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Friday, February 26, 2010

Michael's List - Gadhafi's jihad; Obama-Papandreou, March 9; Recall US Amb Turkey; US role,Cyprus; Russia-US arms; EU, Serbia; Icons returned



Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has called for a jihad, or holy war against Switzerland, saying the Alpine nation is a destroyer of mosques. The statement is the latest move in an ongoing diplomatic row. Gadhafi said that any Muslim who worked with Switzerland was against the Prophet Mohammad and the Koran, referring to a Swiss referendum verdict barring the construction of minarets, the spires that sit atop mosques. "The masses of Muslims must go to all airports in the Islamic world and prevent any Swiss plane landing, to all harbors and prevent any Swiss ships docking, inspect all shops and markets to stop any Swiss goods being sold," Gadhafi said during a meeting in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi. "Let us fight against Switzerland, Zionism and foreign aggression," said Gadhafi, adding that "this is not terrorism," in contrast with the work of al-Qaida which he called a "kind of crime and a psychological disease."


President Obama has agreed to meet Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on March 9 in the White House. The Greek prime minister was trying to schedule a meeting with the US president since he took office as Greece’s leader this past fall. Obama had not responded favorably to a meeting with Papandreou even though powerful Greek-American organizations and individuals who were pushing for it. The Greek Prime minister’s agenda includes the reaffirmation from the US to help improve Greek-Turkish relations, and that the current administration remains on Greece’s side in this pivotal moment of the country’s economy. Obama is expected to ask Papandreou to paticipate in talks regarding the solution in Cyprus, resolve the name issue with FYROM, and keep the promises of the previous Greek administration to send Army forces to Afghanistan.

III. WASHINGTONTIMES - Embassy Row: Recall demanded

A powerful Greek-American lobby is demanding that President Obama recall the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, accusing the envoy of making "unacceptable, disappointing and damaging" remarks that "undermine the administration's position on Cyprus." The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) complained that Ambassador James Jeffrey, in a recent newspaper interview,justified Turkey's 1974 incursion into the Turkish-Cypriot region in northern Cyprus. The military moves resulted in a division of the island that remains today, although Turkey is the only nation that recognizes the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Obama administration and previous U.S. presidents have all supported talks leading to a "bi-zonal, bi-communal" federation. The Greek-Cypriot government, which is internationally recognized, calls the Turkish move an illegal invasion and complains that Turkey continues to deploy as many as 40,000 troops on the island. The Turkish-Cypriot administration regards the Turkish troops as protectors. AHI said Mr. Jeffrey's remarks to Turkey's Sabah newspaper earlier this month were "alarming and bring into question the Obama administration's policy as it specifically relates to Cyprus." "AHI views the ambassador's remarks as unacceptable, disappointing and damaging to U.S. interests," the group said, citing excerpts from his interview as the reason to recall the ambassador.


State Department spokesman Philip Crowley has said that “a very constructive dialogue is going on between Turkey and Greece, between the Turkish Cypriot community and the Greek Cypriot community, aided by the UN”, adding that “we are pleased to play a role in that”. Crowley was asked whether he agrees with a statement made by US Αmbassador in Turkey according to whom ''Turkey is a peaceful country, it doesn't invade its neighbors and it has security concerns in Cyprus and not Iraq''. Crowley said that “of course I agree with that statement”, while asked to say if he agrees that Turkey didn't invade Cyprus, he said: “Look, we are focused forward, we’re not focused backward. There is a very constructive dialogue going on between, you know, Turkey and Greece, between the Turkish Cypriot community and the Greek Cypriot community, aided by the UN. We are pleased to play a role in that”, he added. He went on to say that “we're focused on trying to bring this to a just conclusion. And I don't think there's any value in working back on the history of the last 35 years.” Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Peace talks began in September 2008 with a view to finding a negotiated settlement to reunite the country.


Moscow expects a new nuclear arms reduction treaty between Russia and the United States to be linked to Washington's plans to deploy missile shield elements in Europe, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday. Lavrov said President Dmitry Medvedev and U.S. leader Barack Obama reaffirmed this link in telephone talks on Wednesday. "Our president and his American counterpart reaffirmed their agreements, and the negotiating teams in Geneva must heed a connection between strategic offensive weapons and defensive armaments," Lavrov said. "We expect our American negotiators will set out this connection [in the new treaty] as it has been agreed on [by the presidents]," Lavrov said.


It would be a mistake to slow down EU's enlargement to the Western Balkans, said President Boris Tadić, during his visit to Berlin. Tadić met with President of the Bundestag Norbert Lammert, and said afterwards that it would be “necessary fro the European institutions to consider the possibility of accelerating the enlargement process in the coming period”. Tadić also noted that Germany, “as one of key EU members”, should also do this. During his visit to the German federal parliament, Tadić said that “Serbia's position is that there should be no great gap between the counties that are following each other on toward EU membership”, as this would serve “only to discourage citizens in those countries awaiting the integration process”. Asked whether the issue of German's stance on possible developments after the ICJ has ruled on the legality of the Kosovo Albania unilateral declaration, Tadić said this topic was also considered, “as one of the circumstances that influence the EU enlargement process”. For this reason, Tadić said he “assured Lammert” that Serbia will continue to fight its battle for the preservation of the country's territorial integrity in Kosovo and Metohija in a peaceful manner, exclusively by diplomatic and legal means.


Five rare Byzantine hagiography frescoes stolen in 1978 from the Palaiopanagia Church in Steni, Evia, returned to Greece from Basle, Switzerland at dawn Thursday. The priceless fresco-icons, dating from the 13th and 16th centuries, stolen by Greek antiquities smugglers from the church in August 1978 and illegally sent out of the country were traced by the Greek authorities (Athens Security Police Antiquities Smuggling unit) in 2006 to a well-known Italian antiquities dealer, at a gallery he ran jointly with his German wife in Basle. The Greek judicial authorities launched legal procedures for the return of the precious icons, on behalf of the Greek state, which lasted more than two years, instituting charges against the Italian antiquities dealer and all others involved, and sought the judicial assistance of the Swiss authorities for confiscation of the stolen icons. The Basle prosecutor's office in December 2009 issued a final judgement ordering the unconditional return of the frescoes to Greece. The frescoes depict Saints Ermolaos, Nikitas, Makarios of Egypt and Nestor, and are unique examples of the school of painting prevalent in the 13th and 16th centuries on mainland Greece. Palaiopanagia is a 12th century cross-shape roofed Byzantine church renowned for its exceptional art hagiographies that are distinguished for their precision of proportions and colors. The five stolen frescoes are a point of reference in international and Greek studies, outstanding among which is a 1971 study co-authored by the present Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Ieronymos titled "Medieval Monuments of Evia", which has been awarded by the Academy of Athens. The study, in fact, was a key factor in definitively identifying the frescoes and positively establishing before the Swiss authorities that the five icons are protected Greek cultural monuments.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Michael's List- Medvedev, Cyprus; UN official, Athens; Spain on Kosovo; NATO expansion, Russia; Timoshenko appeal; Orthodox missions; His All Holiness



Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will be arriving in Cyprus on October 7 for a two-day official visit. Announcing the visit, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said President of the Republic Demetris Christofias had sent a letter to Medvedev in January, regarding Turkish provocations, and in his reply, the Russian President expressed his country's appreciation for President Christofias' stance in talks for a solution of the Cyprus problem, in line with UN resolutions. Medvedev reaffirmed Russia's position that a solution could only be found through talks between the two communities, and that any efforts to impose ready solution plan, including an artificial negotiating framework and pressure from third parties, would be unconstructive. Stephanou added that Medvedev also reaffirmed Russia's readiness to assist in creating a favourable environment for successful bicommunal talks. The Russian President also announced that he accepted an invitation by President Christofias to visit Cyprus in October, and said he considered the time of visit symbolic, since it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the then Soviet Union, a fact that would further contribute to promoting cooperation between the two countries.


