Armenian Genocide Commemorated

April 24, 2009: On Thursday, 24 April 2009, thousands of Armenians gathered in front of the Memorial for the Martyrs of the 1915 Genocide in the courtyard of the Catholicosate in Antelias Lebanon. The Martyrs’ Chapel was built when the remains of one-and-a-half million victims were brought from the desert of Der Zor to Antelias, Lebanon.

The Prelate of Lebanon, Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, celebrated the Divine Liturgy. At the end of the liturgy His Holiness Aram I led the procession to the ‘Eternal Torch’ inside the Chapel where he celebrated the memorial service. In his address, he said: “The memory of our martyrs gives meaning to our lives because the future is a forward-looking vision built on past and present memories and experiences. As we pray in this place today, we cannot but once more renew our demand for justice for the inhuman acts committed against innocent men, women and children. Turkey wanted to eliminate us as a country and a people. We are grateful to all those countries that have recognized the Armenian Genocide of 1915. However, we want to tell them that recognition is not enough; we want justice. We are not asking for mercy from the world; we are demanding justice. This is our right. The Armenian nation is a victim of injustice; its human rights are violated. We cannot remain silent in view of this prevailing injustice. Our collective memory will not heal unless justice is victorious. Neither roadmaps, nor reciprocal visits will restore justice.”

And then turning to the youth, he said: “You have just returned from your pilgrimage to Der Zor where the massacres happened. You walked on the sand mixed with the remains of your ancestors. You threw flowers into the Euphrates River that washed away the bodies of men, women and children. You should now bring your pilgrimage into its fruition by using your knowledge and expertise to overcome denial and injustice in a non-violent way.”

At the end of the Requiem, official representatives, organizations, school children and the people passed in front of the ‘Eternal Torch’ and placed wreaths and flowers.

Armenian Genocide Commemorated in Turkey
ISTANBUL, Turkey -- On April 24, the Istanbul branch of the Human Rights Organization of Turkey organized an event in Istanbul commemorating the Armenian Genocide. The commemoration was held in what was formerly the "tobacco warehouse," now renovated and being used for exhibitions, events and meetings.

The event opened with the Armenian and Assyrian songs performed by the group "Kardes Turkuler" (Songs of Brotherhood).

Lawyer Eren Keskin's greeted the audience, numbering around 150, and said, "Today is the 24th of April, the 94th anniversary of the arrests in Istanbul which started the Armenian genocide in 1915." She added, "The official history [in Turkey] denies the genocide, but we know what happened and we believe it's important to tell people the truth. So, today we will commemorate the most brilliant intellectuals of the Ottoman Armenians: poets, writers physicians, lawyers, members of parliament, who were taken away on the 24th April 1915 and murdered."

The Bosphorus Performance Arts Group presented the life stories and poems of three great Armenian poets who perished during the Armenian Genocide--Roupen Sevag, Siamanto, and Taniel Varoujan--as well as the life and work of writer, lawyer and member of parliament Krikor Zohrab, who was also killed during the genocide. The presentation was accompanied by photographs projected on a screen and Armenian folk music played in the background.

Publisher Ragip Zarakolu talked about Teotig, the Armenian writer who was arrested together with others but escaped miraculously, and his famous book Hushartzan Abril Dasnimegi, which will be published in Turkish soon by the Belge publishing house. An exhibition of pages from this book was held in conjunction with the event, with lit candles under each page. A brief Turkish translation of each page was also provided.

In turn, Eren Keskin talked about Gomidas, while songs performed by Gomidas himself (recorded in 1912 in Paris) were played in the background and Gomidas' photographs projected on the screen. At the end Eren Keskin said, "let's leave the last word to Gomidas Vartabed." Then Gomidas song "Karun a" was heard while images of the deportation of Armenians were projected on the screen. - By Ayse Gunaysu (www.hairenik.com)

Armenian Genocide Commemorated in Holy Etchmiadzin

On the morning of April 24, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, visited the National Memorial to the Armenian Genocide, located on Tsitsernakaberd Hill in Yerevan. His Holiness was accompanied by members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin.

At the memorial, His Holiness Karekin II and His Excellency Serzh Sargsian, President of the Republic of Armenia, placed floral wreaths before the eternal flame of the monument. His Holiness presided during a Requiem service dedicated to the memory of the 1.5 million innocent victims of the first genocide of the 20th century.

Also present for the ceremony were high-ranking goverment officials, members of the National Assembly, Armenian Church benefactors from the Diaspora and other dignitaries.

* * *
The same day, a solemn Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother Cathedral of of Holy Etchmiadzin by His Grace Bishop Arshak Khachatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Grace delivered a message in remembrance of this crime against humanity.

Following the Liturgy, a procession of clergy escorted the Catholicos to the Memorial of the Armenian Genocide located on the grounds of the Mother See, north of the Mother Cathedral. Standing near the monument of Khatchkars (Stone-crosses), His Holiness presided during a special Repose of Souls service. Also in attendance during the services was His Excellency Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, Vatican Nuncio to the Southern Caucasus.
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Easter message to expatriate Copts from President Hosny Mubarak

April 26, 2009 : In an Easter message to expatriate Copts, President Hosny Mubarak stressed that no-one can harm the unity of Egypt’s Muslims and Copts, both of whom constitute the common, tight-knit texture of the Egyptian community. Every member in that community, Mubarak said, enjoys full citizenship rights and believes that religion concerns God while the homeland belongs to all. The President said: “I tell you as president of all Egyptians that we will never allow attempts at conspiracy or vilification to cause division between the two wings of the nation. We will fight culprits by the force of law, and Egypt will remain a safe homeland for all its children without the least doubt of any bias or discrimination.”

Even though the President was addressing expatriate Copts, his message relayed by the media at the forefront of the news, reached Copts and Muslims in Egypt. It undoubtedly produced a general feeling of comfort, while at the same time raising a few questions that beg answers. That such a declaration has come from the head of the State implies that the State views itself as the entity which incorporates all Egyptians and secures their rights as full citizens with full equality, with no bias or discrimination. This in itself confirms that the citizenship clause which comes at the forefront of the Egyptian Constitution is the sole standard which governs rights, legislation, and laws. However, the realistic implementation of citizenship rights and the materialisation of the President’s message from a mere congratulatory note into a fact on the ground, remains the focus of scepticism.

Easter message from Patriarch H.H. Ignatius Zakka-I Iwas

BY THE GRACE OF GOD

Ignatius Zakka I Iwas
Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
Supreme Head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church
No.E56/09

05-April-2009

Apostolic Benediction to our beloved Metropolitans and our dear spiritual children: the Reverend clergy and the faithful of all our Malankara Syrian Jacobite churches and congregations in the Arabian Gulf Region, USA, Europe, Australia and Singapore.

