I. HOTAIR - God and Man at Ground Zero
Here’s my bottom-line problem with the concatenation of events and trends surrounding the Ground Zero mosque: I see privilege being accorded to Islam, as against situations in which the civil authorities have de-privileged Christianity and Judaism. The reflexive animus against America’s traditional major religions will be recognizable, in what I describe below, to every conservative. Yet in a situation where a very large group of Americans objects to the placement of a particular mosque, government authorities not only don’t privilege the objectors, they castigate them as bigots and override their concerns.There are two relevant tales of Christian developments near Ground Zero. One involves a Greek Orthodox church, St. Nicholas’, which was crushed by the collapse of WTC Tower Two on 9/11. St. