety, we feel we want to make some contribution towards the sufferings of those displaced people who do not have the privilege of somebody to protect them. It is the suffering of those vulnerable displaced people that our charity tries to address by giving financial help through our churches.”
APPEAL FROM ST ELIZABETH PARISH,
BIRKENHEAD
FATHER PAUL ELLIOTT, the pastor of the St Elizabeth the Grand Duchess Parish in Birkenhead, which elected to remain under the omophorion of Archbishop Mark after the rapprochement, has sent us this appeal for his church: “We have launched an appeal to buy a redundant church in Birkenhead. Perhaps you could let your readers know. The details are on our website at <www.newmartyr.org.uk> We need £100,000 by March 1st! We have hardly got going yet and have about £18,000 pledged so we are nearly 20% of the way to the purchase price. Any help with publicity would be really helpful.” As Fr Paul points out “The Shepherd” is still widely read by people in the Synod of Metropolitan Hilarion, and so he asked us to carry this appeal to help them. As your editor can testify their present accommodation is very cramped, being in a beautiful, but tiny, basement chapel, and they are in dire need of a larger church.
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