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.
II. FINANCIALMIRROR - No guarantees and no guarantors for the Republic of Cyprus
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.
III. EUBUSINESS - EU urges solution to Macedonia-Greece name row
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.
IV. OLIVEPRESS - Spain says adios to the Med diet
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.
VI. RIANOVOSTI - Saakashvili bigger threat in Black Sea than Mistral ship
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.
VII. PRAVMIR - What Should I Do During Great Lent?
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!