International Orthodox Christian News

They also discussed the cooperation with the UNESCO in there re-construction of destroyed churches and monasteries in Kosovo and Metohija.

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With its own ruling hierarch, the Exarchate of Mexico now has full diocesan status in the Orthodox Church in America.

Among those present for the historic occasion were His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri of Dallas and the South, who for many years served as exarch of Mexico, and several founding clergy Mexican Church, including Priest Ramon Merlos and Priest José Raul Valencia.

Speaking in Spanish, Metropolitan Jonah shared his joy in announcing that the exarchate was being elevated to the status of a diocese, thereby fully equipping the Church in Mexico to accomplish the task Christ has set before it. At the end of the Rite of Installation, each bishop congratulated Bishop Alejo.

At present, the Exarchate of Mexico is made up of nine churches and missions, including Mexico City's cathedral, which minister to several thousand faithful.

"It is good to experience, participate in, and help build the Orthodox Church in Mexico as it now enters into this new chapter of its story," said Subdeacon Abraham Labrada, a Mexican seminarian studying at St. Tikhon's Seminary, South Canaan, PA. The seminary's mission choir sang the responses at Saturday evening Vespers and joined the cathedral choir in singing the Sunday Divine Liturgy.

"It was a wonderful and awe-inspiring weekend, and we were very blessed to be here," said guest choir director, Analucia Perdomo, of St. George Church, Pharr, TX. "Through our many visits over the past several years, we've been blessed to see the Mexican Exarchate grow, become a diocese, and now come into its own. It is great to, in some small way, have been part of it all."

In addition to Metropolitan Jonah and Archbishop Dmitri, other members of the OCA Holy Synod who participated in weekend celebration included His Eminence, Archbishop Nathanial of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate; His Eminence, Archbishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada; His Grace, Bishop Tikhon of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania; and His Grace, Bishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West. Other clergy in attendance included Archpriests Ernesto Rios and Ramon Merlos; Archpriest Dennis Pihach, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Canada; Igumen Nazario Ipac-Uribe; and Priests José Raul Valencia-Salinas, Jorge Barrera-Zermeno, Antonio Perdomo, and José Luis Serna-Estrada; and Priestmonks Victorin Torres-Martinez and Serafin Mendoza Segundo. A number of deacons, sub-deacons and monastics were also present for the weekend.

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SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] -- The Orthodox Church in America has shipped 276 copies of the new edition of the Orthodox Study Bible to Russia for distribution in theological academies and monasteries in Russia and Ukraine

"Several years ago, approximately $65,000.00 was raised in the OCA's 'Bibles for Russia' special appeal," said OCA treasurer, Priest Michael Tassos. "In September 2008, with the assistance of the representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Moscow Patriarchate, Archimandrite Zacchaeus, an amount of approximately $40,000.00 was transferred to the Russian Bible Society in response to their request that the OCA help fund a project of printing Bibles translated into the Chuvash language."

In consultation with His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, a portion of the remaining sum in the "Bibles for Russia" fund has been used to purchase copies of the Orthodox Study Bible for theological libraries in Russia and Ukraine.

"Fr. Zaccheus has informed us the theological academies in St. Petersburg and Kyiv are particularly excited about having this resource available to their faculty and students," Fr. Michael noted.

"Once the Study Bibles have been shipped and we have the exact figures of what remains in the account," Fr. Michael said, "we will determine how to use the rest of the funds to support the publication and/or dissemination of the Holy Scriptures in Russia."

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On January 26, Saint Nina's Cross was brought to the Dusk Prayer and put down at the center of the temple. This is the very cross with which the saint baptized the whole Georgia. The believers will have a chance to visit the cathedral in the evening of January 27 and worship the miraculous cross. Thanks to the prophecy of St. Nina, all Georgians' enlightener and the equal to the prophets, the Christianity was declared the state religion of Georgia in 326, during the reign of the King Mirian and Queen Nana.

The Georgian Orthodox Church marks St. Nina's Memory day twice a year. June 1 is the day when she arrived in Georgia, while January 27 is her death day.

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Your All Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, our dear and beloved brother in Christ and concelebrant, we Greet Your Holiness in the Lord, and address ourselves to you.