At this blessed season of the resurrection of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, we have great joy in reaching you all through this message. St. Paul the blessed apostle, praising the resurrection of Lord, proclaims: “Death is swallowed up in victory” (I Cor. 15:54). Man has achieved great progress and achievements in various fields of science, medicine etc. But on the other side we see that, the uncertainties of life and threats to human existence are emerging in diverse forms and measures, than ever before. Various new-new diseases and maladies for which we fail to find out remedy, and the other forms of disasters, like terrorism, violence, religious and territorial fundamentalism, unhealthy competitions etc., adds to that uncertainty of human life. These all explicitly infer that, man has his existence and hope of life only through God, who is the true giver and sustainer of life. Our Lord commanded that “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die”. (John 1:25, 26). The poor disciples became immensely dejected and totally lost at the death of Jesus. But without delay, on the very third day, He through his resurrection cheered them up beyond their perceptions, and instilled into them a new dimension and meaning of life. He proved that he is above death and the other uncertainties of this world. He came out as a grant victor by defeating the powers of death and satan. No forces could conquer him and keep him under its fist. Thus, St. Paul derides the evils of this world and death, and challenges, “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” And he strongly proclaims that “Having been raised from death, death no longer has domain over Him”. The apostle again goes on to encourage us that “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:11)

Dear spiritual children, let us put our trust and hope, only in our Lord and seek the peace and consolation that He offers, which is above realms of this world. That only will give us real peace and prospect of life. That only can strengthen us to live a life of victory even in the midst of adversities, and lead a life worthy of salvation and eternal life. When we celebrate this feast of the Easter, let us sanctify and cleanse ourselves of all defilements of this world. Let us also clothe ourselves with the glory of the resurrection of our Lord and by Him be we besprinkled with a new fragrance of spirit. We wish you all a Blessed and Happy Easter and extend our Apostolic Blessings to you. May the grace of God be with you all forever. Amen.

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EASTER CELEBRATION IN THE SYRIAN ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATE IN DAMASCUS

Damascus, April 19, 2009: His Holiness Ignatius Zakka-I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East and the Supreme head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church led the Holy Mass celebrations on the Easter day at the St.George Syrian Orthodox Cathedral in Damascus. Their Eminences Mor Philoxinus Mattias Nayis, the Patriarchal Assistant and Mor Ivanios Paulose Al-Souky, the Patriarchal-Vicariate of Damascus, assisted His Holiness during the Easter day Mass. After the Holy Mass, the divine, His Holiness accepted the congratulations of all believers.

On the ocassion H.E. Dr. Ghassan Laham, the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs met His Holiness, and conveyed congratulations of the respected President of the country, Mr. President Dr. Bashar al-Assad Mukarram.

His Holiness also received a large number of officials of the party and the state, led by governor of Damascus and the two sub-leaders of the party and the police and representatives from the Ministry of Awqaf and a large number of Islamic scholars and heads of Christian communities in Damascus, especially the Catholic and Apostolic Ambassador in Damascus.

Passion Week Service the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate

Copts Celebrate the End of Passion Week, Egyptian Churches Hold Easter Mass Today

April 18, 2009: The Coptic Church ended its celebrations for Passion Week in preparation for Easter.

Priest Armia Adly, Shubra el-Kheima Under Archbishop and professor of Old Testament at the Clerical Institute, said the church celebrated Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and finally Good Friday, the day when Jesus was crucified.

He said today the Church is celebrating Holy Saturday, the day after the burial of Christ - according to Christianity.

Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark’s Church, is due to celebrate the Easter Mass tonight at the Coptic Cathedral in el-Abbasia, a quarter in Cairo.

Easter Sunday in Holy Etchmiadzin

On Sunday, April 12, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin on the Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ. With the tiding of "Christ is Risen from the dead! Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ", His Holiness blessed and greeted all Armenians in the homeland and dispersed throughout the world.

To read His Holiness’ message, delivered during the liturgy, please click on the following link: http://tinyurl.com/df7h2f

To view the video on YouTube, click on the following link: http://tinyurl.com/d5f7ch

Easter Sunday at the Catholicosate of Armenia

Sunday 12 April 2009, The church and courtyard of the Catholicosate was packed with people who had come to celebrate the Easter Sunday Holy Divine Liturgy. Representatives of other communities in Lebanon and political personalities came to Antelias to greet His Holiness Aram I as well on this important day in the life of the Christian church.

The Liturgy was celebrated by His Holiness Aram I, with the assistance of Archbishop Komitas and Bishop Nareg. Catholicos Aram I used the Biblical verse, “Take courage: I have conquered the World” (John 16:33) for his sermon. His Holiness said that Jesus conquered the world through the principles and values he brought to humanity, and that our people have lived, struggled and created through their deep Christian faith, martyrdom and the hope of resurrection inherited from their ancestors.

As one of the Spiritual Heads of Lebanon’s seven major communities, His Holiness then addressed the current situation in Lebanon. He said: “These days are critical moments for the country. As children of Lebanon we must strengthen its internal coherence, participate in its reconstruction and nation building.” He then directed his message to politicians and reminded them of their responsibilities: “The divisive political culture of the country has deepened tension among its leaders and the people. Armenian political parties should avoid such a confrontational culture and express their opinion based on mutual respect. The three Armenian political parties should consult one another on important national issues and develop common perspectives in spite of their differing political opinions. Such an approach will not only help the Armenian community, but Lebanon as a whole. Let our internal consensus serve as an example to other communities”.


He went on to say: “The Armenian candidates running for legislative elections should remember that they represent the whole of the Armenian community and thus act accordingly. Representation means seeking the mind of the community and serving it with the sense of responsibility and accountability.

His Holiness then reminded that “The Armenian community will continue to act responsibly and work for the independence, sovereignty, integrity of Lebanon and safeguard its specificity. With these goals in mind, the Armenian community will cooperate with everybody. We believe in the important role of Lebanon in the Arab World, its model of Christians and Muslims living together, its democratic system and its human and cultural values. Because of its important political role in the Arab world, Lebanon is a bridge between the East and the West.

His Holiness finished by stating: “Lebanon is our homeland. We have defended its territorial integrity, its independence and unity under all circumstances and will continue defending these sacred values. Lebanon belongs to all the Lebanese. There are no majority or minority in Lebanon. We are all minorities and Lebanon alone is the majority. Lebanon is a country of co-existence, and this is its unique message. We are all accountable to Lebanon. There cannot be ‘us’ and ‘them’ in Lebanon. This thinking should end. Lebanon comes first and foremost. We must establish together a Lebanese agenda for Lebanon, and elaborate a common vision sustained by the basic values of Lebanon. All Lebanese are called to serve the interests of Lebanon. This should be the basic principle for everybody before and after Legislative elections. This should be the driving force of the Armenian Community”.

Egypt church issues first conversion certificate

CAIRO (AFP) April 11, 2009 - Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church has for the first time issued a certificate of conversion to a Muslim-born Christian, his lawyer said, in a country where religious conversion is highly sensitive.Maher al-Gohari, who is seeking to change his religion on his official documents from Muslim to Christian was asked by a court to provide a conversion certificate from the Egyptian church.

“He handed it in today,” Nabil Gabriel told AFP. “It is the first time the church provides this sort of certificate.” In Egypt, citizens are required to carry their personal ID cards at all times. Without an ID card, one has no access to basic services. It is only the second time that such a request has been formally made in a country where converting to Christianity, while not illegal, is practically impossible.

Last year, a court rejected a request by a Christian convert from Islam, Mohammed Higazi, to have his new religion written on his identity card. Highlighting the sensitivity of the topic, the church would not comment on Gohari’s case specifically.

“In general, the church cannot turn away anyone who reaches out to it, otherwise it would be abandoning one its role as a church.” Tensions often run high between Egypt’s Muslim and Christian communities in an increasingly religious society dominated by Sunni Muslims.

GOOD FRIDAY OBSERVED IN THE ARMENIAN CHURCH

April 10, 2009: The friday 10th April 2009, the Armenian faithful gathered around the ‘tomb’ constructed in front of the Altar of the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator. The tomb was covered with colorful flowers and the Reliquary of the wood from the cross of Jesus stood on it. While the seminary choir sang “Sourp Asdvadz” (Holy God), His Holiness Aram I and the clergy knelt in front of the tomb and then His Holiness Aram I presided over the funeral service.

