News

The Orthodox Church in Pakistan

The Orthodox Church in Pakistan

History of the Orthodox Mission in Pakistan Fr. John Tanveer was born into a Roman Catholic family in Hafizabad, Pakistan in 1952, the third of six children. His zealousness for the faith and thirst for learning led him to enroll in the seminary, and in 1986 he was ordained a Roman Catholic priest. For the [...]

Singapore: World’s fastest walkers

Singapore: World’s fastest walkers

Pedestrians all over the world are moving faster than a decade ago, according to scientists who have conducted a study into the pace at which people walk.

Psychologists say walking speeds have increased by an average of 10 percent in the past 10 years.

People in the greatest [...]

Hopes raised for churches’ unification

Hopes raised for churches’ unification

Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I, the only Orthodox Church representative at the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, said they hoped that the barriers preventing the unity of the Eastern and Western Churches could be eliminated.

The 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, in which important decisions were made [...]

Overseas News

Argentina’s Jorge Mario Bergoglio elected Pope

Argentina’s Jorge Mario Bergoglio elected Pope

Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has greeted crowds in Rome’s St Peter’s Square after his election as the Catholic Church’s new Pope.

Appearing on a balcony over the square, he asked the faithful to pray for him. Cheers erupted as he gave a blessing.

The first Latin American [...]

2012 was in top 10 warmest on record

2012 was in top 10 warmest on record

US scientists say that 2012 was among the 10 warmest years the world has experienced since 1880.

Nasa researchers said it was the ninth warmest year while experts from another American agency said it was the tenth.

Both teams said that temperatures would have been higher if it [...]

British Airways Check-In Clerk finally wins her court battle over right to wear a cross

British Airways Check-In Clerk finally wins her court battle over right to wear a cross

Daily Mail, January 16

by Stephen Doughty and Davis Wilkes

British Airways check-in clerk Nadia Eweida triumphed over the airline yesterday after a six-year battle to wear her cross at work.

Her right to profess her religious belief should have trumped the airline’s powers to mould its [...]

Ecumenical Patriarchate

Patriarchal Encyclical for Holy Pascha 2013

Patriarchal Encyclical for Holy Pascha 2013

Patriarchal Encyclical For Holy Pascha 2013

 

Prot. No. 388

 

† BARTHOLOMEW

By God’s mercy

Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch

To the plenitude of the Church

Grace, peace and mercy from Christ risen in glory

2013 Catechetical Homily of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for the Beginning of Great Lent

2013 Catechetical Homily of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for the Beginning of Great Lent

† B A R T H O L O M E W

 

By the Mercy of God Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome

and Ecumenical Patriarch

 

To the Plenitude of the Church

Grace and Peace be with you from our Lord [...]

Statement by His All-Holiness at the Announcement of the Retirement of Benedict XVI, Pope of Rome

Statement by His All-Holiness at the Announcement of the Retirement of Benedict XVI, Pope of Rome

Upon being informed on the way to his native island of Imvros of the imminent retirement of Pope Benedict from the Petrine ministry on the Throne of Rome, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew issued a formal declaration and personal statement to the media, responding with sadness to the news. His All-Holiness closely cooperated with Pope [...]

Faith

Bright Friday: The Feast of the Mother of God the Life-Giving Spring

Bright Friday: The Feast of the Mother of God the Life-Giving Spring

One of the most famous shrines of Constantinople, the Zoodochos Pege, is located outside the land walls to the west of the city, at the site now known as Balikli. Two versions of a very old tradition provide information on the origins of this ancient shrine.

 According to the first, related [...]

The Holy Martyr Christopher of Lycea (May 9)

The Holy Martyr Christopher of Lycea (May 9)

The Holy Martyr Christopher lived during the third century and suffered about the year 250, during the reign of the emperor Decius (249-251).

St Christopher was a man of great stature and unusual strength.

He was at first named Reprobus. Seeing the Christians persecuted, he rebuked the tyrants for [...]

The “Manna” of Saint John the Theologian

The “Manna” of Saint John the Theologian

“The feast day of this great apostle and evangelist is celebrated on September 26. This day (May 8) commemorates the miracle which appeared at his grave. When John was over one hundred years old, he took seven of his disciples, went outside the town of Ephesus and ordered them to dig a grave [...]