It is with great joy that we heard the joyous announcement of your most worthy election to the Patriarchal Throne of the Church of Russia .

Your spiritual person, your broad and well known theological knowledge, your many years of experience regarding ecclesiastical issues, especially your love for our Holy Church and the faithful people of God, provide the guarantee for your bright Patriarchal tenure.

We all wholeheartedly, therefore, pray that the Arch Shepherd Jesus Christ will strengthen your All Holiness, in constant health and much strength, and for many years, rightly keeping the word of His Truth, for the commendation and praise of the Russian Church and all Orthodoxy.

In congratulating you again for your most worthy election, we embrace Your All Holiness and remain Your beloved brother in Christ.

THEODOROS II,

Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa

In the Great City of Alexandria
28^th January 2008

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Based on this decision, the Catholicosate informs the community organizations, academic institutions, scholars and the general public of the following plans:

1) During October 29-30 2009, a conference will be held in Antelias, dedicated to the Adana massacres under the leadership of His Holiness Aram I. All those interested in participating in the event should contact the Catholicosate of Cilicia.

2) A Special Committee, in cooperation with The Department of Armenian Studies of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, will screen and sponsor publications related to the Adana massacres. The Catholicosate invites researchers, scholars, writers and all those who possess relevant works are invited to submit their proposals to the Catholicosate.

3) We invite all Armenians in the community who own valuable artifacts, photos and archive documents that relate to the Armenians of Adana and their massacre, to make them available to the Catholicosate for the planned exhibition.

The deadline to receive all materials is 31 March 2009. All contacts and enquiries should be addressed to:

Bishop Nareg Alemezian

Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia

Department of Ecumenical Relations

P.O.Box: 70 317

Antelias, Lebanon

Tel: +961-4-410001, +961-3-486943

Fax: +961-4-417 971

E-mail : ecumcil@armenianorthodoxchurch.org

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His Holiness Aram I headed to Dubai, the Unites Arab Emirates on January 29. During his visit to the country and the community, His Holiness will deliver his pontifical address at the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church in Sharja.

He will then preside over the fund-raising event planned to gather donations for funding activities related to the Armenian Cause. The Pontiff will also deliver a lecture at the American University of Sharja and hold a number of important meetings. His Holiness will return to Antelias on February 3.

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Moscow, January 28, Interfax - There is no meeting with Pope Benedict XVI on the immediate agenda of Kirill, who was elected on Tuesday as head of the Russian Orthodox Church, nor does Kirill take a different stance on the Vatican than late Patriarch Alexy II did, a Russian bishop said on Wednesday.

"Setting the date for a meeting [between Patriarch Kirill and] the Pope is not on the immediate agenda nor are there any immediate plans to bring forward such a meeting," Hilarion, Bishop of Vienna and Austria and the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church to European organizations, told Interfax-Religion.

"The position of Metropolitan Kirill on his meeting with the Pope, or on the entire range of relations with the Catholic Church, for that matter, in no way differs from the position of the late Patriarch Alexy," Hilarion said.

"As the holy Patriarch Alexy said, and as Patriarch Kirill says now, such a meeting can take place when the problems that prevent such a meeting are solved," the Bishop said. "There is willingness on both sides to meet each other halfway and solve these problems."

"As for how soon they will be solved, we believe this depends on the leadership of the Catholic Church," Hilarion said.

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Vatican, January 28, Interfax - Pope Benedict XVI has sent his greetings to Patriarch Kirill, the newly elected head of the Russian Orthodox Church, expressing the hope for a broader dialogue between the two Churches.

"I assure Your Holiness of my spiritual closeness and of the Catholic Church's commitment to cooperate with the Russian Orthodox Church for an ever clearer witness to the truth of the Christian message and to the values which alone can sustain today's world along the way of peace, justice and loving care of the marginalized," the Pope says in a telegram, made available by Interfax-Religion on Wednesday.

"I have received with gladness the news of your election as Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. I warmly congratulate you and wish you every strength and joy in the fulfillment of the great task which lies before you as you guide the Church, over which you now preside, along the path of spiritual growth and unity," Pope Benedict XVI writes.

