Pope Francisco Spoke Against Encroachments on Integrity of Russian Church

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On Thursday, Pope Francisco Bergoglio said at a meeting with a group of Russian clergy that the Roman Catholic Church is in favour of the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church in the wake of Ukrainian President P A Poroshenko’s plan to institute an independent local [national] Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Ilarion Alfeyev, the chief of the MP OVTsS, led the group visiting the Vatican. The Pope of Rome said:

I want to confirm most of all in front of you, dear brother, and before you, that the Catholic Church will never allow an attitude of division to be born on its own. We’ll never allow it; we don’t want it. In Russia, there is only one Patriarch, yours. We won’t have another. Unification as a method isn’t acceptable in relations between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christians at the current stage and only a sisterly dialogue between these two denominations of Christianity is possible. The Catholic Church, the Catholic Churches, shouldn’t interfere in the internal affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church, not even in political matters. This is my position and the position of the Holy See today. Those who meddle don’t obey the Holy See.

At the end of April, the Verkhovnaya Rada supported President Poroshenko’s appeal to Patriarch Bartholomew Archontonis of Constantinople, who has the titular status of “first amongst equals” in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. He asked Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to grant autocephaly to a “united” Orthodox Church in the Ukraine. The global Orthodox Christian community recognises only one canonical Orthodox community in the Ukraine… the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of to Moscow Patriarchate. Operating simultaneously are another two bodies, unrecognised by global Orthodoxy… the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of to the so-called Kiev Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.

In the meantime, experts and analysts say that Poroshenko’s aspirations received substantial backing from the so-called Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (Eastern Catholic Church of the Byzantine Rite), which is under the Vatican. Earlier this month, Metropolitan Ilarion told NTV that Archbishop (sic) Svyatoslav Shevchuk, the leader of the Ukrainian Uniates “repeatedly stated his support of the project for a unified Local Ukrainian Orthodox Church, while saying that the unity of this Church should be built on the successor of St Peter, that is, the Pope of Rome”.

31 May 2018

TASS

http://tass.com/society/1007457

Editor:

Francisco is telling the Uniates to cool it. However, they’re refusing to obey him. They’ve taken the CIA’s shilling for years; they more listen to Washington than to Rome. The Uniates don’t care what Francisco wants… their leadership are fanatics, as is the leadership of the so-called “Ukrainian Orthodox”. Ukrainian nationalists are evil… they push an agenda mired in falsehood and lies. The Habsburgs sicced these nutters on the world… the Austro-Hungarians have the blame for starting this kerfuffle (they wanted to weaken Russia… it led to their death camp at Thalerhof). Don’t forget, the Uniates blessed the SS, as did the so-called “Ukrainian Orthodox”. They’re unrepentant of that… hell, they’re proud of it! Ponder that… ponder it well…

BMD

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A Statement Issued by the Greek Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, and Greek-Melkite Catholic Patriarchates of Antioch on the Recent American Aggression in Syria

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God is with us; Understand all ye nations and submit yourselves!

We condemn and denounce the brutal aggression that took place this morning against our precious country Syria by the USA, France, and the UK, under allegations that the Syrian government used chemical weapons. We raise our voices to affirm the following:

• This brutal aggression is a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter, as it’s an unjustified assault on a sovereign country, member of the UN.
• It causes us great pain that this assault comes from powerful countries to which Syria didn’t cause any harm in any way.
• The allegation of the USA and other countries that the Syrian Arab Army uses chemical weapons and that Syria owns and uses this kind of weapon is an unjustified claim unsupported by sufficient and clear evidence.
• The timing of this unjustified aggression against Syria, when an independent International Commission for Inquiry was about to start work in Syria, undermines the work of this commission.
• This brutal aggression destroys the chances for a peaceful political solution and leads to escalation and more complications.
• This unjust aggression encourages terrorist organisations and gives them momentum to continue their terrorism.
• We call upon the UN Security Council to play its role in bringing peace rather than contribute to an escalation of the war.
• We call upon all churches in the countries that participated in the aggression to fulfil their Christian duties according to the teachings of the Gospel, to condemn this aggression, to call their governments to commit to the protection of international peace.
• We salute the courage, heroism, and sacrifices of the Syrian Arab Army, which courageously protects Syria and provide security for its people. We pray for the souls of the martyrs and the recovery of the wounded. We’re confident that the army won’t bow before external or internal terrorist aggressions; they’ll continue to fight courageously against terrorism until they cleanse every inch of the Syrian land from terrorism. We, likewise, commend the brave stand of countries friendly to Syria and its people.

We offer our prayers for the safety, victory, and deliverance of Syria from all kinds of wars and terrorism. We also pray for peace in Syria and throughout the world, and call for strengthening the efforts of the national reconciliation for the sake of protecting the country and preserving the dignity of all Syrians.

+ Greek Orthodox Patriarch Youhanna al-Yazigi of Antioch and all the East

+ Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem of Antioch and all the East

+ Melkite-Greek Catholic Patriarch Joseph Absi of Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem

Damascus

Syrian Arab Republic

14 April 2018

Patriarch Kirill: Russia Helped to Protect Christians in Syria

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Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia said in his Christmas interview with Rossiya-1 TV:

Operations of Russia’s Aerospace Forces in Syria helped to protect the Christian minority from persecution and killings. Besides solving some issues linked to stabilising the situation, preventing military threats, and preventing the takeover of power by terrorists, a very important part of Russia’s participation was to protect the Christian minority. Thanks to Russia’s participation, we thwarted genocide of Christians. If Islamist forces had maintained their influence and activity, the situation in Syria would’ve repeated the Iraqi scenario after the toppling of Saddam Hussein.

During Hussein’s rule, I visited Iraq and its northern areas, and I was in Mosul. I visited ancient Christian monasteries. I saw this pietism of people and was glad that Christian churches peacefully existed in a Muslim environment. Now, almost nothing is left. The monasteries were destroyed, the churches were blown up, and 85 percent of Christians were either eliminated or expelled from Iraq. This could’ve happened in Syria. Both the Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church will continue efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Syrians. We also have bilateral agreements with the Catholic Church to provide humanitarian assistance together. There are different areas in which we’re acting. I hope they’d make their contribution to providing real assistance to those who still suffer in Syria.

7 January 2018

TASS

http://tass.com/society/984135

Editor:

Note well that Iraqi Christians were safe until the USA imported “democracy” and empowered Islamists (whom the Anglos used to destabilise the situation). What does this tell you about Evangelical sectarians and their loud yelps of “Christianity?” I’d say that it proves that Born-Agains aren’t Christians at all… I do daresay that I’m not alone in thinking that way.

BMD

24 November 2017. HH Shows Us How to Treat With Anglicans… Fie on All Konvertsy and Their Noxious Hatred

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HH met with Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, at the Danilov Monastery. Let the above image prove to you that the loud bloviations from the konvertsy about Anglicans are pure bullshit. Many of them are ex-Anglican disgrunts… therefore, much of their blather is more hatred of former personal enemies in the Anglican ranks than it’s objective opposition to Anglicanism. Indeed, the relations between Orthodox and Anglicans have always been cordial, they didn’t start getting acrimonious until former Prods streamed into our clergy (and our bishops were unwise enough to let them in).

You may follow the konvertsy or you may follow HH. As for me, it’s no contest… HH is still uncontested champ… and the konvertsy are still clueless wimps. Keep it focused… the times aren’t good…

BMD