At the end of the service Catholicos Aram I shared his reflections on the meaning of the ‘empty tomb’, and the power it has acquired from the Resurrection event and its promise of eternal life. He described the ‘empty tomb’ as the unfolding of the mystery of Christian faith through Jesus’ life and death. He said: “the eternal entered time and the incomprehensible was comprehended ”. For him the presence of youth at the commemorative service was an affirmation of the mission of the church transmitted through generations. In conclusion he told the youth, “Jesus is present among us every moment and everywhere. Your continual presence in the church and your participation in its life transforms the church into a mission.”

At the end of the ceremony His Holiness Aram I blessed the people with the Reliquary, After that, according to the tradition, the faithful then passed under the empty tomb and took with them flowers as a sign of the promise of eternal life.

HOLY THURSDAY SERVICE IN ARMENIAN CHURCH

The Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist, the Washing of the Feet and prayers of Lamentation in Antelias Holy Thursday, 9 April 2009

Fire damages Coptic church in Ramallah

April 8, 2009: Ramallah - Ma’an - A newly-built Coptic Christian church was severely damaged by fire in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday.

Firefighters and police rushed to put out the blaze but were unable to prevent damage to the interior of the building. A depiction of Jesus was one of the only items to survive the fire.

Palestinian police spokesperson Colonel Adnan Dhmeiri said that an initial investigation had ruled out arson. He said that the fire may have been caused by an employee who discarded a cigarette on the church grounds.

The Coptic Patriarchate in Jerusalem refused to comment on the fire for lack of information, preferring to wait for results of the investigation. The Coptic Church in Ramallah is the first of its kind. Built recently, the interior of the facility had only been furnished a few days ago in preparation for an official inauguration.

Source

Egypt: Muslims attack Christian-owned shops in Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, April 5 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Muslims pelted Christian-owned shops and a police station with stones in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria on Sunday after a Muslim man was killed, an eyewitness said.A security source said the violence started after word of mouth reports a Muslim man, identified as Ahmed Abdel Razeq Gomaa, had been stabbed to death in the street by his Christian landlords.

Crowds of Muslims assembled near a mosque for funeral prayers for Gomaa chanting “They’ll die, they’ll die,” in reference to the three Christian landlords, brothers Ayman, Atef and Farag Tagy, the witness said.

Police and security vehicles were positioned in the area.

Security sources said the Muslim man was the sole Muslim tenant in the building owned by the trio, and had been injured in an earlier fight with the brothers. One security source added that the three landlords had been detained over the death.

Christians account for up to 10 percent of Egypt’s population. Relations with the Muslim majority are usually harmonious, but disputes over land, religious buildings or women sometimes lead to violence.

In 2006, there were three days of sectarian clashes in Alexandria after a Muslim stabbed a Coptic Christian to death. Authorities said the attacker was mentally ill. (Writing by Aziz El-Kaissouni; Editing by Jon Boyle)

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Palm Sunday at the Catholicosate Cathedral of Armenians in Antelias

APRIL 5, 2009: OUR CHILDREN ARE THE WEALTH OF OUR CHURCH SAID HIS HOLINESS ARAM I ON PALM SUNDAY
On Sunday 5 April 2009 more than a thousand children and their parents came to celebrate Palm Sunday at the Cathedral in Antelias. During the Liturgy, to symbolize the entrance of Jesus to Jerusalem, the clergy and the children with their families walked in procession outside the walls of the Catholicosate. At the end of the liturgy His Holiness Aram I greeted the children, and addressed the faithful from his balcony. Palm Sunday in Antelias has become a day of joyful celebration because after his enthronization Catholicos Aram I declared Palm Sunday as the Feast of the Armenian Children and the Families. At the end of the message of His Holiness Aram I, the children flew balloons and doves, and received individual blessings from His Holiness Aram I in the Main Hall of his residence.

Byzantine Period Church With Beautiful Mosaics Discovered

ScienceDaily (Mar. 20, 2009): A church that dates to the Byzantine period which is paved with breathtakingly beautiful mosaics and a dedicatory inscription was exposed in an archaeological excavation the Israel Antiquities Authority is conducting near Moshav Nes-Harim, 5 kilometers east of Bet Shemesh (at the site of Horvat A-Diri), in the wake of plans to enlarge the moshav.

According to archaeologist Daniel Ein Mor, director of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “The site was surrounded by a small forest of oak trees and is covered with farming terraces that were cultivated by the residents of Nes-Harim. Prior to the excavation we discerned unusually large quantities of pottery sherds from the Byzantine period and thousands of mosaic tesserae that were scattered across the surface level”.

The excavation seems to have revealed the very center of the site, which extends across an area of approximately 15 dunams, along the slope of a spur that descends toward Nahal Dolev.

During the first season of excavation (November 2008) the church’s narthex (the broad entrance at the front of the church’s nave) was exposed in which there was a carpet of polychrome mosaics that was adorned with geometric patterns of intertwined rhomboids separated by flower bud motifs. Unfortunately, at the conclusion of the excavation this mosaic was defaced and almost completely destroyed by unknown vandals. During that excavation season a complex wine press was partly exposed that consists of at least two upper treading floors and elongated, well-plastered arched cells below them that were probably meant to facilitate the preliminary fermentation there of the must. Part of the main work surface, which was paved with large coarse tesserae, was exposed at the foot of these cells. A complex wine press of this kind is indicative of a wine making industry at the site; this find is in keeping with the presence here of a church and is consistent with
our knowledge about Byzantine monasteries in the region during this period (sixth-seventh centuries CE).

Other parts of the church were revealed in the current excavation season. The area of the apse was almost entirely exposed, as were other parts of the southern aisle.
Two rooms that are adjacent to the northern and southern sides of the church were also uncovered. In the southern room a mosaic pavement was exposed that is decorated with intertwined patterns of different size concentric circles. The mosaic also includes a dedicatory inscription written in ancient Greek that was deciphered by Dr. Leah Di Signi of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem:

O Lord God of saint Theodorus, protect Antonius and Theodosia the illustres (illustres - a title used to distinguish high nobility in the Byzantine period) [- - - ] Theophylactus and John the priest (or priests). [Remember o Lord] Mary and John who have offe[red - - ] in the 6th indiction. Lord, have pity of Stephen.

Various phases that were used after the church was abandoned in the later part of the Byzantine period were discerned elsewhere in the structure. The mosaic floor was completely destroyed in different places and the area inside the church was put to secondary use. Industrial installations that are ascribed to the same phase were found which attest to the functional change the building underwent during the end of the Byzantine period-beginning of the Early Islamic period (seventh century CE).

According to Daniel Ein Mor, “We know of other Byzantine churches and sites that are believed to be Byzantine monasteries, which are located in the surrounding region. The excavation at Nes-Harim supplements our knowledge about the nature of the Christian-Byzantine settlement in the rural areas between the main cities in this part of the country during the Byzantine period, among them Bet Guvrin, Emmaus and Jerusalem”.
____________ _________ _________ __

Adapted from materials provided by Israel Antiquities Authority.
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090315114041.htm

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin participates in the WCC Commission on International Affairs

Mar 22, 2009: The World Conference of Churches (WCC) Commission of the Churches on International Affairs was held in the Theological Seminary of Matanzas, Cuba, from March 14 to 20. During the meeting several issues regarding political and economic relations during this time of financial crisis were discussed.

Economists and theologians participated in the discussion presenting the current global situation as well as stressing the aspects of the importance of church’s role in that process. They also proposed opportunities for inter-faith cooperation. During the meeting, regional and thematic discussions were also held.
Ms. Tsovinar Ghazarian, coordinator of educational programs for the Armenian Round Table Foundation and a member of the WCC Commission on International Affairs, represented the Armenian Church in the meeting with the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

by Press Office
Source:http://www.armenianchurch.ca/

Malankara Orthodox Church recognize H.E. Severius Mushe Görgün as bishop of Europe

March 20, 2009: The Holy Episcopal Synod of Malankara Orthodox Church held in Feb 2009, decided to recognize H.E. Severius Mushe Görgün, as the Primate of the Church, with the title Archbishop of the Independent Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of Europe. This recognition for Severius Mushe Görgün came after a delay of more than a year, mostly due to the continued dispute in the Malankara Orthodox Church over the validity of his consecration.

It was in 2007 Severius Mushe Görgün, an excommunicated monk of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch, was ordained as bishop by two Malankara (Indian) Orthodox bishops with the silent support of their Metropolitan of American Diaspora, which was at that time a matter of great controversy since the ordination was said to be held secretly and against the constitution of the Church. Consequently the Holy Synod of Malankara Orthodox Church warned the two bishops, but no further actions against these bishops were taken under pressure from a sizeable section of the Church. However the official recognition of Severius Mushe Görgün got delayed due to doubt over the legality of his ordination.

Before the bishop consecration, Severius Mushe Görgün, a monk of the Syrian Orthodox Church was under suspension due to his anti-Church activities. Later he came in contact with two bishops of the rival Malankara Orthodox Church who later elevated him as a bishop for the ‘Independent Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of Europe’ in a ceremony held in India. It is alleged that this ordination was held by the Malankara Orthodox bishops with the aim of creating a rebel Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese in Europe which led to his official excommunication from the parent Syrian Orthodox Church. However his mission in Europe has not became a success as he could not get much acceptance from the Syrian Orthodox community in Europe.

The disputes between the two divisions of the Oriental Orthodox Church of India, viz; the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (also known as Indian Orthodox Church) and the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church (also known as Jacobite Syrian Church), has a history of almost 100 years. Over the century there are many instances of primates switching loyalties from one Church to other. The beginning of Malankara Syrian Catholic Church is attributed to one such bishop who switched loyalty in 1930’s. Even now the two Oriental Orthodox Churches in India, with lot of similarities are in severe bottleneck over many issues. Both the Churches are headed by independent Catholicates with 25 odd bishops for each party.

H.E. Severius Mushe Görgün is now based in Europe administering the small congregation supported by him. Now with the official approval of the Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Church he has became part of this wing of the Indian Church. Though the designation that Severius Mushe Görgün uses is the Archbishop of the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of Europe, the congregation he leads has no connection with the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch or India.

Raj Jos, India

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I ASSISTS THE MID-LENT SUNRISE SERVICE AT SAINT NESHAN CHURCH OF THE DIOCESE OF LEBANON

March 18, 2009: According to the tradition the Prelate of the Diocese of Lebanon Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian and the Members of the Church Council invited His Holiness Aram I to preside over the Mid-Lent Sunrise Service at the Saint Neshan Church of the Diocese in Beirut. The students of the seminary who accompanied His Holiness did the singing.

At the end of the Service Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian welcomed the Catholicos on behalf of the Diocese and its leadership for this Pastoral visit, which indicated that the whole Church was being resourced spiritually in anticipation of the Holy Feast of Easter.

In his message to the congregation, His Holiness Aram I said that the period of fasting and praying prior to Easter is the human response to Jesus’ words “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (John 9:10). Despite the sufferings of the Armenian community in Lebanon for many decades, the leadership and people remained steadfast. New challenges are now touching the lives of the youth. The decision to declare 2009 “The Year of Youth” was taken in order to discern and lead the youth to the “doors” where Jesus’ teachings, the Traditions of the Church and Armenian identity are affirmed and shaped through love, peace and hope. He then invited the Diocese and the faithful to open “doors” to the youth.

After the Service, the faithful were invited to share friendship around coffee and special Lent sweets thanks to the hospitality offered by the Church Council and Women’s Committee.

Turkey, U.S. Play Down Tensions Over Armenia Issue

WASHINGTON (Reuters), Mar 20 2009 -- Seeking to avert tensions during President Barack Obama's visit to Turkey, both sides are playing down potential fallout from a renewed attempt by some U.S. lawmakers to declare the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks genocide.

Ahmet Davutoglu, foreign policy advisor to Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, told reporters on Thursday the issue, which caused U.S.-Turkish relations to plummet in 2007, would not "hijack" Obama's visit early next month.

"Nothing can shadow the success of this visit," Davutoglu told reporters after meeting Obama's national security advisor Jim Jones at the White House. During his 2008 campaign for the White House, Obama referred to the killings of Armenians in World War One as genocide, which Turkey strongly rejects. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton co-sponsored a genocide resolution on Armenia when she was in the Senate.

The reintroduction on Tuesday by several lawmakers of a new resolution in the House of Representatives could complicate Obama's visit and Davutoglu said the issue was discussed in his meeting with Jones.

Asked whether Obama's views might have changed, Davutoglu was noncommittal. "I did not say yes or no," he said. "Of course, I cannot speak on behalf of General Jones, but we went through all these issues in a very friendly and cooperative manner." Recognizing how sensitive the issue could become in U.S.-Turkish relations, the State Department has avoided comment on the resolution or what the Obama administration's policy is on labeling what happened as genocide.

"I don't want to go any further on it until we have had a chance to take a closer look at it and discuss it within the government, and that's where I'm going to leave it," State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters on Wednesday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, when asked if it was a good time to bring up the Armenian resolution, reiterated her view that genocide occurred. Whether Obama travels to the region or not "does not deny the fact that there was an Armenian genocide, and there are those of us in Congress who will continue to make that point," the California lawmaker told Reuters.

Pelosi's spokesman, Brendan Daly, said he did not know whether the sponsors of the latest resolution had enough support for it to pass in the House but "no one's talking about a vote any time soon." Similar resolutions have been introduced in Congress for years and Pelosi has been a long-time supporter of having Congress declare the killings a genocide. But as speaker, she did not bring the legislation to the floor for a vote in 2007 after pressure by the Bush administration, amid concerns over the sensitivities of NATO ally Turkey.

By Sue Pleming; Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell; Editing by John O'Callaghan

Source: Assyrian International News Agency: AINA

Seven Bishops Consecrated for Malankara Orthodox Church of India

Kottayam, March 20, 2009: His Holiness Baselius Marthoma Didymus I, Catholicos of East and supreme head of the Malankara Orthodox Church, consecrated on Feb 19th, seven bishops at St. George Orthodox Church, Puthupally near Kottaym in South India. H.H. was assisted by H.B Paulose Mar Milithios, Catholicos designate and all the other bishops. The new bishops are H.G. Yuhanon Mar Polycarpos, H.G. Mathews Mar Theodosius, H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius, H.G. Abraham Mar Epiphanios, H.G. Mathews Mar Themothios, H.G. Alexios Mar Eusebios and H.G. Yuhanon Mar Dioscoros.

Among the newly ordained bishops, H.G. Dr. Mathews Mar Thimothios Metropolitan is appointed as the Metropolitan of the U. K., Europe & Africa Diocese.

Egyptian Copts Campaign to Rebuild Church

March 02, 2009: The Egyptian Orthodox Church – also known as the Coptic Church – has joined a campaign launched by the Coptic Diaspora to obtain permission to rebuild a church in the governorate of Sohag, the Daily News Egypt reported.

“There is legislation that differentiates between Egyptians versus the right to build and/or maintain places of worship. The procedure for Egyptian Muslims to build a new mosque is not in the hands of our president and does not require a
presidential decree,” Youssef Sidhum, editor-in-chief of the Egyptian newspaper Watani told The Media Line.

The church building had collapsed during the lengthy bureaucratic process that a Coptic congregation needs to go through in order to receive permission to maintain churches.

Instead of just going to the local authority, parishioners have to apply to the national security service, which then brings the paperwork To President Hosni Mubarak for approval, Sidhum said.

Mubarak claims to never having denied a request for either the construction or maintenance of a church; this is due to the fact that the security services, which can’t be held accountable, never handed him the papers, Sidhum said.

Friction between the Copts, who constitute some 10 percent of Egypt’s total population of 78 million, and the Muslim majority, is frequent and sometimes violent.

In February 2009, two Coptic writers were arrested at the Cairo Book Fair for handing out bibles. According to the police report, the men were arrested for “defaming Islam.”

Some 95% of all Copts are members of the Coptic Orthodox Church, which is the oldest form of Christianity in Africa and one of the earliest forms of Christianity in the world.

Written by The Media Line Staff

http://www.themedia line.org/ news/news_ detail.asp? NewsID=24423

Pope Returns Church to Russian Orthodox with Message

Sat Mar 7, 2009: VATICAN CITY - The Russian Orthodox church of St. Nicholas in the Italian city of Bari was returned to the custody of the Patriarchate of Moscow during a ceremony held in Bari on March 1, 2009. During the celebration, Cardinal Salvatore De Giorgi, archbishop emeritus of Palermo, Italy, read out a Message from the Holy Father.

"The Russian people", says the Pope in his Message, "have never faltered in their love for this great saint who has always supported them through moments of joy and of difficulty. Evidence of this is also to be found in this Russian Orthodox church of St. Nicholas, built at the beginning of last century to house pilgrims who, often on their way to the Holy Land, stopped at Bari, a meeting point between East and West, to venerate the relics of the saint.

"And how can we not recognise", the Holy Father adds, "that this beautiful church reawakens within us a nostalgia for full unity, and upholds our commitment to work for full union among all Christ's disciples?"

In his Message, Benedict XVI also reiterates his best wishes to Kirill, recently-elected as Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and calls upon the Holy Spirit to illuminate his ministry.

During the ceremony - which was originally due to have taken place on 6 December 2008, Feast of St. Nicholas of Bari, but was postponed due to the death of Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexis II - Giorgio Napolitano, president of the Italian Republic, consigned the keys of the Orthodox church of St. Nicholas to Dimitry Medvedev, president of the Russian Federation.

Vatican Information Service

Church leaders explore ways to slow Christian exodus from Middle East

Fri Feb 27, 2009: VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The need to find ways to stop the slow, yet steady departure of Christians from the Middle East has come into greater focus recently.

Pope Benedict XVI urged the dwindling Arab Christian minority to patiently persist in its struggle to survive and hold onto its religious and cultural identity when he met with bishops from Iraq, Iran and Turkey who were in Rome for to report on their dioceses early this year.

And he will have many public occasions to reach out and appeal directly to Christians with his proposed visit to the Holy Land May 8-15.

The Christian exodus has become so severe that Iraqi bishops called on the pope to convene a regional synod to address the problem.

In the meantime, conferences were held in Detroit, Lebanon and Rome in February to underline the important role Christians play in Muslim-majority nations.

The Rome gathering organized by the Sant'Egidio Community brought together Christian and Muslim scholars and religious leaders from the Middle East to discuss the value and contribution of the Eastern Christian churches in Arab nations.

One element that emerged from the meeting is that Christians don't belong in the Middle East simply because they've been there since the time of Jesus and are legitimate citizens of Arab nations. Many said they must stay because they possess a unique culture and mindset that help contribute to the building of a more peaceful, democratic nation.

Some said a strong Christian presence could help moderate Muslims counter the rising wave of Islamic extremism sweeping across the region.

Mohammed Sammak, political adviser to Lebanon's grand mufti and a conference participant, said, "The fewer Christians there are, the more (Islamic) fundamentalism rises," fills the void and gains the upper hand; "that is why as a Muslim, I am opposed" to Christians emigrating.

For Christians to disappear from the Middle East would be like "pulling out the threads of a cloth" so that the whole social fabric risks unraveling and dying, he said.

It's a mistake to help Christians leave their respective nations through easier visa procedures and other measures, said Sammak.

When authorities help ease Christian emigration, he said, they are are unwittingly aiding in the elimination of Christians from the Middle East by taking part in "a conspiracy of good faith."

Another danger, he said, is that if Muslim-majority nations do nothing to protect and encourage their Christian minorities to stay, then North American and European countries will think that Islam does not accept or respect Christianity.

If people living abroad see Muslims are unable to live with Christians even when they share the same culture, language and citizenship, he said, "then they'll think, 'so how can we Europeans live with Muslims.'"

Tensions and restrictions against Muslims living in or emigrating to Europe will increase as tensions and violence against Christians continue in the Middle East and vice versa, said Sammak.

Latin-rite Archbishop Jean Sleiman of Baghdad said Christians help preserve peaceful coexistence in a religiously and ethnically diverse society.

Christians possess a unique culture that displays "the willingness to mediate" and, therefore, they "could do so many things because reconstruction (of a war-torn nation) deals above all with souls, culture, mentalities," he told Vatican Radio Feb. 23.

Many participants agreed that large numbers of Christians have been fleeing the Middle East for economic and political motives rather than purely religious reasons.

Participant Bernard Sabella, a Catholic member of the Palestinian parliament and former sociology professor at Catholic-run Bethlehem University in the West Bank, said the exodus of Christians "is related to the global market. So if a young Palestinian -- Christian or Muslim -- can get work in the United States or Dubai, then they will go."

Tarek Mitri, Lebanon's minister of information, said Christians "were victims of their good education" and marketable skills in that they were more likely to be able to choose and provide a better life for themselves and their families by emigrating to where there were more opportunities.

A significant mass exodus began in the 20th century, he said, and those losses were already glaringly apparent in 1964 when Pope Paul VI made the first visit by a pope to the Holy Land since St. Peter.

Mitri said the cultural and economic contribution of Christians have always outweighed their numerical proportion.

Sammak said losing Christians would mean losing the human, cultural, scientific and educational resources they bring to a nation.

Archbishop Sleiman told reporters that while economic and political problems are major reasons for leaving, Christians in countries like Iraq and the Palestinian territories leave out of "fear of Islamic fundamentalism and being legally discriminated against" in an Islamic republic or under Shariah, the religiously based law of Islam.

He said the international community must help Iraq build peace and democracy by guaranteeing "the primacy of law and primacy of nation."

"Many problems will be solved because (a state of) law equals equality and justice," he said.

The Lebanese-born archbishop of Baghdad said he believes it is still possible for the dwindling numbers of Christians to play a role in the rebuilding of their country.

"But it's important churches have to be convinced their role is still important. When I see emigration, I'm not sure Christians still believe their role is important," he said.

Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim of Aleppo appealed to Muslim nations and authorities, telling them that their role is "to safeguard Christians. It is up to you. We don't believe our protection can come from outside."

Source: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0900918.htm

By Carol Glatz

Pope Shenouda Studies Response to Israeli Television's Offence

Wed Feb 25, 2009: As usual, Coptic Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St.Mark's Church, delivered a sermon full of stinging remarks and thorny issues.

In his sermon on Sunday evening, he called for the quick formation of a committee of civil engineers to inspect the cracks on the walls of the Orthodox Church in Alexandria.

"If the engineers in Alexandria aren't happy, I'll send some of mine from here in Cairo. We won't wait for anything dangerous to happen to the faithful, will we?" he said.

When cheers and applauses went up from the audience, the Pope scolded them saying: "You can't do that. There are no applauses or cheers at Church".

He also called on the church officials to make it easier for disabled and elderly people to enter it, as it was difficult for them to climb the stairs.

The Pope was then asked about his stance on the Israeli television's mockeries of Jesus Christ, especially after Catholic Pope Benedict XVI protested against these mockeries.

Shenouda said he had not heard about them, pointing out that the Church was studying these mockeries and the way to protest at and respond to them.

"By the way, why do you listen to this kind of radio stations?" he asked.

Shenouda also said he had noticed some mistakes in the religious education curriculum for the fourth year of elementary school.

He said such wrong information contradicted the teachings of the Gospels and called for correcting it, as they could have a negative effect on pupils. He also said that he would talk to the minister of education to correct these mistakes.

There was also time for sentimental questions. A 29-year-old girl asked the Pope about her bad luck, as she had not found a husband yet.

"Dont be so upset. Girls used to get married at 15, then at 20. Now they do at 35 and one day they will at 44. You're still young. God will send you a person suitable to your age."

http://www.coptreal.com/ShowSubject.aspx?SID=16374

Orthodox Patriarchs join condemnation of Israel TV - blasphemy

Wednesday, 25th February 2009: A satirical TV show on the Israeli Channel 10 that poked fun at Christians has been condemned by Orthodox Patriarchs.

Patriarchs Ignatius IV Hazim of Antioch and all the East for Greek Orthodox, Ignatius Zakka I Iwas of Antioch and all the East for Syriac Orthodox and Gregory III Laham of Antioch and all the East for Greek Catholic have condemned the Israeli media for causing offence to Christian religious symbols, denouncing the offence of supreme religious values.

Their criticism follows a protest from the Vatican. Although the Israeli Government has also condemned the show, some observers say there is little they can do as the TV station is privately owned.

The broadcast that caused offence was a comedy show that was aiming at the Vatican after the re-admission to the Church of Bishop Williamson, who had apparently denied aspects of the Holocaust.

The spiritual leaders of churches and patriarchs in Damascus denounced in a statement the Israeli deliberate offence of Jesus Christ and Mary the Virgin, and called on Israel to put and end to "low behaviours which harm the feelings of Christians and the humanity as a whole."

Source: http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=3973

Undisguised death threats against the Mar Gabriel Monastery

Tue Feb 24, 2009: The harassment and intimidation against the Mar Gabriel Monastery continue and have taken a new impetus. Now the monastery staff is threatened openly in Turkey's largest newspaper: "If the problem is not resolved, blood will be shed here" writes the newspaper Hrriyet.

On Friday, February 20th, an interview was published in the paper version of Turkey's largest newspaper Hrriyet. The interview was done with Kuryakos Ergn, who is chairman of the Mar Gabriel Monastery Foundation and Suleyman Dz, who is the village chief in the village of Eglence.

- We have inherited the land from our ancestors, we will not give it to anyone, if the court does not resolve the issue, there will be killings, there will be great events taking place here, we have lived together here in a thousand years but now they are entrusting themselves with Europe, says Suleyman Dz, village chief in Eglence, referring to the few Assyrians who remain in the area.

The Foundation's chairman of Mar Gabriel Monastery, Kuryakos Ergn, says that the problem must be solved at the local level.

- We want to live like brothers with the Muslims here, the monastery has a long history which has been preserved for thousands of years, it's an unnecessary provocation, we want to solve the problem here in Midyat, in Ankara, not in Europe, says Kuraykos Ergun.

Before the eyes of the Turkish authorities and the police, now open threats have been made several times against the Mor Gabriel Monastery. So far, none of the threats has caused any legal implications.

Click the following link to read original article (Turkish)

http://www.turabdin.downthe.net/pdf/Hurriyet.pdf

Dikran Ego
Freelance Journalist
www.acsatv.com

ERITREA: CHRISTIAN DEATHS MOUNT IN PRISONS

LOS ANGELES, January 21 (Compass Direct News) – Three Christians incarcerated in military prisons for their faith have died in the past four months in Eritrea, including the death on Friday (Jan. 16) of a 42-year-old man in solitary confinement, according to a Christian support organization.

Sources told Open Doors that Mehari Gebreneguse Asgedom died at the Mitire Military Confinement center from torture and complications from diabetes. Asgedom was a member of the Church of the Living God in Mendefera.

His death followed the revelation this month of another death in the same prison. Mogos Hagos Kiflom, 37, was said to have died as a result of torture he endured for refusing to recant his faith, according to Open Doors, but the exact date of his death was unknown. A member of Rhema Church, Kiflom is survived by his wife, child and mother.

Incarcerated Christians from throughout Eritrea have been transferred to the Mitire prison in the country's northeast. In 2002 the Eritrean regime outlawed religious activity except that of the Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran or Muslim religions.

In October Open Doors learned of the death of Teklesenbet Gebreab Kiflom, 36, who died while imprisoned for his faith at the Wi'a Military Confinement center. He was reported to have died after prison commanders refused to give him medical attention for malaria.

In June 2008, 37-year-old Azib Simon died from untreated malaria as well. Weakened by torture, sources told Compass, Simon contracted malaria only a week before she died.

Together with the deaths this month, the confirmed number of Christians who have died while imprisoned for their faith in Eritrea now totals eight.

Mass Arrests

At the same time, the government of President Isaias Afwerki has stepped up its campaign against churches it has outlawed, earning it a spot on the U.S. Department of State's list of worst violators of religious freedom.

The government arrested 15 members of the Kale-Hiwot Church in Keren on Jan. 11, and before Christmas at least 49 leaders of unregistered churches in Asmara were rounded up over two weeks, Open Doors reported. Last November, 34 members of the Kale-Hiwot Church in Dekemhare were arrested.

Those arrested included members of the Church of the Living God, Medhaniel Alem Revival Group and the Philadelphia, Kale-Hiwot, Rhema, Full Gospel and Salvation by Christ churches, according to Open Doors. The church leaders' names appeared on a government list of 180 people who were taken from their homes and work places.

In the November sweep, authorities arrested 65 members of the Kale-Hiwot Church in the towns of Barentu and Dekemhare, including 17 women. In Keren and Mendefera, 25 members of the Full Gospel Church were arrested, and 20 Christians belonging to the Church of the Living God in Mendefera and Adi-Kuala were arrested.

Church leaders in Eritrea told Open Doors that by mid-December, a total of 2,891 Christians, including 101 women, had been incarcerated for their faith.

On June 8, 2008 Compass learned that eight Christians held at the Adi-uala prison were taken to medical emergency facilities as a result of torture by military personnel at the camp. Eritrean officials have routinely denied religious oppression exists in the country, saying the government is only enforcing laws against unregistered churches.

The government has denied all efforts by independent Protestant churches to register, and people caught worshipping outside the four recognized religious institutions, even in private homes, suffer arrest, torture and severe pressure to deny their faith. The Eritrean Orthodox Church and its flourishing renewal movement has also been subject to government raids.

