Word has been received of the passing of His Eminence Metropolitan Ignatios (Lappas) of Larissa and Tyrnavos,Greece .He died of a heart attack during liver transplant surgery on 26 June 2018 in Miami,Florida.He was 72.
Born in Salamina,Greece on the island of Salamis,the largest of the Saronic Islands,just 16 kilometers west of Athens,he was fatherless from an early age and endured crushing poverty;yet he rose from distressing origins to a high position within the Church of Greece.It was,as the title of his autobiography put it,"Like a Fairy Tale."*
Educated at the University of Athens,he began his studies as a student of law,then transferred to Theology.Meteorically,Metropolitan Ignatios was tonsured a monk on 17 January 1976;ordained a deacon on 22 January,and then a priest on 25 January of the same year.From 1976-94,he served in his hometown of Salamina and edited the youth magazine "The Talent."
His Eminence was consecrated to the episcopacy on 28 May 1994 and enthroned as Metropolitan of Larissa,capital of the Thessaly region,on 28 July of that year.*
On 6 June 2014 he was awarded the honourary title of Grand Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine for his genuine love and support of the Jerusalem Patriarchate,which he expressed by his pilgrimages to the Holy Places accompanied by priests and laity from his Metropolis.*
In October of 2016,Metropolitan Ignatios,who was chairman of the Holy Synod's committee on heresy,chaired the 28th Pan-Orthodox Conference on Heresies and Para-Religions in Agrinio,Greece,which was entitled "Heretical and Occult Ideas of the Human Being and Human Rights."The conference was attended by more than a hundred representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches,including the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Moscow Patriarchate.It focused on false beliefs of such groups as the Mormons,Jehovah's Witnesses and Christian Scientists,especially distorted anthropology.The final document concluded that:
Anthropological deviations from the Orthodox teaching in many occult and heretical movements lead to negative consequences for individuals who profess them and for whole groups of people.
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Istanbul:Five-hour talks at the Phanar on the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Church
Five-hour talks at the Phanar on the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Church: A delegation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) met Saturday with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at his residence in Constantinople, where they held a five-hour meeting regarding the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Church. Four members of the Standing Holy Synod of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) went to the Phanar to discuss the initiatives made for the issuing of the tomos of autocephaly and to report the UOC stance on this matter. The Ukrainian Bishops presented the current situation of the church life in Ukraine to His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Participants in the meeting The UOC delegation included
Monday, June 25, 2018
24 June 2018 - Orthodox Mission in Africa:Greek Orthodoxy in Ghana (photos) - ΣΤΟΝ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟ ΑΜΠΕΛΩΝΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΦΡΙΚΗΣ: Греческая православная миссия. Респ. Гана
ΣΤΟΝ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟ ΑΜΠΕΛΩΝΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΦΡΙΚΗΣ: Греческая православная миссия. Респ. Гана: Anna Asamoah "Сегодня на службе Греческая православная миссия. Респ. Гана.24.06.18" https://www.facebook.com/anna...
Saturday, June 23, 2018
Friday, June 22, 2018
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
US Strategic Command:Space,Frontier and Front Line
US Air Force General John E. Hyten,Commander,US Strategic Command,gave the annual John Glenn Lecture at the Smithsonian National Air&Space Museum in Washington on 13 June 2018.Through its component commands,particularly US Air Force Space Command,STRATCOM leads the military effort to secure and sustain America's leadership in outer space.
General Hyten noted that:
When we have adversaries such as Russia and China that openly declare in their doctrine that they are going to build weapons to take away our space capabilities,we have to do something about it.So we're going to change.We're going to change the way we look at space.We're going to look at space,and we're going to define our future,and we're going to treat space as if it's a warfighting environment.There's no such thing as war in space;there's just war.
We have adversaries that are building weapons to take away our use of space,so we have to do something to prevent them from doing that.So we're going to build different systems;and different ways of doing business;and we're going to build operators that think about space as a warfighting domain;so that every adversary that looks at us will not try to contest us in that area,because,if they do,they'll realise that they'll lose.And that will prevent war from extending into space.We're taking measures so that any attack on our space architecture will be met in a manner,time and place of our choosing.That's what our current national security strategy says.We going to put a priority on building new capabilities to defend ourselves.Space superiority is not our birthright.Russia and China are both building weapons that are going to challenge us.*
This place pales in comparison to what we can actually do if we move out into space again.STRATCOM has kept the old Strategic Air Command's motto:"Peace is our profession.."There are two dots at the end of it.We do want peace;but we are ready if you cross the line.Because if you are ready,I do not think that they will ever cross that line.*
We have an amazing partnership with NASA.Both former director Charlie Bolden and new director Jim Bridenstine understand there's a critical role that we have to play,and we have to partner.How do we do that? If we don't treat space as a warfighting domain,war will move into space,and we won't be able to deal with it.The great news is that everybody's aligned on what we have to do to prevent that.That's the good news.I'm not going to tell you in this room exactly what we're doing,because that would kind of defeat the purpose;but just walk around this museum and you'll see all the things we're going to do,because it is the same problem we faced in the air a century ago,and now we have to figure out how to defend ourselves without creating debris.
You can't defend if everything's in the black;and we haven't decided as a nation.My job is to give input to that;but that will be a political decision for the President and Congress to together decide what is that going to be;and that will eventually show up in the budget,and the people will see it and talk about it,and then we'll go down that path.In all domains that we operate in,we will provide a strategic deterrent;and it starts with a nuclear capability,but it also involves space,and so we have to decide how we're going to deter in space,and that's why it's an important topic for conversation.*
Analysis:It's often conjectured that perhaps a lot of what we're planning in space warfighting is being tested on the Air Force's top secret space plane,the Boeing X-37B,which is a very long-duration flyer,staying up in space for years at a time.*
Boeing (BA)
General Hyten noted that:
When we have adversaries such as Russia and China that openly declare in their doctrine that they are going to build weapons to take away our space capabilities,we have to do something about it.So we're going to change.We're going to change the way we look at space.We're going to look at space,and we're going to define our future,and we're going to treat space as if it's a warfighting environment.There's no such thing as war in space;there's just war.
We have adversaries that are building weapons to take away our use of space,so we have to do something to prevent them from doing that.So we're going to build different systems;and different ways of doing business;and we're going to build operators that think about space as a warfighting domain;so that every adversary that looks at us will not try to contest us in that area,because,if they do,they'll realise that they'll lose.And that will prevent war from extending into space.We're taking measures so that any attack on our space architecture will be met in a manner,time and place of our choosing.That's what our current national security strategy says.We going to put a priority on building new capabilities to defend ourselves.Space superiority is not our birthright.Russia and China are both building weapons that are going to challenge us.*
This place pales in comparison to what we can actually do if we move out into space again.STRATCOM has kept the old Strategic Air Command's motto:"Peace is our profession.."There are two dots at the end of it.We do want peace;but we are ready if you cross the line.Because if you are ready,I do not think that they will ever cross that line.*
We have an amazing partnership with NASA.Both former director Charlie Bolden and new director Jim Bridenstine understand there's a critical role that we have to play,and we have to partner.How do we do that? If we don't treat space as a warfighting domain,war will move into space,and we won't be able to deal with it.The great news is that everybody's aligned on what we have to do to prevent that.That's the good news.I'm not going to tell you in this room exactly what we're doing,because that would kind of defeat the purpose;but just walk around this museum and you'll see all the things we're going to do,because it is the same problem we faced in the air a century ago,and now we have to figure out how to defend ourselves without creating debris.
You can't defend if everything's in the black;and we haven't decided as a nation.My job is to give input to that;but that will be a political decision for the President and Congress to together decide what is that going to be;and that will eventually show up in the budget,and the people will see it and talk about it,and then we'll go down that path.In all domains that we operate in,we will provide a strategic deterrent;and it starts with a nuclear capability,but it also involves space,and so we have to decide how we're going to deter in space,and that's why it's an important topic for conversation.*
Analysis:It's often conjectured that perhaps a lot of what we're planning in space warfighting is being tested on the Air Force's top secret space plane,the Boeing X-37B,which is a very long-duration flyer,staying up in space for years at a time.*
Boeing (BA)
Monday, June 18, 2018
"Healing Fear," a film about St.Luke the Surgeon,Archbishop of Simferopol in Crimea (+1961),in Russian with Greek subtitles (2013) - Παναγία Ιεροσολυμίτισσα : Ταινία «Θεραπεύοντας τον φόβο» 2013 Άγιος Λουκάς Σ...
Παναγία Ιεροσολυμίτισσα : Ταινία «Θεραπεύοντας τον φόβο» 2013 Άγιος Λουκάς Σ...: Παρακολουθήστε εδώ την ταινία «Θεραπεύοντας τον φόβο» (παραγωγή 2013) για τον Άγιο Λουκά Αρχιεπίσκοπο Συμφερουπόλεως και Κριμαίας τον ...