Alternate foreign minister Dimitris Droutsas on Thursday discussed the course and prospects of the ongoing inter-communal negotiations in Cyprus with the UN secretary general's special advisor on the Cyprus issue, Alexander Downer, in the latter's first meeting with the new Greek government. Foreign ministry spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras described the meeting as "useful" and stressed that the Greek side had the opportunity to reiterate that the process must continue smoothly and freely by the two sides, without 'manufactured timetables' being set. "The solution must be in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and totally respect the European acquis," Delavekouras stressed. Replying to questions, the spokesman said that the role of Greece and the role of Turkey in the process need to be clearly delineated. Greece, he said, is at the side of the Cypriot people and leadership, and its support is given, constant and non-negotiable, whereas Turkey's role is different, since "Turkey plays a decisive role with its occupation forces (on the island) and the degree of its influence". Turkey could, however, "release" the Turkish Cypriot leadership so that the latter itself could proceed in the negotiations, the spokesman added. He opined that, if Turkey so desired, a result could be forthcoming, "but this is a matter of political will". To another question, he denied that a trilateral conference between Greece, Turkey and the UK is planned. Downer, in turn, told reporters that Greece supports the ongoing process, while the UN "is doing everything it can to facilitate the talks". He said that the two leaders on Cyprus are currently discussing matters concerning the Cyprus economy and how it will function inside the EU. Next on the agenda will be matters concerning how a unified Cyprus will cooperate with the EU, whether there will be transitional arrangements for the Turkish Cypriots' full and form integration into the EU, and how a united Cyprus will function as a federal system, Downer added. The UN official said that both sides want the process to continue up until the 'elections' in the Turkish Cypriot sector, stressing that the momentum of the negotiations must be maintained. The challenge at this time is the reunification of Cyprus, of no longer seeing the dividing line that separates the island in two today, Downer concluded.


Spain is not going to recognize Kosovo in the foreseeable future, Spanish Ambassador to Bulgaria, Jorge Fuentes, told Novinite.com in an interview. Ambassador Fuentes has made it clear that the Spanish position was not motivated by fears that an independent Kosovo could serve as example for separatism in Spain but was a matter of legal principle because the act of declaration of Kosovo’s independence was “legally incorrect.” His Excellency said that Spain was not likely to recognize Kosovo unless more than 100 sovereign states do so. Fuentes has forecast that the ruling of the Hague Court on the legality of Kosovo’s independence would not be very clear because of the enormous political stakes of a clear-cut “yes” or “no” decision. He also expressed his conviction that Kosovo did in fact set a political precedent after all, and that without it, separatism in Georgia’s regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia would have been unlikely. Kosovo has been recognized by 65 sovereign states, including 22 EU members. Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Cyprus do not recognize it. Full Text of Novinite.com's Interview with Ambassador Fuentes read here.


France's defense minister defended on Thursday the sale of a modern assault ship to the Russian Navy, saying critics should not treat Russia as if it were the Soviet Union. Herve Morin said he understands the concerns of Baltic and other nations "given the past history of their relations with Russia." "At the same time, we cannot build a partnership of peace and security in Europe if we continue to view Russia as if it were the Soviet Union," Morin said while attending a meeting of EU defense ministers on this Spanish island. The potential sale is expected to come up when President Dmitry Medvedev meets French President Nicolas Sarkozy during a visit to Paris next month. Medvedev confirmed Moscow's interest in buying the warship in an interview with French weekly magazine Paris Match, a transcript of which was published in Russian on the Kremlin's web site Thursday. Besides the three Baltic nations, the United States and several other countries have expressed concerns about the sale, the largest such deal between a NATO member and Russia since the end of World War II. NATO has described the concerns of its Baltic members as "real and understandable." Separately, Medvedev reiterated in the interview that Russia is disturbed by NATO's "endless enlargement." Russia has made future NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia a "red line" in its relations with the West. Russia's new military doctrine, published Feb. 5, says one of the "main external threats of war" comes from the alliance's eastward expansion to Russia's borders. "NATO is not seen as the main military threat in the military doctrine," Medvedev said. "The issue is that NATO's endless enlargement, by absorbing countries that were once part of the Soviet Union, or who are our immediate neighbors, is of course creating problems because NATO is after all, a military bloc," he said. Medvedev warned that Russia would not remain indifferent if NATO continued to expand and reconfigure missiles near its borders. "This can't but disturb us," Medvedev said, adding that it did not mean that Russia was returning to the thinking of the Cold War, when NATO was the Soviet Union's biggest foe.


Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko has withdrawn her appeal against the results of the country's presidential run-off from the country’s Supreme Administrative Court. “We do not see any point in the appeal being considered further. The court is merely making a show of considering our evidence – so we are withdrawing our suit,” Timoshenko said. The Prime Minister herself explained the move saying that she believed the court was biased in its decisions. “They were refusing to study our evidence. This morning at the Supreme Administrative Court, I withdrew my appeal. The whole process was anything but just. So we are waiting for a decision. If the Court continues to consider this suit without us taking part, it will mean that they are determined to make the falsification legal,” she said. Viktor Yanukovich had been declared the winner in the election, but the premier claimed the ballot had been rigged. Contrary to her allegations, international observers found no violations in the voting, deeming the election free and fair.


Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13-14). It was just this past October that I traveled into the Turkana region of northern Kenya. Here, under a shade tree with Fr. Zachariah and Fr. Vladimir (Orthodox priests of the Turkana tribe), we prayed with the local people and taught about the hope found in the waters of Baptism. The Turkana who listened attentively to the good news of the Gospel on that day, many of whom endured a fifteen-mile hike that morning just to obtain water for their families, traveled miles to be with us. Among this small group, new in their knowledge of Jesus Christ, it was not difficult to describe the beautiful reality expressed in John 4:13-14, since water is such a precious resource to these people. There are people all over the world who still do not know the hope and joy found in the Gospel. The ministries of the OCMC serve to address both the spiritual and physical needs of others, so that they may come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. As you read this, OCMC ministries are providing this loving witness to our brothers and sisters around the world, including the Turkana of northern Kenya. It is my prayer that we, the Orthodox faithful of North America, continue to come to a deeper understanding of how vital it is to share our faith. To this end, I ask that you prayerfully consider two things. First, please pray for the strength found in the Turkana people, who, even though surrounded by an inescapable struggle for daily survival, now celebrate with us through the Eucharist in Christ’s glorious Resurrection. Second, remember that through the OCMC we partner with the Church in places like Kenya to build the body of Christ and make disciples of all nations. I also invite you to renew your commitment to these ministries today through a financial gift in support of Orthodox missions and OCMC in its work in over 20 countries where a witness to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is being offered. May the knowledge of our growing Orthodox family and the universality of Christ’s message give you strength this Lenten season. Thank you in advance for your gift and for your commitment to international Orthodox missions!


Indifference in regard to Christian unity is not an option for the disciples of Jesus, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has stated in an encyclical issued on the occasion of the Sunday of Orthodoxy. "It is not possible for the Lord to agonise over the unity of His disciples and for us to remain indifferent about the unity of all Christians," Bartholomew wrote in the encyclical. The Sunday of Orthodoxy is commemorated this year on 21 February 2010. The encyclical refutes "fanatical" challenges brought against theological dialogues among different Orthodox churches and against ecumenical contacts with the wider community of Christians by "certain circles that exclusively claim for themselves the title of zealot and defender of Orthodoxy." "They speak condescendingly of every effort for reconciliation among divided Christians and restoration of their unity as purportedly being 'the pan-heresy of ecumenism' without providing the slightest evidence that, in its contacts with non-Orthodox, the Orthodox Church has abandoned or denied the doctrines of the Ecumenical Councils and of the Church Fathers," Bartholomew criticises. "The truth does not fear dialogue, because truth has never been endangered by dialogue," the encyclical letter states. "When in our day all people strive to resolve their differences through dialogue, Orthodoxy cannot proceed with intolerance and extremism." The Feast of Orthodoxy is celebrated on the first Sunday of Lent in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Originally commemorating the defeat of iconoclasm in the 9th century, the Sunday of Orthodoxy has gradually come to be understood in a more general sense as a feast in honour of the true faith. The full text of the Patriarch's address is here. To read more about the Sunday of Orthodoxy, click here.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Michael's List - Olympic Medals; Turkish coup plot; FYROM; Greek Indep at White House; Russia, NATO; Petition for Bishop Artemije; Sunday of Orthodoxy



As the world enters day 12 of the Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010, the United States is in the lead with 25 medals won. The record holder, however, for most Olympic medals won goes to Norway. The United States follows and the former Soviet Union comes in third. Throughout the history of the Winter Olympic games, Norway has won a total of 290 medals. These consist of 103 gold medals, 101 silver medals, and 86 bronze. The United States is in second place with a total of 237 medals. These include 84 gold, 86 silver, and 67 bronze. The former Soviet Union follows with 217 medals, consisting of 87 gold, 63 silver, and 67 bronze. Germany has earned a total of 192 medals, Austria has 1919, Finland has 152, Canada has 127, Sweden and Switzerland are tied with 121 medals, and the former East Germany has 110. Italy has 105. There are many countries that have never earned a medal in the Olympic games. These nations are as follows: Turkey, Chinese Taipei, Tajikistan, Senegal, Serbia, San Marino, Armenia, Argentina, Andorra, Algeria, Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bermuda, Chile, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Brazil, Hong Kong, Greece, Ghana, Georgia, Ethiopia, Cyprus, Jamaica, Kyrgyzstan, Israel, Iceland, Ireland, Iran, India, Monaco, Montenegro, Macedonia, Mongolia, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Madagascar, Lithuania, Lebanon, Philippines, Peru, Pakistan, Nepal, Portugal, Puerto Rico, and South Africa.


