http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/orthodox-religion/ en-us Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:53:05 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2038774/posts Vatican City, Jun 30, 2008 / 10:51 am (CNA).- Patriarch Bartholomew I, the ecumenical patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church, arrived in Rome on Saturday to open the celebration of the Pauline Year with Pope Benedict. At the reception ceremony for Bartholomew I, the Pope told the patriarch that he was happy to learn that he had also called a Pauline Year to commemorate the 2000th anniversary of the birth of the Apostle of the Gentiles. "This happy coincidence", Benedict said, "highlights the roots of our shared Christian vocation and the significant harmony of feelings and of pastoral commitment we... CNA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2038774/posts#comment Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:53:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2038349/posts The stained glass window of Sts. Paul and Peter in St. Mary Mother of God Catholic Church, Washington, DC (The following is excerpted from Dom Prosper Guéranger's entry in The Liturgical Year for 30 June -- the Commemoration of St. Paul, in Volume XII of the 1983 Marian House edition of the English translation by the Benedictines of Stanbrook.) "...Paul, having appealed to Caesar [see Acts 25: 11-12], landed in Italy at the beginning of the year 56. Then at last the apostle of the Gentiles made his entry into Rome...." "Instead of having to await in prison the day... Dignare Me Laudare Te, Virgo Sacrata http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2038349/posts#comment Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:43:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2038284/posts On this feast of Rome's Christian founders -- the 57th anniversary of Joseph Ratzinger's ordination to the priesthood -- Uncle Bart remained at Papa Ratzi's side as 40 new metropolitans from across the globe received the symbol of their office, the pallium. Among the prelates who came forward to receive the traditional lambswool band were the recently-named archbishops of Nairobi, Moscow, Jerusalem, Taipei, Lille, Minsk, Mobile, Halifax, Baltimore and St Paul and Minneapolis. With the statue of St Peter in the nave of the Vatican basilica decked out in its usual finery for the day, the morning liturgy also... WITL http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2038284/posts#comment Sun, 29 Jun 2008 21:58:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2038275/posts Over at A Conservative Blog for Peace, an interesting discussion has been in process. Namely, on the recent phenomena of the Orthodox “Western Rite“. The combox discussion can be found here.The Western Rite Orthodox concept has been around for about 100 years. Not to be confused with the Eastern notion that the west “used to be” Orthodox prior to 1054 (but no longer is) when I speak of WRO, I mean to discuss the movement to create parishes worshipping according to traditional western styles under Eastern Orthodox bishops. Like Eastern Catholics who are Easterners in communion with the Roman... Black Cordelias http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2038275/posts#comment Sun, 29 Jun 2008 21:29:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2038095/posts Holy Mass has begun in Rome at St. Peter’s Basilica for the feast of Sts. Peter & Paul. The old new form of papal pallium is being used.   The Holy Father has shifted away from the archeologically correct, but odd, ancient form of pallium which Benedict XVI began to use at the time of his "inauguration" in April 2005.  This new but still ancient form of pallium represents an organic midway point between the lond, drapy stole-like pallium and the modern style, used by all the modern popes until Benedict XVI and which is still imposed by the Pope on... WDTPRS http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2038095/posts#comment Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:26:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2037816/posts Christian Atheism The title for this post sounds like an oxymoron, and, of course, it is. How can one be both an atheist and a Christian? Again, I am wanting to push the understanding of the one-versus-two-storey universe. In the history of religious thought, one of the closest versions to what I am describing as a “two-storey” world-view, is that espoused by classical Deism (the philosophy espoused by a number of the American founding fathers).They had an almost pure, two-storey worldview. God, “the Deity,” had created the universe in the beginning, setting it in motion. He had done so in such... Glory to God for all Things http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2037816/posts#comment Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:38:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2037382/posts Moscow, June 27, Interfax - At its final Friday session, the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church ruled that the Bishop of Anadyr and Chukotka Diomid should be defrocked. An absolute majority of the Bishops' Council (with three abstainers) voted for "stripping Diomid of priestly privileges" due to his disobedience to hierarchy, Interfax-Religion reports. "The Council calls Diomid to immediately repent and stop his activity. If he refuses, the Council's ruling shall be enforced," one of the Council's participants told to the agency. The Council also fixed the deadline for such repentance - before the next session of the... Interfax religion http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2037382/posts#comment Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:45:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2035823/posts Vatican City, Jun 24, 2008 / 10:40 am (CNA).- The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff announced that on June 29, the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate the Eucharist at 9:30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica.  