Lavrov Sez Ukrainian Nationalist Extremists Persecute Christians

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In Genève, Minister of Foreign Affairs S V Lavrov said, “Christians face persecution not only in the Middle East, but also in the Ukraine, where fratricidal war broke out in the wake of an anti-constitutional coup, as extremist nationalists stoked up sectarian strife”. Lavrov stated that extremists destroy Orthodox churches and monasteries, subjecting priests and believers to intimidation and harassment. In Novorossiya alone, they destroyed ten churches to the foundations and damaged another 77. He said, “They killed three Orthodox priests, and many more fled to Russia to escape extremist threats”.

He also said that we have to halt the exodus of Christians from the Middle East, noting that this might have “the most negative consequence in terms of its impact on the structure of Arab societies, and on our preservation of the historical and spiritual heritage of all mankind”. Lavrov noted that the crimes of ISIS and other extremist groups against Middle Eastern Christians have “all the signs of genocide. Entire cities, such as Mosul, completely lost their traditional Christian presence. In ISIS-controlled territory, jihadists commit terrible crimes, their obscurantism leads to violence… they kill Christians, including priests, burn them alive, sell them into slavery, plunder them, expel them from their native places, and use them as hostages”. Lavrov pointed up the situation in Syria, which was an exemplary model of peaceful and mutually respectful coexistence between different religious communities, “but that way of life is under threat as a result of the actions of extremist forces used [by the West] to fight against Bashar al-Assad’s government”.

3 March 2015

Interfax-Religion

http://interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=58029

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RT Presents… Orthodox Christmas Celebrations in Russia and Abroad

Patriarch Kirill Gundyaev of Moscow and all the Russias gave the traditional Christmas address to believers at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow (Federal City of Moscow. Central Federal District) RF on 6 January

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Believers gathered for Christmas Eve services at the Church of the Nativity in Krasnoyarsk (Krasnoyarsk Krai. Siberian Federal District) RF

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Christmas Day in Russia marks the birth of Jesus Christ according to Orthodox Christian Orthodox tradition

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Serbian believers took part in a ceremonial burning of the badnjak (dried oak branches), a Yule log symbol for Orthodox Christmas Eve, in front of a church in Smederevo, some 60 kilometres east of Belgrade, on 6 January 2015

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The vast majority of people in Georgia are Orthodox Christians. Early on 7 January, Georgian Orthodox believers went to Christmas services at Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi

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Songs play an important role in Christmas traditions, and Georgian Christmas carols have a spirit of beauty and dignity

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Christmas is a major holy day in the Orthodox world; in Cairo, Coptic Pope Tawadros blessed the communion bread during Christmas Eve services at St Mark Cathedral, the seat of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate

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The total number of Orthodox Christians around the world is about 300 million… Bosnian Serb Orthodox Hieromonk Andrej Kovacevic prayed on the eve of Orthodox Christmas in Sokolica Church, in Ravna Romanija, on 6 January 2015

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Greek Orthodox clergy waiting for the arrival of the Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem Metropolitan Theophilos before the Eastern Orthodox Christmas procession outside the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, 6 January 2015

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7 January 2015

RT

http://rt.com/in-vision/christmas/

Lavrov Proposes Conference on Christianophobia… He Sez Russia Looks After the Interests of Christians in the World

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After meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić, Foreign Minister S V Lavrov said that Russia offered to host a conference next year to combat Christianophobia, saying, “In the coming year, we propose to organise a conference to combat Christianophobia within and through a series of meetings, similar to those which took place this year on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia”.