Three of Turkey's most senior former military leaders are being held on suspicion of plotting to provoke a conflict with Greece in an attempt to destabilise the country and pave the way for a coup. They are accused of planning to provoke the Greek air force into shooting down a fighter jet to persuade the public the government was unable to guarantee national security. The "Sledgehammer" plot is also said to have involved blowing up mosques and museums in Turkey so they could be blamed on outsiders and undermine the government. The plan, said to have been formulated in 2003, called for Turkish jets to engage in aggressive manoeuvres with Greek counterparts in the sensitive airspace above Aegean Sea. By provoking the Greeks into opening fire the plotters hoped to "turn the clock back to 1923" – the last year of the Greco-Turkish War. Domestic turmoil would be unleashed by separate bomb attacks on prominent mosques. Once riots and demonstrations broke out, the military hoped to step in to oust the newly elected AK Party, which was viewed with suspicion because of its Islamic roots. Among the plans was the seizure of the Fenerbahce football stadium in Istanbul to hold people rounded up in mass arrests. The plotters estimated that 200,000 people in the Istanbul area would pose a threat to public order after martial law was imposed. The secularist Turkish army and judicial establishment has been ensnared by the investigation into the Ergenekon coup plot. It is the latest in a series of plots and conspiracies unearthed since the investigation was launched in 2007. Other schemes included the murder of a Roman Catholic priest and a prominent Armenian journalist.


Greece-FYROM relations are at a "critical crossroad", the UN secretary general's special mediator on the FYROM name issue Matthew Nimetz said Tuesday in statements to Greek state television channel NET ahead of his visit to Athens and Skopje. Nimetz also noted Greek prime minister George Papandreou's influence, with his initiatives in the region of the Western Balkans. According to NET, Nimetz is bringing to the two capitals a package of ideas based on discussions with the two sides and earlier proposals he had made. Nimetz said that the relations between the two countries were at a critical crossroad, and the international dimension of the issue has become very important. He expressed hope that the two countries will manifest leader abilities and creativity and make efforts so that progress may be achieved in his upcoming visit. The UN mediator further said that the present Greek government has placed the name issue among the top items of its foreign policy agenda. From the very beginning it put importance and the issue, and let him know that it was treating it with extreme seriousness, Nimetz continued. He further said that the Greek prime minister has personal influence beyond the name issue, and in the wider region of the western Balkans as well, as a member of the European Union, with his 2014 Agenda and his initiatives in bilateral meetings.


The White House will celebrate Greek Independence Day on March 9th this year. The reason for celebrating two weeks earlier instead of the actual day on March 25th is because president Barrack Obama has a very heavy schedule and will be out of the country on the 25th. As officials reported to a Greek-American member of the congress, the President wouldn’t want to miss the event and disappoint the Greek-American supporters that are already disappointed by the fact that Obama cannot find available dates for a meeting with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou in Washington. As an American official reported, vice president Joe Biden and probably the Secretary of State Hilary Clinton will be present for the Greek Independence day celebration. Archbishop Demetrius, the Ambassadors of Greece and Cyprus and members of congress, will be present. The big question is how many guests will be invited from the Greek-American Community. Last year there was an issue with not providing enough invitations to many Greek organizations, some of which expressed written complaints to the White House.


Responding to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s assurances that Russia should not fear NATO’s advance, Russian ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin wants more than words. In a speech that outlined NATO's mission for the 21st Century, Hillary Clinton emphasized that the 28-member military organization presents no threat to Russia. “While Russia faces challenges to its security, NATO is not among them,” the US Secretary of State told an audience assembled at a Washington hotel ballroom on Monday. “We want a cooperative NATO-Russia relationship that produces concrete results and draws NATO and Russia closer together.” Clinton then said that the key to NATO-Russian relations is a high level of transparency in order to dispel Moscow’s fears that the alliance will one day turn on Russia. Dmitry Rogozin, the tough-talking Russian ambassador to NATO, wasn’t buying a word of it. “In my view, Mrs. Clinton's speech failed to answer the questions that Moscow has repeatedly raised with its US and NATO partners,” he told Interfax on Tuesday. Rogozin then cited a long list of complaints aimed at NATO and its “spontaneous expansion eastwards.” “We cannot be happy with these rules,” he said. “A unilateral world, NATO-centrism, the alliance's spontaneous expansion eastwards and refusal to recognize the principle of integrity and security.” The failure “to take into account Russia's and its partners' interests… is a burp of the Cold War,” the ambassador said. And Russia is not sitting by idly as NATO continues to encroach eastward. At a February 5 session of the Russian Security Council, President Dmitry Medvedev said he had approved Russia's updated military doctrine, which ranked NATO expansion as a major threat. Russia’s new military doctrine mentions, amongst other threats, “the desire to invest the military potential of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with global functions, carried out in violation of international law, and advance the NATO member states’ military infrastructure closer to Russia’s border, particularly by expanding the bloc.


We, the undersigned, address ourselves to His Holiness, Patriarch IRINEJ, and to the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church. We respectfully but insistently declare our dismay over the unjustified suspension of His Grace, Bishop ARTEMIJE, from his governance of the Diocese of Ras and Prizren and Kosovo and Metohija and call for immediate restoration of his full authority. There can be little doubt as to why this action has been taken now. Indications have been growing for some time that the western powers, notably Washington, having been frustrated in their desire to “finish the job” in the Balkans, notably in Kosovo and Metohija, have decided to remove the person who, more anyone else, has been the insurmountable obstacle to that goal. Nothing in that is surprising in light of western policies during the past two decades. But far worse even than the current attack itself is the knowledge that the outrages against Vladika Artemije have been perpetrated by his own: by persons acting in the name of the Holy Synod and of the Orthodox Church of Serbia. Today, no one remembers the persecutors of Saint John Chrysostom, who three times sent him into cruel exile, from the last of which he did not return alive. Our appeal is imperative less for Vladika Artemije, whose legacy already is secured, than for the sacred dignity of the Holy Synod itself, of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and of the Serbian people. We declare our full support for Vladika Artemije and urgently appeal to His Holiness, Patriarch Irinej, and to all members of the Holy Synod, that they take immediate action to stop the inhumane process against Vladika Artemije and fully reinstate him.