"In prayer, I ask the Lord to grant you an abundance of wisdom to discern his will, to persevere in loving service of the people, entrusted to your patriarchal ministry, and to sustain them in fidelity to the Gospel and the great traditions of Russian Orthodoxy," the Pontiff said.

"May the Almighty also bless your efforts to maintain communion among the Orthodox churches and to seek that fullness of communion which is the goal of Catholic-Orthodox collaboration and dialogue," Pope Benedict said.

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Metropolitan Kirill garnered 508 (72%) out of the 702 votes during the election on Tuesday. To be elected Patriarch, a candidate had to be supported by more than half of the delegates.

Another 169 votes (24%) went to Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk. Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, who was also nominated for Patriarch by the Bishops' Council several days ago, had withdrawn from the elections in favor of Metropolitan Kirill about two hours before the voting.

Out of the 702 ballots given out to the delegates for voting, 700 were retrieved from the ballot box, and 677 of them were found valid and the other 23 invalid. Metropolitan Isidor of Yekaterinodar and Kuban, the head of the tabulation board, proclaimed the result of the voting from the ambo of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

The belfry of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior announced the election of the 16th patriarch of Moscow and All Russia by a peal of bells. The Czars' Bell started tolling first, and then all the other bells played a historic melody dating back to the 17th century. The Reut, one of the oldest bells in the Kremlin, also started chiming immediately after the voting result was announced.

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Moscow, January 27, Interfax - The Russian Orthodox Church will not make any compromise with other Christian confessions as far as faith is concerned, and will hold a dialog with the most sensible of them, Patriarchal Locum Tenens Metropolitan Kirill said.

"I would like to emphasize that there can be no question about compromise of faith with other confessions... On the contrary, many other confessions are attracted particularly by our firmness in our Orthodox belief, our endurance under the pressure of various forces willing to weaken the Christian presence in the modern world," Metropolitan Kirill said while presenting his report to the Local Council at the Christ the Savior Cathedral on Tuesday.

This is exactly how "they see the hope for the revival of the Christianity in Europe and the world," he said.

"Our dialog with other confessions is aimed at supporting those partners who are ready to oppose, together with us, the marginalization of religion, to speak out for believers' rights and to build one's life according to one's own principles, to defend the underlying meaning of morality in the life of an individual and society," the Patriarchal Locum Tenens said.

"Today, Christianity is, on the one hand, experiencing the pressure of aggressive and ungodly secularism, which dominates Western society. On the other hand, it is suffering from a number of attempts by Protestant communities to radically review Christianity and the Gospel morality, which in effect facilitates the aforesaid secularist pressure," the hierarch said.

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Moscow, January 27, Interfax - In many respects, it was acting Locum Tenens Metropolitan Kirill, who prevented attempts of Western missionaries to gain control over Russian people in the early 1990s.

"Metropolitan Kirill very firmly, emotionally and toughly talked with all these Western people, both state and religious figures. Then we made many of them change their mind, many of these people winded down their work in Russia, and now we see that such are activities are not developed any more," deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin said on air Radonezh radio.

According to him, rumors that "Metropolitan Kirill is going to surrender Russia to the West are myth."

"He is person who clearly understands that there is no Russia without Orthodoxy and doesn't accept any attempts to make Russia Catholic, Protestant or some pseudo-Orthodox country, where the Church will be dissolved in reforms or changed by some kind of reforms," Fr. Vsevold stressed.

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Moscow, January 27, Interfax - Patriarch Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, one of the three candidates for the Moscow Patriarchal See, withdrew his candidacy at a Church Council session on Tuesday afternoon, a source attending the forum told Interfax-Religion.

The Church Council also decided not to nominate more candidates for Patriarch, the source said.

Thus, the Council has to choose the 16th Patriarch of the Russian Church from only two candidates: Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad and Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk. According to the credentials committee, 702 delegates are participating in the Council work.

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Moscow, January 25, Interfax - The Archbishop's Council of the Russian Orthodox Church has approved Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Metropolitan Kiment of Kaluga and Borovsk and Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, who is also the head of the Byelorussian Orthodox Church, as candidates for Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

Metropolitan Kirill won 97 votes, Metropolitan Kliment - 32 votes and Metropolitan Filaret - 16 votes. Some 198 out of 202 bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate took part in the Archbishop's Council, with four being unable to attend it. Head of the counting board of the Archbishop's Council Metropolitan Isidor of Yekaterinodar and Kuban announced the results of the voting.

