It seems Patriarch Kirill’s visit to China did wonders for the local church. There is a call for clergy to return to their temples and tend to their flocks again, after years of repression. Journey To Orthodoxy has more in a blog post here.
Category Archives: Politics
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill completes his visit to China
The Moscow Patriarchate reports that Patriarch Kirill I has completed his trip to China. He met with the country’s new leaders in hopes of reviving the dormant Chinese Orthodox Church. We wish him well in this endeavor.
Catholics and Orthodox recall Constantine’s Edict of Milan
May 17th is the 1,700th anniversary of the legalization of Christianity via the Edict of Milan, issued by Saint Constantine the Great. Some links from:
On a personal note, I am saddened by the pettiness of both the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. I do agree with Patriarch Irinej, who hopes for an apology from the Roman Catholic Church for the crimes Croatians perpetrated against the Serbian people during World War II and the wars of the Yugoslavian breakup. To be fair, however, there was much blood spilled by Serbia, and they, too, have much to apologize for. Charity comes from both sides, but the greater man must show that much more humility.
The modern city of Niš, which is in Serbia, is the birthplace of the man who legalized the Christian faith in the Roman Empire. That old wounds haven’t yet healed shows us that we have a long road to go in terms of reconciliation, and we both blaspheme the name of Christ for keeping His church divided due to human pride.
Church art theft impoverishing Albanian culture
What a shameful and disgusting state of affairs in Albania! The Albanian Orthodox Church is losing its treasures thanks to thieves tearing out everything from icons to whole frescoes. Not a single thief has been caught, much less charged, and the Albanian populace, until recently, have not been bothered to do anything to protect church property.
Joint Communique on the Abduction of Bishop Paul and Bishop John
This is an update from the Antiochian Orthodox Church of North America. May God protect the Metropolitans.
US Secretary of State Kerry meets Patriarch Vartholomaios, urges Turkey to re-open Halki Seminary
I can forgive a lot of Secretary of State John Kerry’s past sins if he will be able to pull off having the Halki Seminary re-opened so that priests can be trained properly in Turkey. Ekathimerini has more on this development.
May God open the closed heads running Turkey and allow wisdom and common sense to prevail, and may the good Ecumenical Patriarch be allowed to continue his work of tending to his flock in Constantinople.
No religious split-lines, ROC says to Abkhaz
I am normally critical of what I would term Russian Ecclesiastical imperialism. The Russian Orthodox Church should have no need to operate in any other Orthodox country outside of its own, or in countries which are not officially Orthodox in order to minister to their flocks.
That being said, Patriarch Kirill I of Moscow is showing good judgment in telling the Abkhazian Orthodox Church that they must stay under the purview of the Orthodox Church of Georgia. Until Abkhazia and South Ossetia become (God forbid) independent countries, they have to respect Council law.
Russian army introduces the flying Orthodox Church-in-a-box
Where there’s a need, there’s innovation. Good on the Russian Army for introducing these portable chapels for the faithful.
Oliver Wainright of the Guardian has more on the story here.
Outsiders are killing Syrian People, destroying Churches and mosques – Christian Bishop
The situation in Syria continues to become more dire by the day, especially for the Christian communities, who are under assault from all sides.
Russia Today has an article on the deteriorating situation here.
School Bans the Word ‘Easter’
Todd Starnes posts on this rather embarrassing story about Heritage Elementary School’s decision to ban the word “Easter” in the name of ‘diversity’, whatever that means. Actually, let the school ban it. From a Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox point-of-view (as well as in its proper form in many other languages), the proper term should be Pascha. Easter is recognized as Pascha in this country, and I am perfectly happy with the term, as it has an agreed-upon meaning of the holiest day of the Christian calendar.