The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I is also scheduled to participate in the ceremony.Bartholomew I and the Holy Father will deliver the homily, recite the profession of faith and impart the final blessing. The Pontiff will concelebrate with the new Catholic metropolitan archbishops, upon whom he will impose the pallium.Among the 43 archbishops receiving palliums... CNA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2035823/posts#comment Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:31:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2035573/posts From the Holy See Press Office - Office of Papal Liturgical Celebrations: Holy Mass of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles, presided by the Holy Father Benedict XVI, with the participation of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I On Sunday, June 29, 2008, Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles, the Holy Father Benedict XVI will celebrate the Eucharist, at 9:30, in the Vatican Basilica, with the participation of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. The Ecumenical Patriarch and the Holy Father will deliver the Homily, jointly recite the profession of faith [Creed], and impart the blessing. The new Metropolitan Archbishops, on whom the... Holy See Press Office via Rorate Caeli http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2035573/posts#comment Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:24:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2035094/posts Constantinople, Jun. 19, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople has responded favorably to a suggestion by the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church for a system of "dual unity" in which Byzantine Catholic churches would be in full communion with both Constantinople and Rome. Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople welcomed the proposal in an interview with the magazine Cyril and Methodius, the RISU news service reports. The acknowledged leader of the Orthodox world suggested that the "dual unity" approach would produce something akin to the situation of the Christian world in the 1st millennium, before the split between... Catholic World news http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2035094/posts#comment Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:15:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2034923/posts Growing up in Brooklyn in the 1930s and '40s, Ed Deeb attended a Syrian Orthodox church where members worshiped entirely in Arabic. But by the time Beeb moved to North Jersey in the 1950s, he was ready for a new direction. He and several other Syrian Orthodox Christians from Brooklyn founded St. Anthony Antiochian Orthodox Church, a congregation that maintained Eastern Orthodox traditions but held its services in English and recruited people of different nationalities. The approach seemed natural at the time, Deeb said. "When we were growing up in Brooklyn, our parents were very strong on us becoming Americans,"... NorthJersey.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2034923/posts#comment Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:46:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2033505/posts Munich—In a recent interview with the German ecumenical journal Cyril and Methodius, the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church in Constantinople Bartholomew I invited Eastern Catholic Churches to return to Orthodoxy without breaking unity with Rome. He noted that “the Constantinople Mother-Church keeps the door open for all its sons and daughters.” According to the Orthodox hierarch, the form of coexistence of the Byzantine Church and the Roman Church in the 1st century [millennium ?] of Christianity should be used as a model of unity. This story was posted by KATH.net on 16 June 2008.At the same time, the patriarch made... Religious Information Service of Ukraine http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2033505/posts#comment Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:29:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2027571/posts Real Presence or Substantial Transformation? An Anglican Reflection on Eucharistic Theology:or The Anglican Reformers on the Eucharist chalice The starting point for this reflection on eucharistic theology is a helpful article by the late Roman Catholic theologian Edward J. Kilmartin, S.J., “The Active Role of Christ and the Holy Spirit in the Sanctification of the Eucharistic Elements,“ Theological Studies 45 (1984): 225-253.(1) Kilmartin’s article begins by examining numerous ecumenical agreed statements on eucharistic theology prepared by Roman Catholics and Lutherans, Roman Catholics and Anglicans, Roman Catholics and Reformed, Roman Catholics and Orthodox. Kilmartin notes that although all of the statements... willgwitt.org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2027571/posts#comment Sat, 7 Jun 2008 14:55:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2023670/posts Vatican City, May 30, 2008 / 10:09 am (CNA).- During his visit to Russia, Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity met with Holiness Alexis II, Patriarch of Moscow, and delivered a message from the Holy Father.  In his letter, Pope Benedict highlighted the similarities of the two Christian religions and expressed gratitude for the dialogue between the two churches.The Pope writes that Cardinal Kasper’s visit to Russia provides a timely opportunity for the Pontiff to extend his greetings to the Russian Orthodox Church, “to express my esteem for your ministry in the Russian Orthodox... CNA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2023670/posts#comment Fri, 30 May 2008 19:55:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2023158/posts KAZAN, May 27 (Itar-Tass) - Vatican Cardinal Walter Casper begins an unofficial visit to Kazan on Tuesday. Alexander Pavlov, press secretary of the Kazan bishopric, has told Itar-Tass, "The high-ranking official of the Vatican has headed the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity for many years. The guests is to have a conversation on the subject during a meeting with Archbishop Anastasiy of Kazan and Tatarstan". The Vatican envoy is to tour the restored Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of the Monastery of the Mother of God. The monastery was founded in 1578 in honour... Tass http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2023158/posts#comment Thu, 29 May 2008 20:23:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2022270/posts Timisoara, May. 27, 2008 (CWNews.com) - A Romanian Orthodox bishop has shared Communion with Catholics, causing a sensation in a country where Byzantine Catholics and Orthodox have a history of tense relations. At the consecration of the Queen of Peace parish church in Timisoara on May 25, Orthodox Metropolitan Nicolae Corneanu of Banat asked to share Communion. The Orthodox metropolitan approached the altar and received the Eucharist from his own hand. Romanian Catholic Bishop Alexandru Mesian of Lugoj was the celebrant of the Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine Catholic church; Archbishop Francisco-Javier Lozano, the apostolic