Friday, June 15, 2018
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Patriarch Bartholomew Makes Statement on Ukraine and Macedonia Issues - delegation consults Antioch and Serbia
On 11 June 2018,His All- Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople made remarks in the Patriarchal Church of St.George in Constantinople concerning the Patriarchate's responsibilities toward the uncanonical Orthodox Churches in Ukraine and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM):
The existence of a schism is not an argument in favour of leaving a whole nation outside the bounds of the Church's truth and canonicity with a pure conscience,denying our responsibility before God and history;but is rather an incentive for finding salvific and unifying solutions.When the Mother Church explores the paths of salvation for our brothers from Ukraine and Skopje (FYROM),it fulfills the apostolic duty.Our duty and responsibility is to bring these nations back to the truth and canonicity of the Church.Therefore what the Ecumenical Patriarchate has,it has for the benefit of the whole world,and offers it to all peoples without exception.Within this framework,inter-Christian dialogue is established,which carries out its work "in love and truth."*
Having visited the Church of Greece,as recounted in an earlier post by this blog,a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate continued its consultations with other autocephalous (independent) Orthodox Churches on the state of affairs in Ukraine and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).On 5 June 2018,the delegation consisting of His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France and His Eminence Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna (Izmir,Turkey) were received by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia in Belgrade.According to the Serbian Orthodox Church,His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel thanked the Patriarch for the cordial audience,during which a conversation about the current relations of the Local Orthodox Churches was held.
For his part,Patriarch Irinej expressed his gratitude to Metropolitan Emmanuel for the visit and his efforts to establish close ties between the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate.*
Also attending the audience from the Serbian Orthodox Church were His Grace Bishop Irinej of Backa and Father Deacon Aleksandar Prascevic,Head of the Office of the Patriarch.*
On 14 June 2018,His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East received Metropolitans Emmanuel and Bartholomew at the Patriarchate's Lebanon headquarters.Also attending the audience were His Eminence Metropolitan Basilios (Mansour) of Akkar and Dependencies and His Eminence Metropolitan Ephraim (Kyriakos) of Tripoli,al-Koura and Dependencies.
The audience addressed General Orthodox affairs and the Ukraine case,the Patriarchate of Antioch said.
The existence of a schism is not an argument in favour of leaving a whole nation outside the bounds of the Church's truth and canonicity with a pure conscience,denying our responsibility before God and history;but is rather an incentive for finding salvific and unifying solutions.When the Mother Church explores the paths of salvation for our brothers from Ukraine and Skopje (FYROM),it fulfills the apostolic duty.Our duty and responsibility is to bring these nations back to the truth and canonicity of the Church.Therefore what the Ecumenical Patriarchate has,it has for the benefit of the whole world,and offers it to all peoples without exception.Within this framework,inter-Christian dialogue is established,which carries out its work "in love and truth."*
Having visited the Church of Greece,as recounted in an earlier post by this blog,a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate continued its consultations with other autocephalous (independent) Orthodox Churches on the state of affairs in Ukraine and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).On 5 June 2018,the delegation consisting of His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France and His Eminence Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna (Izmir,Turkey) were received by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia in Belgrade.According to the Serbian Orthodox Church,His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel thanked the Patriarch for the cordial audience,during which a conversation about the current relations of the Local Orthodox Churches was held.
For his part,Patriarch Irinej expressed his gratitude to Metropolitan Emmanuel for the visit and his efforts to establish close ties between the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate.*
Also attending the audience from the Serbian Orthodox Church were His Grace Bishop Irinej of Backa and Father Deacon Aleksandar Prascevic,Head of the Office of the Patriarch.*
On 14 June 2018,His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East received Metropolitans Emmanuel and Bartholomew at the Patriarchate's Lebanon headquarters.Also attending the audience were His Eminence Metropolitan Basilios (Mansour) of Akkar and Dependencies and His Eminence Metropolitan Ephraim (Kyriakos) of Tripoli,al-Koura and Dependencies.
The audience addressed General Orthodox affairs and the Ukraine case,the Patriarchate of Antioch said.