Sense of renewal at Clifton church where two were slain

by Claire Heininger/The Star-Ledger
Sunday February 08, 2009
A scene of tragedy was filled with renewal today as five people who received the organs of a shooting victim met the 25-year-old man's family for the first time at the Passaic County church where he was killed.

The parents and sister of Dennis John Malloosseril, who was shot and killed Nov. 23, had a tearful first meeting with the recipients of his heart, lungs liver, kidneys and pancreas before honoring his life with a standing-room-only memorial service at the St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Knanaya Church in Clifton. Tributes flowed to Malloosseril's love of family, friends and faith and his selfless nature.

"I wish I could've known him," said Malta Hameed, 41, of Clifton, who received Malloosseril's liver. "He died a hero. That's how I see it. He saved all of us."

Hameed said she also wrote a thank-you letter to Malloosseril's parents, Aley and Abraham John, who decided immediately after their son's death that he would've wanted to be a donor, said Malloosseril's aunt, Suja Alummoottil.

"They instilled in him all of the right values," Alummoottil said of his parents. "He would party until late night and be the first one at church in the morning.

Heart recipient James O'Hea of Woodbridge called the service, attended by about 300 people, "overwhelming."

"I will do my best to be the kind of person he would've been," said O'Hea, 57, who said he was given one month to live before learning he would receive a donated heart.

Malloosseril was killed when he intervened in a dispute between 24-year-old Reshma James and her estranged husband, Joseph Pallipurath, who drove from California to confront her, police said.

James' cousin, 48-year-old Silvy Perincheril, was seriously injured with a gunshot wound to the head. Perincheril has emerged from a coma and was moved to a rehab center, where her family says she continues her slow recovery.

Pallipurath was captured 36 hours after the shooting in a motel in Georgia. He was extradited to New Jersey and has pleaded not guilty in the case. He remains in jail, authorities have said, and tried unsuccessfully to commit suicide in mid-January while incarcerated.

All of the transplants took place within 24 hours after the shooting, said Bill Reitsma, Director of Clinical Services for the NJ Sharing Network, the nonprofit organization that arranged the transplants.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, call 1-800-SHARE-NJ, visit sharenj.org, or e-mail info@sharenj.org.

To read more
Link: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/a_scene_of_tragedy_was.html

Bishop Mar Epiphanios of Malankara Orthodox Church passes away

KOLLAM; Feb 9, 2009: Mathews Mar Epiphanios, metropolitan of the Kollam diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Church, passed away at a private hospital here at 11.15 a.m. on Monday. He was 81. Mar Epiphanios had been admitted to the cardiac care unit of the hospital for two weeks.

The funeral rites will be held at the Metropolitan chapel on Tuesday. The ‘nagari kanikkal’ in connection with the funeral rites will begin at 10 a.m. and the funeral service at the chapel, at 12 noon. People from all walks of life arrived at the chapel to pay their last respects to the metropolitan.

Mar Epiphanios was born at Chenkulam near here on November 25, 1928. After schooling at Chathannur he did his Intermediate at Tirunelveli and graduated in physics from Thiruvananthapuram. He was ordained sub-deacon in March 1957 and in April he was ordained deacon. In 1958 he was ordained priest and served at Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Punalur, Vazhuvady, Kottapuram and Arunoottimangalam. He also served as teacher in various schools and was chosen secretary of the Kollam diocese three times. In 1985 he was consecrated as episcopa with the name Mar Epiphanios by the then Catholicos of Malankara Orthodox Church. In 1985 he was made assistant metropolitan of the Kollam diocese and in October 1991 enthroned as full time metropolitan. He had served as metropolitan of the Thiruvananthapuram diocese from 1999 to 2004 and president of the Orthodox Sunday School Association.

Ancient Syriac bible found in Cyprus

Feb 7, 2009: NICOSIA (Reuters Life!) - Authorities in northern Cyprus believe they have found an ancient version of the Bible written in Syriac, a dialect of the native language of Jesus.

The manuscript was found in a police raid on suspected antiquity smugglers. Turkish Cypriot police testified in a court hearing they believe the manuscript could be about 2,000 years old.

The manuscript carries excerpts of the Bible written in gold lettering on vellum and loosely strung together, photos provided to Reuters showed. One page carries a drawing of a tree, and another eight lines of Syriac script.

Experts were however divided over the provenance of the manuscript, and whether it was an original, which would render it priceless, or a fake.

Experts said the use of gold lettering on the manuscript was likely to date it later than 2,000 years.

“I’d suspect that it is most likely to be less than 1,000 years old,” leading expert Peter Williams, Warden of Tyndale House, University of Cambridge told Reuters.

Turkish Cypriot authorities seized the relic last week and nine individuals are in custody pending further

U.S. Copts Association

Yahoo Link

Pope Shenouda Travels to US for Treatment

January 30, 2009 : Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St Mark, has announced that he will leave Cairo to the US on February 3rd to undergo a medical examination in Cleveland Hospital, Ohio.

During his weekly sermon in the Orthodox Cathedral in Abbasiya yesterday, Pope Shenouda said the next week’s sermon would be canceled due to his travel.

The Pontifical Office has stressed that the Pope’s travel comes within the framework of a periodic follow-up of his health condition and there is nothing disturbing or serious.

The Pope will be accompanied by his secretary bishop Johannes and Secretary of the Pontifical Office bishop Ieremia. The visit will not be less than 18 days.

The Church has not denied reports that the Pope’s visit at this time is not only for the follow-up treatment, but it is also a prelude to President Mubarak’s visit to the US next April.

The Pope will ask symbols of the expatriate Copts not to stage demonstrations against Mubarak and Egypt during Mubarak’s first visit with the US new president Barack Obama, ecclesiastical sources said.

The sources linked the Pope’s travel to the Egyptian government committee’s failure to calm the atmosphere during a meeting with the Copts in Canada. This led to canceling a similar visit to meet with Copts in the US.

For their part, presidential sources have confirmed that Mubarak’s visit to Washington next April aims to congratulate the new US president.

Mubarak has not made any visits to the United States since 2003 after the escalation of differences between Cairo and the Bush administration in more than a file.

By Amr Bayoumi
U.S. Copts Association

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Enthroned

Moscow, February 1, 2009: The 16th Russian Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has been enthroned on Sunday at a divine service in Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior – the first such ceremony ever held at this cathedral.

According to the historical tradition, Metropolitans of Kiev and Minsk took the elected Patriarch by the arms and thrice seated him on the Patriarch's high place in the center of the sanctuary. The hierarchs chanted Axios! (Greek for Worthy) with the clergy and the flock as the ceremony proceeded.

Then the assistant deacons removed the archbishop's vestments from the Patriarch-elected and put the patriarchal sakkos (a large embroidered liturgical vestment), the omophorion (a broad scarf), and the patriarchal mitre on him.

The liturgy ended by the laying of the green patriarchal mantle on the patriarch. The pastoral crosier of Saint Peter, the Metropolitan of Moscow, given by the Kremlin Museums especially for the ceremony, will be passed to Patriarch Kirill.

From now onwards, February 1, the day of Patriarch Kirill's enthronement, will be observed as a yearly feast of the Russian Orthodox Church, alongside Patriarch Kirill's name day, May 24, when the Church celebrates the Day of Equal to the Apostles Cyril and Methodius, the missionaries of Christianity among the Slavs.

The ceremony was attended by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, first Russian President's widow Naina Yeltsina, Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin, the head of the Russian Imperial House Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, most of the prominent Russian politicians, and delegations of Local Orthodox Churches, of The Holy See and of major foreign Protestant organizations.