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Moscow, January 22, Interfax - Locum Tenens of the Moscow Patriarchal See Metropolitan Kirill has congratulated Barack Obama on his inauguration as U.S. president. "The American people pin hopes for the country's peaceful and creative development, for overcoming the serious economic crisis and for strengthening the principles of friendship and cooperation in international relations on your future work," Metropolitan Kirill said in a message of greetings, posted on the website of the Moscow Patriarchate.

"We live in a difficult time of political and economic contradictions and of numerous threats to peace and security," he said.

"The system of international relations is going through fundamental and fast changes, which deeply affect the interests of all nations and each individual. New challenges and threats of a trans-border nature are emerging. In such conditions, exclusive responsibility for the future of the world is vested on state and public figures," Metropolitan Kirill said. The Russian Church sees "adherence to inter-cultural and inter-civilization dialogue, and to the moral values in one's private and in the public and international life" as a way to resolve these problems, he said.

"A significant part of the American people stick to the Russian Orthodox tradition or are part of the Russian Church's flock. With representatives of other religious communities they contribute worthily to the country's national development and to strengthening its scientific and cultural ties," he added. Hopefully, "the new presidential administration will be attentive to their spiritual needs," Metropolitan Kiril said.

"I do believe that the spirit of trust and mutual understanding will be typical of our relations, and of the United States' relations with the nations, the Russian Orthodox Church ministers to," he said.

Diocese of Eastern America and New York

Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York

Bishop George of Mayfield, Vicar Bishop of the Diocese of Eastern America and New York

Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, Vicar Bishop of the Diocese of Eastern America and New York

Bishop Daniel of Erie, Vicar of the President of the Synod of Bishops for Old Believers

Bishop Ambroise (Cantacuzene)

1. Protopriest Alexey Petrovich Ohotin, Rector of Annunciation Church, New York
2. Archimandrite Luke (Murianka), Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, NY
3. Alexei Serafimovich Slobodskoy, Parishioner of St Seraphim Church, Sea Cliff, NY
   

Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America

Bishop Peter of Cleveland, Administrator of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America

1. Protopriest Andre Papkov, Senior Priest of Holy Protection Cathedral, Chicago, IL
2. Archimandrite John (Magramm), Rector of Resurrection of Christ Skete, Fridley, MN
3. Andrei Pavlovich Urtiev, Treasurer of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America
   

Diocese of San Francisco and Western America

Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America

Bishop Theodosius of Seattle, Vicar Bishop of the Diocese of San Francisco and Western America

1. Protopriest Alexander Lebedeff, Rector of Transfiguration Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA
2. Peter Alendrovich Karakozoff, Parishioner of the Cathedral of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” San Francisco, CA

Diocese of Montreal and Canada

Bishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada

1. Yuri Georgievich Miloslavsky, Administrator of the Chancery of the Diocese of Montreal and Canada
   

Diocese of Berlin and Germany

Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany

Bishop Agapit of Stuttgart, Vicar Bishop of the German Diocese

1. Protopriest Nikolai Artemoff
2. Hegumen Evfimy (Logvinov)
3. Michael Gorachek
   

Diocese of Great Britain

1. Priest Peter Baulk
2. Vera Alexandrovna MacNagan
   

Diocese of Western Europe

Bishop Michael of Geneva and Western Europe

1. Protopriest Pavel Nikolaevich Tsvetkoff, Senior Priest of Elevation of the Cross Cathedral, Geneva, Switzerland
2. Bernard Petrovich le Caro, Member of the Diocesan Council and of the Commission on the New Martyrs Glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
   

Diocese of South America

Bishop John of Caracas, Administrator of the Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in South America

1. Protopriest Vladimir Nikolaevich Skalon, Rector of Resurrection Cathedral, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2. Igor Nikolaevich Andrushkevich, Parishioner of Resurrection Cathedral, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Diocese of Australia and New Zealand

1. Protopriest Michael Protopopoff, Rector of Church of Our Lady’s Dormition, Dandenong, Australia, Dean of Victoria
2. Abbess Anna (Karipoff), Presentation Sisterhood, Bungarby, Australia
3. Protodeacon Alexander Kotliaroff, Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul, Sydney, Australia
   

A complete list of delegates to the Council may be viewed here (in Russian).