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Friday, June 8, 2018
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Patriarch Bartholomew Gives Keynote Address at International Ecological Symposium
On 5 June 2018,His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew gave the keynote address at the International Ecological Symposium "Toward a Greener Attica:Preserving the Planet and Protecting its People" at the Acropolis Museum in Athens.The Symposium runs from 5-8 June in The Saronic Islands of Greece.Participating in the discussions are theologians,scientists,political and business leaders,and journalists worldwide.The aim of the Symposium is to explore the pressing environmental problems of the region and its lands;and to examine the connections between the ecology and economy-especially in the context of critical social and environmental challenges that we face today.*
Among those participating are:
Gayle Woloschak,Northwestern University;Juliet Eilperin,The Washington Post;Raj Patel,author and activist;His Eminence Metropolitan John of Pergamon (Ecumenical Patriarchate),eminent theologian;Constantine Triantafillou,International Orthodox Christian Charities;John Cardinal Olorunfemi Onaigekan,Roman Catholic Archbishop of Abuja,Nigeria;Rt.Rev. Marc Andrus,Episcopal Bishop,Diocese of California;Konstantina E. Botsiou,Associate Professor of Modern History and International Politics,University of the Pelopennese;Peter Bouteneff,St.Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary;Tamara Grdzelidze,Ambassador of the Republic of Georgia to the Holy See and the Sovereign Order of Malta;Sister Nectaria McLees,editor of Road to Emmaus:A Journal of Orthodox Faith and Culture,Serbian Orthodox nun;Marlise Simons,The New York Times; and Olav Fyske Tveit,General Secretary,World Council of Churches.*
Sponsors of the Symposium,besides the Ecumenical Patriarchate,include:
Holy Vatopedi Monastery,Mt.Athos,Greece;TITAN Company (Greece) S.A.;Southern New Hampshire University;IMERYS Industrial Minerals Greece S.A.;and Kyvernitis Travel S.A.*
Here are some of Patriarch Bartholomew's thoughts from his address:
The ecological crisis has revealed that our world constitutes a seamless whole,that our problems are universally shared.This means that no initiative or institution,no nation or corporation,neither science nor technology,are in a place to respond to the ecological crisis alone,without working closely together.*
The destruction of the natural environment can only be reversed through a radical change of our perspective towards nature that results from a radical change of our self-understanding as human beings.*
For the Orthodox Church,creation care-the preservation of nature and the protection of all people-emanates from the essence of our faith.Any kind of alienation between human beings and nature is a distortion of Christian theology and anthropology. *
May this symposium be an opportunity for inspiration,conversation and transformation.Our aim is to advance a collaborative response to the ecological crisis while advocating for a sustainable planet and socuial justice for humanity as a sacred legacy for all people,especially our children
Among those participating are:
Gayle Woloschak,Northwestern University;Juliet Eilperin,The Washington Post;Raj Patel,author and activist;His Eminence Metropolitan John of Pergamon (Ecumenical Patriarchate),eminent theologian;Constantine Triantafillou,International Orthodox Christian Charities;John Cardinal Olorunfemi Onaigekan,Roman Catholic Archbishop of Abuja,Nigeria;Rt.Rev. Marc Andrus,Episcopal Bishop,Diocese of California;Konstantina E. Botsiou,Associate Professor of Modern History and International Politics,University of the Pelopennese;Peter Bouteneff,St.Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary;Tamara Grdzelidze,Ambassador of the Republic of Georgia to the Holy See and the Sovereign Order of Malta;Sister Nectaria McLees,editor of Road to Emmaus:A Journal of Orthodox Faith and Culture,Serbian Orthodox nun;Marlise Simons,The New York Times; and Olav Fyske Tveit,General Secretary,World Council of Churches.*
Sponsors of the Symposium,besides the Ecumenical Patriarchate,include:
Holy Vatopedi Monastery,Mt.Athos,Greece;TITAN Company (Greece) S.A.;Southern New Hampshire University;IMERYS Industrial Minerals Greece S.A.;and Kyvernitis Travel S.A.*
Here are some of Patriarch Bartholomew's thoughts from his address:
The ecological crisis has revealed that our world constitutes a seamless whole,that our problems are universally shared.This means that no initiative or institution,no nation or corporation,neither science nor technology,are in a place to respond to the ecological crisis alone,without working closely together.*
The destruction of the natural environment can only be reversed through a radical change of our perspective towards nature that results from a radical change of our self-understanding as human beings.*
For the Orthodox Church,creation care-the preservation of nature and the protection of all people-emanates from the essence of our faith.Any kind of alienation between human beings and nature is a distortion of Christian theology and anthropology. *
May this symposium be an opportunity for inspiration,conversation and transformation.Our aim is to advance a collaborative response to the ecological crisis while advocating for a sustainable planet and socuial justice for humanity as a sacred legacy for all people,especially our children
Saturday, June 2, 2018
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