+BARTHOLOMEW By God’s Grace Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch To the Fullness of the Church, Grace and Peace From our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our most holy Orthodox Church today commemorates its own feast day, and – from this historical and martyric See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate – the Mother Church of Constantinople directs its blessing, love and concern to all of its faithful and dedicated spiritual children throughout the world, inviting them to concelebrate in prayer. Blessed be the name of the Lord! Those who endeavored over the ages to suppress the Church through various visible and invisible persecutions; those who sought to falsify the Church with their heretical teachings; those who wanted to silence the Church, depriving it of its voice and witness; they all proved unsuccessful. The clouds of Martyrs, the tears of the Ascetics, and the prayers of the Saints protect the Church spiritually, while the Comforter and Spirit of Truth leads it to the fullness of truth. With a sense of duty and responsibility, despite its hurdles and problems, as the First-Throne Church of Orthodoxy, the Ecumenical Patriarchate cares about protecting and establishing the unity of the Orthodox Church, in order that with one voice and in one heart we may confess the Orthodox faith of our Fathers in every age and even in our times. For, Orthodoxy is not a museum treasure that must be preserved; it is a breath of life that must be transmitted and invigorate all people. Orthodoxy is always contemporary, so long as we promote it with humility and interpret it in light of the existential quests and needs of humanity in each historical period and cultural circumstance. To this purpose, Orthodoxy must be in constant dialogue with the world. The Orthodox Church does not fear dialogue because truth is not afraid of dialogue. On the contrary, if Orthodoxy is enclosed within itself and not in dialogue with those outside, it will both fail in its mission and no longer be the “catholic” and “ecumenical” Church. Instead, it will become an introverted and self-contained group, a “ghetto” on the margins of history. This is why the great Fathers of the Church never feared dialogue with the spiritual culture of their age – indeed even with the pagan idolaters and philosophers of their world – thereby influencing and transforming the civilization of their time and offering us a truly ecumenical Church. Today, Orthodoxy is called to continue this dialogue with the outside world in order to provide a witness and the life-giving breath of its faith. However, this dialogue cannot reach the outside world unless it first passes through all those that bear the Christian name. Thus, we must first converse as Christians among ourselves in order to resolve our differences, in order that our witness to the outside world may be credible. Our endeavors for the union of all Christians is the will and command of our Lord, who before His Passion prayed to His Father “that all [namely, His disciples] may be one, so that the world may believe that You sent me.” (John 17.21) It is not possible for the Lord to agonize over the unity of His disciples and for us to remain indifferent about the unity of all Christians. This would constitute criminal betrayal and transgression of His divine commandment. It is precisely for these reasons that, with the mutual agreement and participation of all local Orthodox Churches, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has for many decades conducted official Panorthodox theological dialogues with the larger Christian Churches and Confessions. The aim of these dialogues is, in a spirit of love, to discuss whatever divides Christians both in terms of faith as well as in terms of the organization and life of the Church. These dialogues, together with every effort for peaceful and fraternal relations of the Orthodox Church with other Christians, are unfortunately challenged today in an unacceptably fanatical way – at least by the standards of a genuinely Orthodox ethos – by certain circles that exclusively claim for themselves the title of zealot and defender of Orthodoxy. As if all the Patriarchs and Sacred Synods of the Orthodox Churches throughout the world, who unanimously decided on and continue to support these dialogues, were not Orthodox. Yet, these opponents of every effort for the restoration of unity among Christians raise themselves above Episcopal Synods of the Church to the dangerous point of creating schisms within the Church. In their polemical argumentation, these critics of the restoration of unity among Christians do not even hesitate to distort reality in order to deceive and arouse the faithful. Thus, they are silent about the fact that theological dialogues are conducted by unanimous decision of all Orthodox Churches, instead attacking the Ecumenical Patriarchate alone. They disseminate false rumors that union between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches is imminent, while they know well that the differences discussed in these theological dialogues remain numerous and require lengthy debate; moreover, union is not decided by theological commissions but by Church Synods. They assert that the Pope will supposedly subjugate the Orthodox, because they latter submit to dialogue with the Roman Catholics! They condemn those who conduct these dialogues as allegedly “heretics” and “traitors” of Orthodoxy, purely and simply because they converse with non-Orthodox, with whom they share the treasure and truth of our Orthodox faith. They speak condescendingly of every effort for reconciliation among divided Christians and restoration of their unity as purportedly being “the pan-heresy of ecumenism” without providing the slightest evidence that, in its contacts with non-Orthodox, the Orthodox Church has abandoned or denied the doctrines of the Ecumenical Councils and of the Church Fathers. Beloved children in the Lord, Orthodoxy has no need of either fanaticism or bigotry to protect itself. Whoever believes that Orthodoxy has the truth does not fear dialogue, because truth has never been endangered by dialogue. By contrast, when in our day all people strive to resolve their differences through dialogue, Orthodoxy cannot proceed with intolerance and extremism. You should have utmost confidence in your Mother Church. For the Mother Church has over the ages preserved and transmitted Orthodoxy even to other nations. And today, the Mother Church is struggling amid difficult circumstances to maintain Orthodoxy vibrant and venerable throughout the world. From the Ecumenical Patriarchate, this sacred Center of Orthodoxy, we embrace all of you lovingly and bless you paternally, praying that you may journey in health through the holy period of contrition and asceticism known as Holy and Great Lent in order that you may become worthy of celebrating the pure Passion and glorious Resurrection of our Savior Lord with all faithful Orthodox Christians throughout the world. Sunday of Orthodoxy 2010 + Bartholomew of Constantinople Fervent supplicant to God for all

Friday, February 19, 2010

Michael's List - Haiti benefit concert; Cyprus; FYROM; Spain's Diet; NATO on churches, Kosovo; Saakashvili a threat; What to do during Great Lent



In an effort help the orphaned, the sick, the suffering and the homeless of Haiti, the Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Protection, 59 East Second St., New York, NY, will host a benefit concert on Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. All proceeds from the concert will be sent to International Orthodox Christian Charities [IOCC], the Baltimore-based pan-Orthodox humanitarian agency. Vespers with special petitions for the Haitian people and the relief workers will precede the concert. The concert will feature the world premier of a new Passion Cantata, incorporating hymns of the Crucifixion from Great and Holy Friday. The cantata, based on ancient Russian and Georgian chant and sung a cappella in English, is the work of Robert Sirico, who composed it specifically for the occasion. A select chamber choir, formed for the occasion, will perform under the direction of musician Nicholas Reeves. A $20.00 donation -- all of which will be sent to IOCC -- is suggested. For additional information visit nycathedral.org or go to facebook by clicking here.


The House of Representatives has stressed that Cyprus, just like any other EU member state, must not have either guarantors or rights of intervention by outside powers. In a resolution approved unanimously during Thursday’s plenary session, the House expresses support for the restoration of the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus. “In the united Republic of Cyprus, member state of the EU, there should not be provisions for guarantors or guarantees”, the House resolution says. The House underlines that the chapter on security – guarantees is a significant issue for the people of Cyprus and a fundamental matter in the efforts to reach a solution to the Cyprus issue. “The arbitrary interpretation of the Treaty of Guarantee by Turkey, to justify the illegal Turkish invasion of 1974 and the continuing occupation of 36.4% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus constitute a violation of international law”, the resolution points out, adding that the House “unanimously condemns the arbitrary interpretation of the Treaty of Guarantee by Turkey to attribute legality to the Turkish invasion of 1974 and the continuing occupation of part of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus”. It also condemns the “flagrant violations of the fundamental rights and fundamental freedoms of Cypriot citizens” and calls on “Turkey to respect and immediately restore the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, as well as the human rights of all Cypriot citizens”. In this way, the House resolution notes that “Turkey will be able to practically show its contribution in achieving a just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue, as well as its respect and dedication to international law and all the more to the principles and values of the EU, which it aspires to become a member”. Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in UN-led direct negotiations since September 2008, with an aim to reunify the island.


Now is the time for Athens and Skopje to resolve their 19-year old dispute over the use of the name Macedonia, EU enlargement chief Stefan Fuele said Friday. "The leaders have a huge responsibility and a fantastic opportunity to make a lasting contribution to a wider regional stability and prosperity," said Fuele during a visit to Skopje. Macedonia the country was a part of Yugoslavia before independence in 1991, while Greece -- which has a northern province called Macedonia -- considers the name to be part of its heritage. Macedonia joined the United Nations in 1993 under the provisional name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), but UN-led negotiations have yet to resolve the dispute. The European Commission is to discuss the timeline for opening EU membership negotiations with Macedonia next month, but a decision to go ahead hinges on approval from by all EU member states -- including Greece. Macedonia -- an official candidate for EU membership since December 2005 -- "expects the dispute to be overcome in order for the state to be able to become a member of the EU and NATO, which is our strategic aim," he added.


Spaniards are abandoning their much-vaunted Mediterranean diets, experts have warned. Despite research showing that heart disease in Spain is among the lowest in Europe, Spanish people are turning their noses up at the celebrated munch. Instead they are ordering less nutritious dishes from bars and restaurants, the study in British journal Public Health Nutrition confirmed. According to Spain’s environment ministry, a third of all money spent on food – some 90 billion euros – is spent on eating out. The growing neglect of the prized diet has fostered fears about the deteriorating health of Spaniards. Ironically, the falling appetite for the Mediterranean diet comes just as the rest of the world – and Spain’s own government – sings its praises. Officials representing Italy, Greece, Morocco and Spain have presented a motion for the diet to be included in UNESCO’s World Intangible Heritage List. Furthermore, it is now recommended by the American Heart Association. Food scientists revealed that those who enjoy a Mediterranean diet are less likely to suffer from depression. It is also claimed that the risk of dying from cancer or developing Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases also diminishes.


NATO Allied Joint Force Command Naples Mark Fitzgerald was in Kosovo on Thursday. He told reporters in Priština that Kosovo police, KPS, and EULEX could in the future guard the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) churches and monasteries. Currently, the structures, which were targets of Kosovo Albanian violence in 1999 and 2004, are guarded by KFOR. KFOR commander, German General Markus Bentler said that this concerns nine of the most important religious and cultural buildings of the SPC heritage in Kosovo. Fitzgerald was also asked to comment on the so-called integration strategy for the northern, Serb areas of the province, aimed at bringing them under the rule of the Kosovo Albanian government in Priština. “Any parallel structure poses a threat to security and peaceful surroundings,” he said, and warned that KFOR would react if 'parallel' structures 'resorted to violence'. Institutions that are not in line with (UNSC) Resolution 1244 are illegal and represent a threat to security,” the U.S. Admiral was reported as stating. Asked whether NATO would support the strategy, he said that NATO was interested in anything that contributes to democracy and unification. Fitzgerald also stated that he could not confirm that KFOR would take part in implementing the strategy – which has been rejected by the local Serbs, official Belgrade, and also Moscow – and added that the NATO-led force in Kosovo would monitor the situation and be ready to react.


Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is a greater threat to security in the Black Sea region than the Mistral-class helicopter carrier Russia intends to buy from France, Moscow's envoy to NATO said on Friday. "The real threat in the Black Sea basin is no longer the notorious Mistral that Russia might buy, but Saakashvili himself," Dmitry Rogozin told RIA Novosti on Friday. Speaking on Thursday at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London, Saakashvili criticized the plans of the French authorities to sell Russia a Mistral-class amphibious assault vessel, as well as over recent reports of talks for the sale of armored vehicles. The Russian military earlier announced that it was considering buying one of the Mistral-class amphibious assault ships, worth 400-500 million euros (around $540-$675 million), and potentially building three or four vessels of the same class in partnership with the French naval shipbuilder DCNS. The French government has approved the sale but Russia has not yet made a final decision. A Mistral-class ship is capable of transporting and deploying 16 helicopters, four landing barges, up to 70 vehicles including 13 battle tanks, and 450 soldiers. The vessel is equipped with a 69-bed hospital and can be used as an amphibious command ship. Many Russian military and industry experts have questioned the financial and military sense of the purchase, but the Russian military has said such a vessel would have allowed the Russian Navy to conduct a more efficient operation in the Black Sea during the August 2008 Russia-Georgia war. However, many experts believe that Russia simply wants to gain access to advanced naval technology that could be used in the future in potential conflicts with NATO and its allies.


Most of us realize that prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the three basic Christian and lenten necessities, but we often realize as well that we cannot keep the strictest lenten regulations of the Church which are, in fact, monastic rules. We know that we will not make a maximum effort and so we sometimes feel frustrated, lost, and without guidance. Do What You Can: When seeking practical advice concerning lenten practices, the only realistic guideline is to do what you can. You know that the essentials are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Intensify your prayer. Fast as fully as possible. (More and more, people are finding that the total abstinence from meat for the entire lenten season is surely not out of the question, even for the laity!) Give to others, asking nothing in return. Know, as well, that all of your fasting, praying, and almsgiving must be exercised in secret. The only real goal and purpose of Great Lent is to enter into a deeper love for God and for those around us. Certain weeks: Another concrete, yet traditional suggestion, is to keep certain lenten weeks in a more careful and strict way than others. For example, the first and third weeks of Great Lent, in addition to Holy Week, can be set aside for a greater and more concentrated lenten effort. Very practically speaking, everyone can keep certain weeks, or at least one week, in a very special way. If this is done, there is no doubt that the result will be very positive and the time spent may prove to be the most inspiring and fruitful time of our entire life. We can only try it and see! What to Do: Here are some concrete guidelines for taking Great Lent more seriously - • Turn off the television, radio, and stereo for the entire lenten season, except for news and serious or educational programs. • Do not visit or engage in outside activities for their own sake. Keep useless talking to a minimum. Do only necessary business, good works, and acts of charity. • Examine and measure every aspect of your life—family, work, society, politics, economics, values, and desires—against the model set forth by the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. • Question yourself in regard to love, truth, honest, purity, humility, peace, forgiveness, justice, mercy, hungering, and thirsting for God, wisdom, and knowledge. • In the name of Jesus Christ, forgive all who have offended you and seek forgiveness from those whom you have offended. If it will not be embarrassing or misinterpreted as an act of self-righteousness, express yourself as concretely as possible. Visit, make a phone call, and so forth. • Set aside and give a sizeable portion of your resources to others; the parish, the poor, a social or educational agency. Tell no one what you have done. Ask no gratitude and forgo requesting a receipt. Do not advertise what you are doing. • Fast strictly at all times. Eat no meat, as the basic minimum. Suit your fast to your work, but avoid luxury. Again, tell no one. Do not advertise or discuss your fasting with anyone and avoid judging others who may not be fasting with you. • Pray at home at least at one fixed time each day. Choose a brief rule of prayer, but keep it faithfully. • Read the scriptures in the same brief, yet regular way. You may wish to follow the Church's calendar, read a chapter of a given book on a daily basis, or simply read and reflect upon passages which you happen upon. In addition, meditate upon these: 1 John; Romans 12-14; Matthew 5 - 7, and John 14-17. • Be faithful to Christ's gospel in every word, action, and thought—even the smallest or most insignificant. • Participate in all of the weekly lenten services, especially the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, Saturday evening Great Vespers, and the Sunday Divine Liturgy, confessing seriously and receiving Holy Communion frequently. Peace and Joy: If we do these things, not in a spirit of gloomy self-denial or irritated self-pity, we will gain an awareness of genuine peace and joy in communion with God and those around us. This is guaranteed, and, our participation in and celebration of the least of Our Lord's resurrection will be cherished forever!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Michael's List- Kosovo, EU split, Spain, Greece say "no"; FYROM, Aussies; Iran, Israel, Russia, Abkhazia; Russia, Greece protect Orthodoxy; OCA, Haiti



The European Union on Wednesday displayed its deep split over Kosovo's status as the breakaway province celebrated the second anniversary of its independence from Serbia. Ulrike Lunacek, the European parliament's rapporteur on Kosovo, called for the five EU nations yet to recognise it to do so saying "is high time to focus all efforts to ensure the future" of the tiny Balkan territory. However that call was swiftly rejected by Spain which is one of the five and currently holds the EU's rotating presidency. "It is not a question of European recognition in general terms, these are decisions for member states to take individually. Spain does not recognise Kosovo and has said that's not going to change," a Spanish EU presidency spokesperson said. Spain is backed in its stance by Cyprus, Greece, Romania and Slovakia, either in solidarity with Serbia or over concerns that it could create a precedent for their own separatist areas. That divided position "is rendering a coherent European policy towards Kosovo... almost impossible," said Lunacek. The Spanish EU presidency spokesperson argued that there was plenty of very important EU consensus on Kosovo. "There is the EULEX mission which is supported by everybody, and also the process of economic support and the development of the links with the European Union," she said. The some 3,000-strong mission to bring the justice system, police and customs up to European standards took over from the United Nations, which administered Kosovo after the 1999 war. Kosovo unilaterally split from Serbia on 17 February 2008 and its independence has been recognised so far by 65 countries, including the United States as well as the majority of EU countries. Serbia opposes Kosovo's independence, considering the territory as its southern province. It backs and finances the region's parallel administrative, educational and judicial system in areas with a Serb majority.


Greek Ambassador Dimosthenis Stoidis has denied that his country would recognize the unilateral declaration of independence made by Kosovo's Albanians. The top Greek diplomatic envoy in Belgrade was reacting to a recent statement coming from Skender Hyseni, appointed by the government in Priština to be its foreign minister. "It isn't clear to me what the source of Hyseni's information is, or his precise statements. Greece's stable, principled stance on the issue is known," Stoidis said in an interview for Vienna's Der Standard newspaper. He also said that Greek PM George Papandreou recently confirmed this position in his meeting with Serbian President Boris Tadić. Papandreou was in Belgrade in early January when he said that the complex issue of Kosovo should be solved based on the UN Charter and respect of international law.


Macedonia threatened to vote against the candidacy of Australia for a seat in the UN Security Council if the Rudd Government does not take action against the Premier of South Australia, Mike Runn. The Skopje government is allegedly deeply troubled by Mike Runn which has accused Macedonia of “theft of Greek history and Greek culture. The Ambassador of Macedonia to Australia, Peter Stogianovski, said he would [not] seek an explanation but an apology. “It will depend on what Canberra tells us as to whether will vote in favour of the nomination of Australia for a seat in the UN Security Council,” said Mr Stogianovski. Mr Runn is however adamant. “I believe what I say and will not apologize,” he said. A day earlier Mr. Runn said: “I will speak about the Greek origin of Macedonia and nobody is going to stop me because it’s something I believe.” Mr. Runn, has for years, supported the Greek position on Macedonia and Cyprus in every possible way, causing anger to residents of Australia from Turkey and Macedonia. He recently accused the president of FYROM as “instigator of problems in the most dangerous way."


Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday his country is not planning a war with Iran and that Tehran's concerns over such a conflict are the result of the threat of additional international sanctions. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday he believes Israel or its allies are considering a military strike against his country, which has thus far failed to prove that its nuclear program is peaceful. "We are not planning any wars," Netanyahu said, speaking in Moscow after meetings urging Russian officials to approve tougher sanctions against Iran.Israel has been at the forefront of calling for crippling sanctions against Iran because of its nuclear program. Israel, like the US and much of the international community, believes Iran's program is aimed at developing a nuclear bomb, which Iran denies. While Israel says it hopes diplomacy will resolve the nuclear standoff, it has not ruled out military action and Iran has frequently mentioned it could suffer a military strike from Israel or its allies. Speaking to reporters after meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Netanyahu denied this, saying the international community was getting closer in agreement over slapping tough sanctions on Iran, which was making the Islamic regime nervous. In Tehran, Ahmadinejad said Israel is "seeking to start a war next spring or summer, although their decision is not final yet," without saying where he got that information. Netanyahu dismissed that talk as "manipulations."


Russia and Abkhazia signed a deal on Wednesday to establish a Russian military base in the former Georgian republic. The deal was signed during Kremlin talks between Abkhazian leader Sergei Bagapsh, who arrived in Moscow on Tuesday, and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The base is designed "to protect Abkhazia's sovereignty and security, including against international terrorist groups," the document said. The agreement was signed for a term of 49 years with a possible extension. Russia recognized the republic on the Black Sea in August 2008 after a five-day war to repel an assault by U.S. ally Georgia on another breakaway region, South Ossetia. Georgia fiercely criticized the plans for the base in Abkhazia which it considers part of its territory. Russia's military buildup in the region since the armed conflict has also been condemned by the West.


Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia pointed out to the importance of Russia-Greece spiritual dialogue and their joint protection of Orthodox basis of their cultures. “In the epoch of globalization all of us should bother to preserve values and characteristic features of this (Orthodox – IF) civilization. It suggests strengthening cooperation among Orthodox countries,” Patriarch Kirill said at his meeting with Greek Prime Minister Jorgos Papandreou in patriarchal residence in the Chisty Lane in Moscow. He noted that even in the Soviet Union, where “authorities were very far from the Church,” “Orthodox factor” played a very important role in interstate relations as the Orthodox Church both in Greece and Russia defined “system of people’s values, cultural profile of our nations.” According to the Patriarch, the Russian Church “approves” of the recent Greek authorities’ refusal to remove icons from courtrooms and cancel oath on the Gospels. The Patriarch recalled the Strasbourg Court decision to ban crucifix in Italian schools and expressed his concerns with the fact that many European countries ruled out Christian values from social sphere.


Priest Antonio Perdomo, rector of Saint George the Great Martyr Church, Pharr, TX, arrived in Haiti on the first weekend of February to consult with Orthodox Christian communities and ecumenical partners with regard to ongoing assistance and short and long term needs of those who survived the January 12 earthquake there. Father Antonio was accompanied by Mark Ohanian, senior program coordinator for International Orthodox Christian Charities. He will work with the IOCC team to support of the efforts of Orthodox partners in Haiti, where there are an estimated 3,000 Orthodox Christians. IOCC is currently providing food and hygiene items to 350 Orthodox faithful in six parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia [ROCOR] in Haiti with the support of a $10,000 grant from the ROCOR "Fund for Assistance." Born in the Dominican Republic, Father Antonio is a native Spanish speaker and a member of IOCC's Frontline, a volunteer network of highly trained, credentialed and experienced emergency response personnel. Mr. Ohanian, the team leader who managed recovery and reconstruction projects for IOCC in Bosnia-Herzegovina, is a disaster response veteran who grew up in Lebanon during the war and speaks French. Nearly $1.7 million in assistance has been provided by IOCC in the month since the earthquake ravaged much of Haiti's capital and environs. Medicines, medical equipment, water purification and sanitation equipment, tents, hygiene kits, shelter materials, fuel, food, blankets, jerry cans for water and mattresses have been shipped and distributed throughout Haiti in cooperation with ACT Alliance members and Orthodox Christian and other partners. IOCC is the official humanitarian aid agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas [SCOBA] and a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy. To help the victims of disasters around the world, including those in Haiti, log on to www.iocc.org.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Michael's List- PreAncient Greeks; Religious Kosovo; Podujevo massacre; Abkhazia recognition; Taliban capture; Libyan visa ban; GreatLent 7 testaments



Early humans, possibly even prehuman ancestors, appear to have been going to sea much longer than anyone had ever suspected. That is the startling implication of discoveries made the last two summers on the Greek island of Crete. Stone tools found there, archaeologists say, are at least 130,000 years old, which is considered strong evidence for the earliest known seafaring in the Mediterranean and cause for rethinking the maritime capabilities of prehuman cultures. Crete has been an island for more than five million years, meaning that the toolmakers must have arrived by boat. So this seems to push the history of Mediterranean voyaging back more than 100,000 years, specialists in Stone Age archaeology say. Previous artifact discoveries had shown people reaching Cyprus, a few other Greek islands and possibly Sardinia no earlier than 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. the archaeologists who found the tools on Crete noted that the style of the hand axes suggested that they could be up to 700,000 years old. That may be a stretch, they conceded, but the tools resemble artifacts from the stone technology known as Acheulean, which originated with prehuman populations in Africa. More than 2,000 stone artifacts, including the hand axes, were collected on the southwestern shore of Crete, near the town of Plakias, by a team led by Thomas F. Strasser and Eleni Panagopoulou. She is with the Greek Ministry of Culture and he is an associate professor of art history at Providence College in Rhode Island. They were assisted by Greek and American geologists and archaeologists, including Curtis Runnels of Boston University.


A Greek diplomat serving in Pristina was appointed Tuesday to help restore and protect Serb heritage in Kosovo, the European Union and Greek missions said in a statement. Ambassador Dimitris Moschopoulos "will facilitate the development of integrated conservation policies for religious and cultural heritage and will actively engage in increasing awareness of and respect for cultural heritage," the joint statement said. Moschopoulos heads the Greek liaison office in Pristina. Greece, like Serbia a mostly Orthodox Christian country, is one of only five EU nations that have not recognized Kosovo, with its mostly Albanian and Muslim population. Kosovo declared independence two years ago, but Serbia, which sees the province as its heartland and cradle of the Serbian Orthodox Church, continues to fight the secession by diplomatic means. Albanians have destroyed many Serbian shrines since the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ousted Belgrade's security forces from Kosovo to end bloodshed in 1999. The most recent wave of destruction occurred in Kosovo-wide riots six years ago. The protection and restoration of Serbian cultural and religious monuments is a commitment Kosovo assumed when it declared its independence, with the backing of the United States and the majority of leading western nations. Some of the Serbian monuments in Kosovo are centuries old but must remain under protection of NATO peacekeepers. The 13th-century Decani monastery near Pec is, for instance, under the protection of UNESCO and also of Italian soldiers stationed there.


On the occasion of nine years since the massacre of 12 Serbs in a terrorist attack on a Niš ekspres bus near Podujevo, Serbian Orthodox Church bishops Atanasije and Teodosije held a memorial service in St Nicholas’ church in downtown Pristina. Another 40 passengers were wounded in that attack. The service was attended by some 150 Serbs. An explosion of a mine laid on the road near the Livadice village, in the vicinity of Podujevo, in northeastern Kosmet, on 16 February 2001, blew up the first of the six buses transporting displaced Kosmet Serbs going, in the company of KFOR, to Gracanica, to visit the graves of their family members. The only person charged with the terrorist attack was a Kosovo Albanian Fljorim Ejupi. In May 2001, he escaped from prison in the US Bondsteel base, and in 2004 he was arrested again in Tirana and taken back to Kosovo. He was convicted of the crime in first-instance proceedings, but the Supreme Court of Kosovo subsequently acquitted him due to an alleged lack of evidence. In June 2009, EULEX launched a new investigation. Members of the team conducting the investigation state they have not identified the perpetrators yet, but that they are aware of the fact that it was impossible for one person only to be behind such a brutal terrorist act. The Church of St Nicholas in Pristina, where the service was held today, was burnt down in Kosovo Albanian violence in March 2004 and has only partly been renovated.


Abkhazian President Sergey Bagapsh paid an official visit to Moscow at the invitation of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. On August 26, 2008, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree recognizing Abkhazia. It followed Georgia's attack against another Caucuses republic, South Ossetia. The republic was also recognized by Venezuela, Nicaragua and the tiny Republic of Nauru, the world's smallest island nation, in the South Pacific. However the Georgian government and most of the world powers still consider Abkhazia part of Georgia's territory. According to Bagapsh, although his republic continues to strive for its recognition, “it’s not going to beg anyone to recognize it. We are going to establish our political situation in the country, our economy and further development, in a way that would leave no questions about whether to recognize us or not,” the Abkhazian President said. On September 17, 2008 in Moscow, Medvedev and Bagapsh signed a treaty on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance which laid the foundation for long-term cooperation. And in September 2009, the sides signed an agreement on military cooperation. In line with that document, Russia has the opportunity to build, use and update military infrastructure and military bases in Abkhazia as well as set up a joint group of forces for times of both war and peace. Bagapsh said his country can’t allow ethnic Georgian refugees to return from Georgia, as it may lead to war. He also noted that his country will not cooperate with Georgia’s current government. “We are open to a dialogue with any state,” Bagapsh said. “But I want to underline it straight away, any cooperation, dialogue or economic relations with the current Georgian administration is out of the question.”


The White House's lead spokesman is declining to confirm the capture of the Taliban's top military commander. Unnamed officials in Pakistan had said earlier Tuesday that a joint CIA-Pakistani operation captured Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Karachi. At the White House, press secretary Robert Gibbs said he would not speak on the matter. Gibbs told reporters the fight against extremists involves sensitive intelligence matters and he believes it's best to collect that information without talking about it. Gibbs said reports that Baradar was arrested 10 days ago and was talking to his interrogators were "not helpful." Baradar is the most senior Afghan Taliban leader arrested since the beginning of the Afghan war in 2001.


The European Commission, the EU's executive body, has criticized Libya's decision to suspend issuing visas to citizens from the bloc's Schengen area as "unilateral and disproportionate." "The Commission also regrets that travelers who legally obtained visas before the suspension measure were refused entry when arriving in Libya," said EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom. She added that EU and Schengen countries would discuss the matter this week to "consider the appropriate reaction." A spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry said the decision by Libya was "regrettable," adding that the government expected the suspension to be cancelled. The move by Tripoli appears to be in response to an announcement by Swiss authorities on Sunday that 188 Libyans, including leader Moammar Gadhafi and his family, are banned from visiting Switzerland. While Switzerland is not a member of the EU, it is one of the 25 European countries in the border-free Schengen area. Citizens of Great Britain, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania, which are EU members but not in the Schengen zone, were exempt from the decision.


The Season of Great Lent has begun. It is time of renovation, repentance and joy. It is not yet the time of triumphant Easter delight, but a time of quiet and, yet, at the same time, profoundly deep joy, which is not visible at first glance. Perhaps it is due to the fact that during the fast, we once again hope to tear ourselves away from the concerns and worries that have enslaved us within our daily lives. We hope to find our real selves. The Great Lent prepares us for that greatest of celebrations: Easter. It is a real journey. It is the springtime of the spirit. And this spring pilgrimage should bring us to the proper end point, where we will become better then we were at the beginning. How can we go properly through the great fast? (1) To eat well. Before we start talking about the spiritual meaning of the fast, it is important to clarify what exactly our food is. The differences between foods becomes more visible precisely during this fast. The meaning of the fast is not refusing meat or dairy. Food itself does not bring us any closer to God, or take us further away from Him. As we are creatures content on bones and blood, the subject of our nutrition is quite important. There is a general rule: we have to eat “easy” food (namely, we must strive to eat food that gives our bodies and souls a sense of lightness). But it is just as possible to burden yourself with easy food too. Try not to get obsessed with it. Also, there is no need to look for the abundant special fast recipes on the Internet. Perhaps one should try to spend less time cooking your meals. Spend less money on buying your food during the fast. Taking this aspect into account, there is something to think about – such as how reasonable it is to buy special seafood that is allowed by church discipline. At the same time, certain exemptions do indeed exist for certain groups of people (such as those who are ill, hard workers, pregnant and breast-feeding women, and so on). In this case, it would be prudent to get advice from your spiritual leader. If you do not have an opportunity to do that, you need to make your own decision. It is well known that it is better to under-fast then to over-fast. Temperance is a golden rule. (2) To give up bad habits, or addiction to something. Fast is a time of relief. We are being released from those things which enslaves us. In this time, we can make serious attempts to give up our various bad habits or addictions. Everyone has to perform their own good deeds. Someone during this time may give up an addiction to drink or to smoke; someone else will just as likely give up watching of a television series. There is no need to ask the others to perform a kind deed, just try to perform it yourself. (3) To pray regularly. Fasting without prayer is not a true fast, but try to find just 15 or 20 minutes for prayer in the evening and in the morning during the fast. You can read normal prayers for mornings and evenings together with the Gospel. But during Lent, it would be better to add one more short but essential prayer that sets the tone of the fast such as one by Ephraim the Syrian. (4) To read the Holy Bible. During the Great Lent there are three Old Testament books read during the Pre-sanctified Liturgies; Genesis, Isaiah and Proverbs. There is also a tradition during this time to read all Four Gospels at home on your own. It is difficult to be a Christian without knowing the Gospel. If you have not read the Old and The New Testaments yet, try to do so during the next forty days of Lent. Even if you have previously read the whole Bible, please don’t think it’s enough. Our memories are never truly as rock-solid as they seem, and we forget much. Try to read the Gospel regularly. It would be better if you do this every day, after finding a quiet time so that you can concentrate on what you are reading. It would be even better if you can find some time after reading to think about it, and then compare it with your own life and experience. (5) Attend the liturgies. The time of Great Lent is a special time in the order of Church’s routine. One can feel it only by going to church for weekday services, along with the services regularly served on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Alexander Schmemann referred to this time as that of “a light sorrow”. It is the special tone of this time which you can feel only during the beautiful quiet liturgies during the week. Try also to visit the liturgy once or twice during the reading of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. This canon is the longest of all canons of the Orthodox Church. It comes from the depth of the confession and runs throughout with a hope for the Love of Our Father. The Orthodox Church reads this canon by parts in the evenings starting on Monday till Thursday on the First week of Great Lent, and then repeats it all on Wednesday evening of the Fifth week. It is truly necessary to go to Church for Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts. If you can come to church where this liturgy is in the evening, then you can receive communion and feel the anxious expectation of meeting with Jesus Christ. Lastly, it is very important to come to church on the Days of the Passion, beginning from the Great Thursday’s evening. But this time is further away, and it is better to speak about it later. (6) To clear your mind from vanities. During the period of Lent, everyone decides themselves if it would be better to stop completely watching TV, or to avoid visiting blogs, forums and other social networks on the Internet. Truthfully, to read at least one book on a Christian subject would be far more useful. It could be a book about history of the Church, basics of religious doctrine, the interpretation of Holy Bible or something else entirely. It is very necessary to choose a book carefully, due to the variety of the books in existence, and lack of spiritual quality of many of them. Reading books of classical world literature might also be useful as it will keep your mind away from the concerns and worries of everyday life. (7) Try to achieve what you had planned or wanted to achieve. Try to remember your plans and aims. The period of the fast is a time with a positive tone. The main purpose of all restrictions like those found relating to food and pleasures is to give us time and the power to unite ourselves to Christ. This means you should strive to do good things, to love God and to love other people—and sometimes harder yet, yourself. Try to do something that will please not only you but others as well. We all hear the words of Christ before Lent: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” Besides, you could create your own “rules” of the fast. They could be different, but it is important to take it seriously. Fasting is a time that requires us to come to decisions, some of them difficult. It is a time that calls us to make our own conscious efforts to better our lives, and the lives of those around us.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Michael's List - Iran; Turkey, Cyprus talks; UN, Greece, FYROM; Serbia, NATO; Russia, militants killed; Orthodoxy: When we are no longer ethnic



The Iranian government said it will permanently suspend Google Inc's email service in the country, the Wall Street Journal reported on its website on Wednesday. The report comes as Iran braces for new opposition protests on Thursday during rallies marking the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Protesters made use of modern networking tools such as Twitter and Gmail instant messaging last June after a disputed election plunged Iran into crisis. Iran's telecommunications agency announced the suspension and said a national email service for Iranian citizens would soon be rolled out, the Wall Street Journal reported.