19 December 2014

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At a meeting with His Holiness Pope and Patriarch Tawadros Sulaymān of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, Foreign Minister S V Lavrov stated that one of the Russian Federation’s main foreign policy objectives was to see that no one limited the rights of Christians, saying, “Relations between our churches go deep into history and became one of the foundations for the development of relations between Russia and the Middle East and North Africa. This is our common heritage… however, in re culture and history, the present and future of this region is alarming”. Lavrov noted that Russia appreciates Patriarch Tawadros’ contribution to efforts to prevent a disaster in the region and to his work in preserving inter-religious peace, saying, “We’re delighted to hear your assessment of the political efforts to calm the situation in the Middle East and North Africa. One of our foreign policy objectives is to see to it that no one limits the rights of Christians”. In turn, Patriarch Tawadros observed that he long dreamed of visiting Russia, as he had read Russian theology and literature, saying, “I learned a lot from Orthodox theology, Russian literature, and fairy tales. I’m grateful for Russian leadership in supporting Egypt”. At the same time, he said that the situation of Christians in some Middle Eastern countries is dire, pointing up, “Some groups use violence against the people. Christians are victims of violence in these countries. However, the situation in Egypt changed significantly for the better after 30 June”.

29 October 2014

ITAR-TASS

http://itar-tass.com/politika/1659495

Read more:      

Oppression of Christians in the Middle East

Editor:

Russia stands up for oppressed Christians… the USA stands up for oppressors… whether they’re Saudi Wahhabis, Afghan semi-Talibans, or Ukrainian Uniate murderers; it stands for those who oppress and kill confessing Christians. Fancy that… that puts the bloviations of Marie Harf and Jen Psaki in a new light and it shows Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz up as consummate hypocrites and poseurs. Never trust an “Evangelical” or those who associate with them… one of our bishops called them “Christian atheists”… that’s so true! I’ve never seen a group more grasping and impious… whilst they mouthed pietistic platitudes with ingratiating smiles on their faces! None dare call it deceit… the Devil isn’t called the Father of Lies for nought.

BMD

Coptic Pope and Patriarch Tawadros Arrives in Moscow

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His Holiness Pope and Patriarch Tawadros Sulaymān, 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of all Africa of the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark, accompanied by a patriarchal delegation, arrived in Russia on 28 October 2014 ahead of a historic visit. HH Pope Tawadros will visit His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Gundyaev of Moscow and all the Russias on 29 October 2014, marking 26 years since the visit of the previous Pope of Alexandria, His Holiness the late Pope Shenouda who participated in the celebration of the Millennium of the Christianisation of Russia and the baptism of St Vladimir. His Holiness was met at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport by Metropolitan Ilarion Alfeyev of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the MP Synodal Department for External Church Relations in Moscow and His Excellency Dr Mahmoud El-Badry, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Russian Federation, as well as Their Graces Bishop Kyrillos of Milan, Papal Exarch in Europe, and Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK. a delegation comprising Metropolitan Bishoy of Damietta and Their Graces: Bishop Raphael, General Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church and Bishop Serapion of Los Angeles and Papal secretary Father Angelos Ishak and official spokesman of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Fr Boules Haleem accompanied Pope Tawadros.

From Moscow, Bishop Angaelos said:

“This fraternal visit is important because it marks the first visit of a Coptic Pope to Russia in 26 years and marks and demonstrates the depth of relationship between our two Churches and the many commonalities we share in our heritage and experience”. There’ll be a reception for Pope Tawadros at the Egyptian Embassy on the evening of 28 October 2014, and he’ll undertake various official visits and pastoral engagements throughout the duration of his stay.

28 October 2014

The Coptic Orthodox Church Centre UK

http://copticcentre.blogspot.com/2014/10/press-release-his-holiness-pope.html

click here and here for the patriarchia.ru coverage

Editor:

I asked a friend at the Centre why HH didn’t meet Pope Tawadros. He said:

That’s ticklish. We’re not in communion, and if His Holiness were to meet Pope Tawadros at the airport, it’d imply that there was something important up regarding the solving of our problems. Happily, Pope Tawadros is meeting His Holiness, and we plan to cover it fully on patriarchia.ru. He’ll attend services, but he won’t serve. That’s sad… but that’s what the circumstances dictate. It’s a happy event.

In short, HH is feeling his oats and showing everyone (especially, Bart) that HE and NOT Bart is the Big Kahuna of the Orthodox World.

BMD