Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36 (Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra,Valery Gergiev) - YouTube - Salle Pleyel Concert Hall,Paris

Panorthodox Synod : CONFERENCE ON THE RECEPTION OF ECUMENICAL DIALOGUES

Panorthodox Synod : CONFERENCE ON THE RECEPTION OF ECUMENICAL DIALOGUE...: Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity From 22 to 24 March an ecumenical conference entitled "Ecumenical Dialogue and the Life of the...

Excerpts from Great Lent by Alexander Schmemann,a Russian emigre who was educated at the St.Serge Institute in Paris and a theologian of the Orthodox Church in America

Excerpts from Great Lent

Orthodoxy in France:New Russian Orthodox Cathedral Draws Large Crowds

At least 12,000 people visited the new  Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Cultural Centre on Branly Quai in Paris over the weekend.Recommended by leading publications Le Monde and Figaro,legions of Parisians and tourists stood in line for hours for a guided tour by the clergy and staff of the complex,which was built from 2014-16 and opened on 9 October 2016.The Cultural Centre features exhibit space,parish facilities,a Russian/French day school for 150 pupils and a seminary.*
The prevailing opinion of the visitors was positive,seeing the cathedral as being a welcome addition to the cultural resources of the area.The cathedral has an iconostas;but its white interior walls have yet to be written with iconography.The exterior is a tasteful blend of traditional and contemporary styles,topped by the customary golden onion domes.*
The weekend tours were part of the annual Days of National Heritage in Paris.A similar Russian Orthodox church/cultural centre complex has recently opened in Strasbourg,France.The Church of All Saints is the first Eastern Orthodox church in that city,and was topped by a three-bar cross on 2 July 2017.*
The Handbook of the Orthodox Church in France says there are 500,000 Orthodox Christians in France.Many Romanian and Russian emigres and workers have swelled the ranks in recent years.There are 278 parishes,21 monasteries and three seminaries overseen by 10 bishops,and served by 330 priests and deacons.The Romanian Orthodox Church has the most parishes in France (91).

BNP Paribas Forecasts 2010

Brian Fabri,Chief Economist at global bank BNP Paribas,says the U.S. economy still needs help,and that is why Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will keep interest rates low.By Q3 2010,there could be nasty surprises in the economy.Banks still are gonna be writing off more bad debt.Commercial real estate will cause more losses for banks.State and local governments will be insolvent,probably needing more federal aid.I think we go from 3% growth to 1.5% about the middle of next year.There are significant head winds,a number of little factors.In 2010,liquidity stops growing.It could create another flight to safe dollar/Treasury move.We will return to reality from the golden handshake.We will back away from risk-taking about the middle of next year,Brian Fabri predicted.
The economic research department of BNP Paribas is a worldwide function grouping together economists based in Paris,New York,London and Tokyo.BNP Paribas has 202,300 employees in 83 countries.Its three core businesses are Retail Banking,Corporate Investment Banking and Investment Solutions.It was named 2008 Global Banker of the Year by The Banker magazine.

Tax Havens Disappearing

The number of tax havens in the world is diminishing under mounting international pressure.Longtime havens in Switzerland and Liechtenstein have been joined by four more nations recently in a pledge to adhere to more open banking practices.Malaysia,Costa Rica,Uruguay and the Philippines have accepted information exchange standards,according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.Angel Gurria,Secretary General of the OECD,announced that the new countries intend to offer authorizing legislation for the standards sometime this year.The old tax haven concept is seen as hindering the ability of nations to deal with crises by depriving them of revenue that is justly theirs.It may also be cloaking activities that contributed to the financial crisis.The OECD is based in Paris.Founded in 1960,it seeks the welfare of its 29 developed member states,and fosters aid to emerging markets.It is also a major source of economic and environmental data.