Turkey's Foreign Ministry lashed out at the European Parliament, blasting it for being in favour of Greece and Cyprus. The European Parliament's role should not be that of the spokesman of the Greek-Cypriot side, said the Turkish Foreign Ministry, after the European Parliament released its report. The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued an announcement reading that although the report numbered Turkey's obligations, it made no reference to the EU's pledges towards Turkey. The announcement also said that the European Parliament's reports sidestepped the constant talks and the creative efforts made by the Turkish-Cypriot side for a solution to the Cyprus row. It also said that such an approach has caused grave disappointment, as the European Parliament's role is not to represent the Greek-Cypriots and adopt all their groundless claims. The Turkish Foreign Ministry's report concluded arguing that Turkey, despite the negative stance of certain cycles and despite the obstacles, will continue defending its rights and will continue going after to meet its target and join the EU.


The president of Cyprus, Demetris Christofias, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have renewed peace talks aimed at reunifying the island of Cyprus, which has been divided for 34 years. "We have to encourage both leaders, President Christofias, and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat, to take advantage of the next days and weeks to come, and try to intensify also their talks, but I would also like to stress the fact that maybe time is not always your friend, but the quality of the solution, the settlement for Cyprus, should not be some sort of a victim of any kind of time frameworks," said Greek Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Dimitris Droutsas to Financialmirror.com. In recent weeks, the United Nations has stepped up efforts to rejuvenate the unification process of Cyprus and peace talks between the two leaders. The U.N. has long pursued what it calls a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation in the Mediterranean island. "Reaching a mutually acceptable conclusion will require courage, flexibility and vision as well as a spirit of compromise," said Ban Ki-moon, the U.N. secretary-general, to Al-Jazeera while visiting the island last week. Aside from territorial sovereignty, the issues discussed by both Christofias and Talat include joint governance of the island, resolution of the property claims by thousands of displaced people who became uprooted in past conflict, and the future of tens of thousands of Turkish troops stationed in northern Cyprus. "I cannot say that I am in a position of expressing too much optimism with the present stage of the negotiations," the minister said in a statement to Reuters. Droutsas firmly rejected Talat's stance regarding joint governance of Cyprus. "What we have seen in the latest proposals by Mr. Talat is again the idea, and also the rhetoric, of the past, talking about two independent states forming some sort of confederation," Droutsas added in his statement. The fate of the island is a major source of tension for Turkey in particular, which relies on a unification resolution to overcome its biggest hurdle in joining the European Union. While Talat stated on Friday that he saw progress toward reaching a peace deal with Greek Cypriots and that, "We made quite good progress on very thorny issues," he remained silent on what specific achievements were made. Meanwhile, Greece's deputy foreign minister Dimitris Droutsas called the latest talks "a step back" and said he was not optimistic.

The UN secretary general's mediator on the FYROM name issue, Matthew Nimetz, will visit Greece in the last week of February, foreign ministry spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras announced in Athens on Thursday. Delavekouras underlined Greece's desire for proceeding to a solution of the name issue, a condition of which is FYROM's refraining from aggressive moves, and the neighboring country's "creative participation" in the dialogue with Greece. A solution is feasible, he said, but it is a matter of Skopje's political volition, and added that a solution will "unblock" FYROM's Euro-Atlantic prospect.


President Boris Tadić met with NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe Admiral James Stavridis on Thursday. They discussed Serbia's activities within the Partnership for Peace program and cooperation with KFOR in preserving peace and security in Kosovo. A statement after the meeting said that "Tadić feels that the Kosovo Serbs are still the most endangered people in the entire Europe, which is why KFOR has to continue protecting them, their monasteries and churches, regardless of the decision to reduce the number of its soldiers in the province". Tadić stated that the so-called northern Kosovo reintegration plan is a threat to stability throughout the region, the president's press service announced. The meeting in Belgrade was also attended by Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac and VS CoGS Lt. Gen. Miloje Miletić.


At least 20 militants were killed by federal law enforcers in the southern Russia's republic of Ingushetia. The operation began on Thursday at 4 a.m. in the Sunzha district, Ingushetia, on the Ingush border with Chechnya. It was stopped in the evening because of darkness, but resumed on Friday morning. A group of 20 to 25 militants have been cornered by law enforcement officers. On Friday afternoon a Federal Security Service official said that 20 enemy fighters were killed in the operation. The search for more dead and possible survivors continued. Federal forces suffered no casualties. Before the operation started, the militants were advised to surrender several times, but they answered with gunfire, the Interfax news agency quoted a police source as saying. Ramzan Kadyrov, President of the Chechen republic, recalled that last summer in this area Chechen and Ingush police carried out a series of successful operations, killing tens of militants and their leaders. “This nest of wasps was stirred last year. Now we need to get rid of it completely,” added Kadyrov.


What will happen to our churches when a majority of the membership does not have an ethnic lineage similar to the ethnic jurisdiction to which the church belongs? I was at a Greek festival yesterday. It was a church to which I had never been, but desired to support it. I am not Greek, but I love all things "ethnic." In reading the program for the festival, it was noted that the ethnic makeup of the parish was 40% Greek, and 60% non-Greek. This made me think about future years. This church has been growing mostly through converts. These converts most likely do not convert because the church was Greek, but because the faith was Orthodoxy. What will happen though if or when this parish becomes Greek in name only? What will happen to the Greek festival when the church has only a token number of Greeks, who may be too old to teach the children the dances, or play in the Greek band? I was reminded of my though when I came across an article on the internet about this same Greek/non-Greek split in a Greek church in Mississippi. The parish council president said "We have more converts than Greeks." The priest of this church is a new priest and a convert. When will these churches, who are attracting converts and currently have more converts than Greeks, lose their Greek heritage or traditions? This phenomenon in the Orthodox Church in the USA and other non-traditionally Orthodox countries, may not be new, but it is certainly a issue that will become far more wide spread. As the Orthodox Church gains recognition within the USA, it is inevitable that many churches outside of major metropolitan areas will trend towards fewer first, second or third generation immigrants. The first-wave of Americans that will enter these churches will certainly be indoctrinated in the ways of the ethnic traditions and festivals. But what will happen in two or three generations of Americans? Will these churches be able to maintain traditions when there is not an explicit cultural connection to the tradition? There is already precedent for this "loss" in the churches in America. How? Language. Now, don't get me wrong, I think it is imperative that the language of the Church is the language of the people. But how many churches started in America with services completely in Greek, Arabic, or Russian? How many still exist? Why this change? Because the Bishops and the priests saw that people who had never spoken Greek or Russian or Arabic were entering the church, and they too needed to be served by the church by teaching about God in the language they understood. To me, this is the great beauty of the feast of Pentecost. Not only did Jesus save me through His death and resurrection, but He desired that all nations be baptized. Speaking the languages people understood was the first step. There are people in these proud ethnic churches that lament that their children do not know the language of their ancestors. That they do not care for the traditions they have held. This is the first sign. True, there will always be those that greatly love their heritage and will seek to instill at least some aspect of it in their children and neighbors. But will it be enough to keep the Greek festivals? In the two parishes of which I have been a member, both were under the jurisdiction of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese or North America. Essentially a church of Arabic ethnic heritage. In the first church, it was started by mostly converts, and I was gratefully a member at the founding of the church. There was only one or two "Arabic" families in this church when it was founded. They were overwhelmed by the number of convert families that founded the church. We also had as many Russians and Greeks as Arabs. We had a convert priest that artfully and enthusiastically included as many ethnic traditions as possible, even traditions from cultures that were not part of our church. This was and is a glorious thing! As converts we felt connection through the traditions to the ancient church. The wonderful traditions also had an effect of reinforcing the spiritual understanding that was the catalyst for the tradition. The second parish of which I became a member and am currently a member, has no ethnic members: 100% convert. There is a sadness for me that I do not get to learn about how people of other cultures approached Orthodoxy, just by participating in their traditions. There is a sadness that we do not celebrate St. Barbara's day with the traditional cookies. Or celebrate St. George Day. Or celebrate St. Nicholas day with a particular tradition. Our church does have its own traditions, but these traditions, as lovely as they are, are limited to our church (or to the nearby churches). What is great about the Greek or Arabic or Russian traditions, is that they span churches, nations, peoples, and languages. I hope that as a church in America, we never lose the various ethnic traditions, and never lose sight of the fact that they can be used to bring Orthodoxy to life. Maybe in typical American fashion, our churches, no matter what ethnicity or lack thereof, will investigate and encourage church traditions that we have been given as a gift. In addition, maybe in two or three generations, we will have a set of traditions that are typically American Orthodox, that will reflect our shared heritage.

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