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Hindus have praised Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania for promoting “respect towards the environment” and calling over-exploitation and contempt towards nature an “unforgivable abuse”.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, applauded Archbishop His Beatitude Anastasios’s powerful stand in this regard: “…cultivation of a religious conscience, with evident interest in the natural environment, constitutes the basic element of glorification and gratitude towards the Creator of the Universe.”

Faiths coming out in support of the environment was a remarkable signal, Rajan Zed said and urged all world religious leaders, religions and denominations to openly bless the environmental causes. Ancient Hindu scriptures, especially Atharva-Veda, were highly respectful of mother nature, he added.

We may believe in different religions, yet we share the same home—our Earth. We must learn to happily progress or miserably perish together. For man can live individually but can only survive collectively, Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, says quoting scriptures.

Christianity came to Albania before the fourth century AD. Autocephalous Church has launched a "Program for the Protection of the Environment” whose purpose is “protection of the eco-system, managing solid waste, etc.” Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksha (liberation) is its ultimate goal.

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NEW YORK – Archbishop Demetrios of America was invited by President-Elect Barack Obama to participate in the inaugural ceremonies in Washington D.C.

In particular, on Tuesday Jan. 20, the Archbishop will attend the Inauguration Ceremony on Capitol Hill, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The next day Wednesday Jan. 21, at 10:00 a.m. Archbishop Demetrios will participate in the Inaugural Ecumenical Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral which will be attended by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden.

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WASHINGTON, DC [OCA Communications] -- The Orthodox Church in America will be represented at the inauguration of President Barak Obama on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, accompanied by OCA secretary, Archpriest Eric G. Tosi.

On the morning of Wednesday, January 21, Metropolitan Jonah will be present at the Inaugural Prayer Service at the National Cathedral. On Wednesday evening, he will celebrate Vespers at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, DC, in conjunction with the annual March for Life.

On January 22, Metropolitan will take part in the March and will be one of the first religious leaders to address the marchers at the rally on Capitol Hill. That evening, he will give the invocation at the March for Life's annual Rose Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Washington.

Later in the week, Metropolitan Jonah will meet with members of the US Congress involved in the Pro-life movement. The week's events will begin on Monday evening, January 19, with Metropolitan Jonah attending the "Let Freedom Ring" concert in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Kennedy Center in Washington.

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The OCA's Exarchate of Mexico was received into the Orthodox Church in America in 1972, together with His Grace, the late Bishop Jose [Cortes-y-Olmos]. Bishop Alejo was elected Bishop of Mexico City and Auxiliary for the Exarchate in 2005. With his election as ruling bishop of the Mexican Exarchate, Bishop Alejo now becomes a voting member of the Holy Synod.

The installation of Bishop Alejo will take place on January 18, 2009, at Holy Ascension Cathedral, Mexico City. May the Lord grant His Grace, Bishop Alejo of Mexico City, and the Exarchate of Mexico many years of fruitful service in His Holy Vineyard. Eis polla eti, Despota!

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His Beatitude, Archbishop Anastasios celebrated the Divine Liturgy and the Service of Sanctification of the Waters accompanied by the clergy and both the byzantine and european choirs. He explained to the faithful that the day of the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ signified the beginning of His saving mission. The feast is called the “feast of light” because God is the light and has appeared unto us; He appeared revealing the mystery of the Holy Trinity. The Father witnessed that Jesus is not merely a man, but theanthropos, both God and man, in whom the divine and human nature are united.

The Archbishop emphasized that this day of the manifestation of our Trinitarian God from on high is the entrance to the road of salvation for all. With His baptism, Christ begins to preach the coming of the Kingdom of God. Christ did not need to be baptized, but He showed us that we should walk along the road that He Himself began.

After the Service of the Blessing of the Waters, the faithful took the blessed water home for their families and relatives in order to use it to heal both the body and soul.