Articles

A Brief Comment on the Icon of the Resurrection

A Brief Comment on the Icon of the Resurrection

We shall try here to point out the main features of the Orthodox icon which is entitled “The Descent into Hell”. The first thing to note is that it is entirely different from the Western-style depiction, which shows Christ emerging triumphantly from the tomb, holding a little flag. The astonished guards have fallen [...]

The First and Second Resurrection

The First and Second Resurrection

The Resurrection of Christ, which we festively celebrate after several days of fasting, repentance and prayer, is the central mystery of faith and the life in Christ. Without the Resurrection of Christ we would be under the power of death, sin and the devil and there would be no way out of life. That’s why [...]

The Mystery of the Tomb of Christ

The Mystery of the Tomb of Christ

The Despotic Feasts were established by the Church to be celebrated within the year for us to remember the great events that took place with the Incarnation, the Passion and the Resurrection of Christ, but especially, and above all, to experience the mystery of Christ and the mystery of our regeneration. This is [...]

South Asia News

Pakistan rain and storms kill dozens

Pakistan rain and storms kill dozens

At least 32 people have been killed and dozens more injured after three days of heavy rain and storms in Pakistan, officials say.

Most of the deaths were in the north of the country, where roofs caved in and houses collapsed, killing several children.

Six members of one [...]

Deaths of pygmy elephants sparks concern in Malaysia

Deaths of pygmy elephants sparks concern in Malaysia

A forlorn and frightened pygmy elephant calf, reaching out its trunk to touch its dead mother.

That’s the heartbreaking scene local authorities came across recently as they patrolled the Gunung Rara Forest Reserve in northeastern Borneo.

The mother was one of 14 elephants, the latest one discovered Thursday, found dead over the past few weeks [...]

Cemetery as battleground for ‘soul of Singapore’

Cemetery as battleground for ‘soul of Singapore’

Millie Phuah arrived at Singapore’s Bukit Brown cemetery on a humid morning, armed with a rake and gloves to clear fallen branches and decaying leaves from her ancestors’ graves.

“I’ve got my great-grandparents on this side … and my grand-uncle will be on this side,” she said, pointing in opposite directions. [...]

Other Recent Posts

Bright Friday: The Feast of the Mother of God the Life-Giving Spring

Bright Friday: The Feast of the Mother of God the Life-Giving Spring

| 13/05/2013 | 0 Comments

One of the most famous shrines of Constantinople, the Zoodochos Pege, is located outside the land walls to the west of the city, at the site now known as Balikli. Two versions of a very old tradition provide information on the origins of this ancient shrine.

 According to the first, related [...]

Continue Reading

The Holy Martyr Christopher of Lycea (May 9)

The Holy Martyr Christopher of Lycea (May 9)

| 13/05/2013 | 0 Comments

The Holy Martyr Christopher lived during the third century and suffered about the year 250, during the reign of the emperor Decius (249-251).

St Christopher was a man of great stature and unusual strength.

He was at first named Reprobus. Seeing the Christians persecuted, he rebuked the tyrants for [...]

Continue Reading

The “Manna” of Saint John the Theologian

The “Manna” of Saint John the Theologian

| 13/05/2013 | 0 Comments

“The feast day of this great apostle and evangelist is celebrated on September 26. This day (May 8) commemorates the miracle which appeared at his grave. When John was over one hundred years old, he took seven of his disciples, went outside the town of Ephesus and ordered them to dig a grave [...]

Continue Reading

A Brief Comment on the Icon of the Resurrection

A Brief Comment on the Icon of the Resurrection

| 13/05/2013 | 0 Comments

We shall try here to point out the main features of the Orthodox icon which is entitled “The Descent into Hell”. The first thing to note is that it is entirely different from the Western-style depiction, which shows Christ emerging triumphantly from the tomb, holding a little flag. The astonished guards have fallen [...]

Continue Reading

From Pascha to Pentecost

From Pascha to Pentecost

| 13/05/2013 | 0 Comments

By Protopresbyter Dr. George D. Dragas

1. The Pentecostal Period. The word, Pentecost means “the fiftieth” and is used to designate the great event of the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Epiphoitesis) upon the Apostles and the Church on the 50th day after the Resurrection of Christ, just ten days after [...]

Continue Reading

The First and Second Resurrection

The First and Second Resurrection

| 13/05/2013 | 0 Comments

The Resurrection of Christ, which we festively celebrate after several days of fasting, repentance and prayer, is the central mystery of faith and the life in Christ. Without the Resurrection of Christ we would be under the power of death, sin and the devil and there would be no way out of life. That’s why [...]

Continue Reading