nuncio to Romania, was also... Catholic World News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2022270/posts#comment Wed, 28 May 2008 03:03:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2021394/posts O God, by whose mercy the faithful departed find rest, look kindly on your departed veterans who gave their lives in the service of their country. Grant that through the passion, death, and resurrection of your Son they may share in the joy of your heavenly kingdom and rejoice in you with your saints forever. We ask this through Christ our Lord. UCCB http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2021394/posts#comment Mon, 26 May 2008 12:43:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2020660/posts Doctrines RomanCatholic EasternOrthodox Anglican/Episcopal UnitedMethodist Lutheran Reformed/Presbyterians Southern Baptist Trinitarian Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Apostolic Succession Y Y Y     N N Roman Papal Infallibility Y N N N N N N Immaculate Conception of Mary Y N N N N N N Assumption of Mary Y Y N     N N Purgatory Y N N N N N N Celibacy of the Clergy Y Higher only N N   N N Infant Baptism Y Y, Triune  Y     Y N Transubstantiation Y N N N N N N Consubstantiation N Y Some... BibleFacts.org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2020660/posts#comment Sat, 24 May 2008 12:35:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2020142/posts VATICAN CITY, MAY 22, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Aid to the Church in Need is helping to foster ties between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches, said two Vatican officials. In separate meetings last week with leaders of the Germany-based organization, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Benedict XVI's secretary of state, and Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, expressed their appreciation for the work. Cardinal Bertone stressed the Holy See's commitment to nourishing unity between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. In the context of this commitment, he said the aid organization is a "focus of closer... ZNA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2020142/posts#comment Fri, 23 May 2008 10:49:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2019911/posts VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Walter Kasper left for Moscow today to take a message from Benedict XVI to Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia. Cardinal Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, will be in Russia through May 30. The trip was undertaken at the invitation of Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, the president of the Department of External Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, reported the pontifical council. The program of the visit includes an inaugural celebration for the feast of Corpus Christi at the Catholic cathedral of the Archdiocese... ZNA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2019911/posts#comment Thu, 22 May 2008 22:12:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2018705/posts What are your favorite books of the Bible? What Old Testament Book do you find yourself reading more than any other? Where do you go for illumination in the New Testament? My favorite books of the Old Testament are probably Exodus and Isaiah. In the New, I like the two books attributed to St. Luke---his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. John's Gospel is also very illuminating. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2018705/posts#comment Tue, 20 May 2008 16:59:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2013979/posts WASHINGTON (AFP) — A US watchdog on religious freedom on Friday expressed serious concern over violations in strife-torn Iraq and was considering whether to place the ally of Washington on a blacklist with countries such as North Korea and Iran. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom said in a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that it was “seriously concerned” about religious freedom conditions in Iraq, where widespread persecution of Christians has been reported. The 10-member commission last year placed Iraq on its “watchlist” but its members were now divided on whether it should be maintained in... Ankawa.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2013979/posts#comment Sat, 10 May 2008 11:23:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2013740/posts Vatican City, May 9, 2008 / 10:05 am (CNA).- The Holy Father and His Holiness Karekin II, the leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church, met privately at the Vatican this morning and then went on to pray the Midday Liturgy of the Hours with the Armenians delegation. The Holy Spirit, the Pope encouraged in his remarks to the group, can work miracles to bring about unity between Christians if we are open to Him. The group of 75 Armenian faithful and 18 bishops gathered in the Clementine Hall with their patriarch to celebrate Midday Prayer, while the Holy Father... CNA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2013740/posts#comment Fri, 9 May 2008 20:19:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2012989/posts VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Armenia's Orthodox leader on Wednesday used the pulpit of the Vatican to condemn the 1915 killing of 1.5 million ethnic Armenians by Ottoman Turks, saying the whole world should recognise it as a genocide. "We Armenians are a people who have survived genocide, and we know well the value of love, brotherhood, friendship and a secure life," Karekin II said in a public address during Pope Benedict's general audience in St. Peter's Square. "Today, many countries of the world recognise and condemn the genocide committed against the Armenian people by Ottoman Turkey ..." the head of... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2012989/posts#comment Thu, 8 May 2008 13:30:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2012819/posts VATICAN CITY, 7 MAY 2008 (VIS) - In the general audience, held this morning in St. Peter's Square in the presence of 20,000 faithful, the Holy Father used the occasion of the visit to Rome of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians, to focus his remarks on ecumenical dialogue. The Patriarch, who was present at the audience, also made a brief address in which he reflected on the same theme, also dwelling upon the history of the Armenian people. Greeting the Patriarch in English, Benedict XVI referred to the statue of St. Gregory the Illuminator,... VIS http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2012819/posts#comment Thu, 8 May 2008 02:57:49 GMT