It is worth noting that this year there was an increased interest by the media, who reported on the events in the local newspapers and televised the services to the Albanian public.

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Isidor Koti

Translated by Juliana Kodheli

On Thursday 327 people's deputies voted for alterations to some laws of Ukraine concerning the rights of the religious organisations. Besides, the law envisions that cessation of activity of the religious organizations, enterprises institutions and organizations of communal and state ownership is a ground for termination of right of use of the land plot.

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The Hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA cordially invite you to the joyful event of the Enthronement of a new Archpastor of the Western Eparchy of the UOC of the USA

His Grace Bishop Daniel

St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral
2238-50 West Cortez Street
Chicago, IL 60622

Vespers
Friday – 6 February 2009 at 7 PM

Divine Liturgy and Enthronement
Saturday – 7 February 2009 at 9 AM

A Celebration Banquet
Following Divine Liturgy – 7 February 2009
at the
Chicago Marriott O’Hare
8535 West Higgins Road
Chicago, IL 60631

Banquet tickets:
$50 – if payment is received by 20 January
$65 if received later that the above date.
Student and child tickets - $40

Special arrangements have been made with the Marriott Hotel for lodging: room rate - $99
Phone Reservations: 1-800-228-9290 or (773) 693-4444
Reservation code “Ukrainian Orthodox Church Luncheon”

Online Reservations code: UKOUKOA

RSVP by 20 January 2009 with payment for tickets can be mailed to:

UOC Enthronement Committee
5107 N. Mango Ave.
Chicago, IL 60630-4664

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On Wednesday 14 January 2009 Metropolitan George Saliba, Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan of Mount Lebanon visited His Holiness Aram I, and transmitted a special message on behalf of the Patriarch. On this occasion the Metropolitan also discussed with His Holiness current ecumenical concerns in the region.

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Following the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) on 15 January, the members of the Standing Committee of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East, met in the evening at the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, Antelias (Lebanon).

H.E. Metropolitan Bishoy and H.G. Bishop Mark represented the Coptic Orthodox Church, and H.E. Metropolitan George Saliba and H.G. Bishop Daniel represented the Syrian Orthodox Church. His Grace Bishop Nareg represented the Armenian Orthodox Church. The General Secretary of MECC also attended the meeting.

In the first part of the agenda they discussed the relationships of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the region with the MECC and the World Council of Churches, and the status of theological bilateral dialogues. In this context they discussed the implications of the visit of His Holiness Aram I to the Vatican on the life of the churches in the Middle East. In the second part, they discussed two forthcoming meetings. One, the Oriental Orthodox and Roman Catholic theological dialogue to be held in the end of January, and two, the meeting in May 2009 of the Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East, H.H. Pope Shenouda III, H.H. Patriarch Zakka I Iwas, and H.H. Catholicos Aram I.

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The Holy Synod resolved that The Bishops' Council will be held on 25-26 January 2009, and the Local Council on 27-29 January 2009. The Holy Synod set up a commission for preparation of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. The commission consists of twenty-nine bishops, clerics, and laymen.

Patriarchal enthronement will take place on 1 February 2009.

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In the context of the recent developments in the country the Synod of the Latvian Orthodox Church made a statement, noting in particular that though the Church in Latvia is separated from the state, she 'is a part of the Latvian society and has no right to stand aside at the difficult time for the entire world and our young nation.'

'The Latvian Orthodox Church prays to the Lord to grant peace and well-being to Latvia. Every day we celebrate prayer services to the holy martyr Ioann (Pommer), archbishop of Riga and Latvia, a deputy of the Latvian Seym during his lifetime. We pray for wisdom to be bestowed upon the authorities to settle the current situation in Latvia,' - says the document.

The statement published on the official website of the Latvian Orthodox Church calls upon residents of the country 'to solve all emerging problems only by peaceful means of negotiations and respect one another.'

'Let us not forget that throughout its existence humanity has passed through many military, economical social and political upheavals. And every time, when the believers turned to God, they got out of any upheaval with dignity,' – the Statement continues to say. The authors underscore that humanity that has forgotten God must bethink of its Creator, who said, Apart from me you can do nothing (Jn 15:5). In their opinion, the recurrent world crises remind humanity of the necessity to remember its Creator and offer up prayers of repentance.

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Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church a month ago offered to support Metropolitan Vladimir at the patriarchal elections during the Local Council. However, the Moscow Patriarchate considered it inaccurate to promote their candidate prescheduled as the Local Council, which is to open in Moscow on January 25, should name the candidates.

“Today, there is too much talking about who is going to come to the patriarchal see. I am among possible candidates, as they see a successor of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II in me,” Metropolitan Vladimir said at a meeting of the delegates to the coming Local Council held this weekend in Kiev.

“I am sincerely grateful for such high honor, but I wish to go to God as the 121st Metropolitan of Kiev. Let God and your choice point out to the one who is going to become the sixteenth Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia,” the Metropolitan was quoted as saying by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church website.

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In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
"A new king is born in BethlehemBless (Him) sons of mankind,For He became incarnate for us."Armenian Church Hymnal
Dear pious faithful in Armenia, Artsakh and the Dispersion,
With songs of praise and prayers of thanksgiving we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ today, conveying the good news of the incarnation of God and the revelation of the Savior.
The prayerful fathers of our Church called the Holy Nativity a "mystery great and wondrous". They named it as such, since it is impossible to describe how the uncontainable, the eternal and the boundless was contained in a manger; how the Word and Wisdom of God was born in a stable of incognizant animals. It remains beyond the comprehension of the human mind how the Only Begotten Son of God – the Creator’s Light of Glory – became a created being, and the Lord took on the form of the servant.
We do not know how this great miracle of God came to pass nor can it be explained; however we do know the reason for the miracle, "For He became incarnate for us". Truly, these few words explain the Almighty’s providential will, guiding and directing the Holy Nativity and Theophany.
God is Lord and Creator "of heaven and earth, of things visible and invisible". His glory is shown by His temporal and spiritual creations – the universe, mankind and the angels. The God of all has no need for body nor time. The Savior seated on the eternal throne of God had no need to descend from the heights of heaven to this sinful earth. The Prince of Peace had no need for persecution, torture, and crucifixion; there was no need for a crown of thorns, death, or resurrection. But all of this the Savior took upon Himself for our sake. The Love of God took on flesh to liberate us from the power of sin and death, and to make us worthy of the blessedness of eternal life. "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the expiation for our sins." I John 4:10. God Whom we lovingly worship does not desire our death or condemnation, and for that reason He Himself came to live within us. He came to transform our lives, to grant us the hope of salvation and eternal life.
Indeed, our songs of praise and giving of thanks have no value, if within the depths of our soul we do not have the unshaken faith that God "became incarnate for us". Our prayers will not be heard, if God does not abide in the very center of our existence.
Holy Nativity marks the beginning of reconciliation between God and man; it is the invitation to inherit eternal life and the exhortation to remain under the grace of salvation with Jesus Christ. God revealed Himself to us in His fullness, so that we do not remain apart from that fullness of divine and human perfection, and so that our lives hoping for salvation become satiated with that fullness of perfection. We believe that God is one. Is unity not essential for us? We preach that God is love. Do we not feel the need for love? Can we live without love? Can we create without love? God, to Whom we constantly pray, is holy, righteous and benevolent. Let us examine our hearts – do we not feel the need for holiness? Let us examine our actions – are they always truthful, good and benevolent? We declare that God is just. Do we not long for justice every hour of every day? We confess that God is our Father; that He is merciful, the unending source of peace and the grantor of goodness. Is peace not our daily appeal and wish? Does the earth not yearn for mercy and care every day? He who recognizes God in this manner, cannot live without Him; cannot live without binding his own hope for salvation with the faith of the incarnation of the Son of God; and cannot live without aspiring to always be under His blessings and graces.