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=5653

Christians must show world that unity is possible, pope says

Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches

VATICAN, 30 Jan 2009: United in their baptism and their faith in Jesus, Christians have an obligation to show the world that differences in language and culture do not have to lead to division and violence, Pope Benedict XVI said.

"The world needs a visible sign" of unity, the pope told members of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

The pope met Jan. 30 with the commission members, who represent the Catholic Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church, Syrian Orthodox Church, Armenian Apostolic Church, Malankara Orthodox Church, Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Eritrean Orthodox Church.

Each of the churches involved in the dialogue brings the richness of its own traditions along with a commitment "to overcome the divisions of the past and to strengthen the united witness of Christians in the face of the enormous challenges facing believers today," the pope said.

While united spiritually as disciples of Christ, he said, Christians also are called to be united visibly as one church.

"We need only cast our minds to the Middle East -- from where many of you come -- to see that true seeds of hope are urgently needed in a world wounded by the tragedy of division, conflict and immense human suffering," the pope said.

CNS Story

Metropolitan Kirill elected head of the Russian Orthodox Church

27 Jan 2009: MOSCOW, January 27 (RIA Novosti) - Metropolitan Kirill has been elected head of the Russian Orthodox Church, becoming the 16thPatriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

Kirill received 508 votes, and the second candidate, Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk - 169 votes. A total of 700 ballots were cast in the vote, with 23 recognized as invalid.

The Local Council, which is a council of bishops, priests, monks and laymen, including political figures and businessmen, gathered in Moscow earlier on Tuesday to elect the new Russian Orthodox Church leader.

The 700-plus-member group convened for a session to elect a successor to Patriarch Alexy II, who died in December at the age of 79 after leading the revival of the world's largest Orthodox church since 1990. This was the first election of a patriarch since the breakup of the atheist Soviet Union.

Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, who was the Russian Church's interim leader since the death of Alexy II, was the leading candidate on a shortlist that included two other hierarchs chosen in a secret ballot by the Council of Bishops on Sunday.

Kirill, 62, in charge of the church's external relations, has led dialogue with the Vatican, a sensitive issue for the two churches, which split almost 1,000 years ago. He is well-known in Russia through his weekly television program and frequent public appearances.

Kirill received the most votes, 97, in Sunday's ballot.

The other candidates on the shortlist were Metropolitan Kliment with 32 votes, and Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, who received 16 votes. They are seen more as traditionalists. Filaret earlier on Tuesday withdrew his candidacy, urging the electors to vote for Kirill.

The Church Council session is taking place in the sumptuous Christ the Savior Cathedral with clergy clad in ceremonial robes. Streets around the cathedral in central Moscow have been closed to traffic.

The new Russian patriarch is expected to be enthroned on Sunday and his term of office is lifelong.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090127/119833139.html

Malankara Orthodox Church bishop Mar Eusebius died

Kerala, India, 24 Jan. 2009: A bishop of the Malankara Orthodox Church in India, H.G Philipose Mar Eusebius, passed away at 2305 hours (IST) on 21 January 2009, at a private hospital in Pathanamthitta in Kerala, South India. He was suffering from a malignant tumour of the liver for the past six months and undergoing treatment at Velloor Hospital in Tamil Nadu. Two weeks ago his condition worsened and was admitted to the hospital

The funeral of the late bishop was held at Basil Dayara Chapel in Pathanamthitta on 24th Friday. The head of Malankara Orthodox Church, Catholicos H.H. Baselius Marthoma Didymus I led the last rites.

Mar Eusebius was a theological Scholar, organizer, a writer and an orator of Malankara Orthodox Church. He has represented his Church in several meetings of the World Council of Churches, the Christian Conference of Asia and in other international seminars. He was also the Manager of the M.O.C Corporate Colleges, the president of Studenst Movement, the Vice- President of Malankara Orthodox Church Mission Board, Chairman of the Ecumenical Christian Centre in Bangalore and President of the Inter - Church Relations Committee.

Egypt: Ruling on Easter holiday appeal set for Feb 10

January 24, 2009: The Administrative Court of Egypt will deliver on February 10 its ruling on an appeal by two Coptic human rights activists seeking to declare Easter as a national feast and an official holiday for all the Egyptians, officials said yesterday.

“All the parties to the suit Lawyer Mamdouh Nakhla, the chairman of el-Kalema (the word) Human Rights Society, and Lawyer Naguib Gubrael, have been notified that the court will deliver its ruling on their appeal on February 10,” a senior court official said.Nakhla and Gubrael are asking the Administrative Court to announce Easter, which the Egyptian Copts celebrate on April 19 this year, as a national feast and official day off in Egypt.The two lawyers argued that their request was a concrete move towards deepening friendly and brotherly bonds between Muslims and Copts in Egypt.Egypt’s Copts - the largest Christian community in the Middle East - account for an estimated six to 10 per cent of the country’s 80 million inhabitants. Tensions often run high between Egypt’s Muslim and Christian communities in a society dominated by Sunni Muslims.Easter is without rival the most important religious event in the Coptic Christian calendar.

Source: US Copts Association

THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES

Jan 15, 2009: 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.

Coptic Church to Nominate Pope Shenouda for Nobel Peace Prize

The Egyptian Orthodox Church welcomed a proposal by the expatriate Copts to nominate Pope Shenouda III for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Yet the Secular Copts Front said it would be difficult due to the political inclinations that determine who would get the prize. Bishop of Helwan and Maasara Rev. Basenti said Pope Shenouda has contributed to peace in Egypt, the Middle East and the whole world, stressing that the Pope is quite qualified for the prize and that he received honorary doctorate degrees for peace from many universities around the world.

He said the Holy Synod did not discuss the proposal with the Pope, but all its members are for it. The nascent Coptic Association of Sweden said it would supervise the Pope’s nomination campaign. It said that the Pope had numerous humanitarian stances emphasizing a genuine peace that is based on love and justice, and that he is a man who advocates equality and freedom of worship.

H.H. ARAM I receives the special envoy of Patriarch Zakka I Iwas

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

http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/doc/English/visitscatheng.htm#9

Christmas Sermon of His Holiness Aram I

On Tuesday 6 January 2009, Armenians all over the world celebrated Christmas, the Holy Feast of the Incarnation and Epiphany. His Holiness Aram I celebrated the Holy Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias in the presence of Lebanese Government officials, community leaders and a large number of believers.

In his sermon His Holiness invited the believers to respond to the message of renewal and love transmitted through the Birth of Jesus. He said that the commandment of love as the new law was given to us with the Incarnation. He then asked: “How do we live and express the love that came to us from Heaven through the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem? How close do we feel we are to God? The only way to discover whether God is in us is to love one another. As the Apostle said, whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:7-11). Do we consider ourselves children of God? We should because through Nativity God showed his love to all of humanity.”

He then linked the message of the new commandment of love to the situation in Lebanon and the Middle East. He hoped that the national reconciliation process based on a dialogue of love would lead to radical solutions of the political problems in the country. He also appealed to the political leaders to serve the people with love and deep commitment and alleviate their social and economic difficulties. Finally, he called upon the international community to stop the bloodshed in Gaza , care for the innocent victims and find a permanent solution to the Palestinian question.

After the Liturgy and on the following day, His Holiness Aram I received Lebanese Government Officials, representatives of Diplomatic Corps and Leaders of the Armenian Community in Lebanon, who came to convey their good wishes on the occasion of Armenian Christmas.