The world loses its path without the light from the star of Bethlehem. Without Christ, the world will always be in distress, troubled and lacking morality. Material progress alone will not secure the avoidance of crisis situations, the prevention of conflicts and discord, or the elimination of disasters and poverty. The disregard of spiritual values and the tendencies of secularization unequivocally damage sacred traditions, distort moral concepts and understanding, as well as the inner-world of man, causing him to be indifferent to and alienated from God, from himself and the world. It is God who sustains the human soul. Human life shall be repaired by the soul that loves God and the power of faith, so that there is no blurring of the boundaries between philanthropy and egoism, so that there is no failure to differentiate between the just and the unjust, truth and falsehood, good and evil. Many issues shall be decided, many disparities shall be leveled and wounds shall be healed by the discerning comprehension and belief that the Son of God became man for our sake. This example of perfect love is light and direction for our lives and a commission to work with love. "Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness and patience, forbearing one another; and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." Colossians 3:12-14.
Dear faithful Armenians, on the "great and wondrous" feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany, our Church commemorates the holy baptism of Jesus Christ with the Blessing of the Waters service, so that through the graces of Christ’s revelation to mankind, the blessed water be distributed throughout our families, increasing the love and blessings of God in our lives. Through our baptism, we are adopted by God. Through our baptism, we are one – regardless of where we may be; we are the sons and daughters of our Holy Apostolic Church, our nation and our homeland. Let us live and work with this sense of unity and love towards one another, so that we may be empowered to overcome all difficulties and challenges, to progress toward the achievement of our hopes and aims. As the oldest Christian nation and as God’s people, let us bring our participation with our God-pleasing lives in the creation of a peaceful and prosperous world – a world filled with solidarity and happiness. Today our Lord and Savior comes to live within our hearts and to renew us with His grace. Let us receive the Lord in our souls, be reinforced with faith, and remain loyal to our spiritual inheritance and Christian values. With reliance on our Lord and Savior and the steadfast hope and strength granted from Him, let us make our lives flourishing in all aspects, continue to build our native land, and care and strive for the manifestation of all national aspirations and the rights of our people in Artsakh. May our virtuous works and benevolent souls filled with love towards one another always shine brightly in our lives, whereby we shall bear witness that we love God.
It is with these emotions, prayers of joy and warm Pontifical love, from the cradle of our faith – the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin – that we greet all sons and daughters of our people in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora.
With fraternal love in Christ, we greet the incumbents of the hierarchal sees of our Holy Apostolic Church: His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; His Beatitude Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem; His Beatitude Mesrob Mutafyan, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople; and the oath-bound ranks of our clergy.
We extend our Pontifical blessings and greetings to the President of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsian; the President of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh, Bako Sahakian; all state officials of the Armenians, and leaders and representatives of diplomatic missions accredited to Armenia.
On this grace-renewing day of the Holy Nativity, let us offer thanksgiving with prayers to God in heaven for the blessings and consolation He grants us; for the successes and achievements in our ecclesiastical and national life, and ask that He care for us with His boundless love as is His will. May He make us worthy to remain steadfast on His path, reinforce us, illuminate us and make His saving grace shine within us, today and always.
"Bless (Him) sons of mankind, for He became incarnate for us."
Christ is Born and RevealedGreat Tidings to All
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The Patriarch of Ethiopia His Holiness Abune Paulose visited the Indian Orthodox Church from 29^th to 31^st December2008. His Holiness will arrive at the Trivandrum International Airport on 29 where His Holiness will be received by H.B. Paulose Mar Melithios Metropolitan and other Metropolitans of the Church. 31st of December H.H.Abuna Paulose attended the Centenary celebrations of MGOCSM at Parumala Seminary, after attending MGOCSM (-Mar gregarious Orthodox Students Movement of the Indian Orthodox Church, which completed its 100years of existence ) . His Holiness Abune Paulose alo met with His Holiness Moran Mor Marthoma Baselius Dydimos I, Supreme Catholicose of the East and Malankara Metropolitan (Catholicose of the Apostolic Throne of St Thomas). His Holiness was honored with the ‘Order of St Thomas’ which is the highest Church Award of the Indian Orthodox Church. H H Abune Paulose also visited the headquarters of the Indian Church and participated in grand dinner, also His Holiness made visit to St gregarious Mission hospital and other organizations of the Church. His Holiness Abune Paulose was given a grant reception at St Mary’s Church, Niranam, one of the original Churches established by St Thomas the Apostle. His Holiness Abune and the delegates from Ethiopian Orthodox Church left on 31^st December 2008.

Source: Orthodoxy Beyond Limits News Service

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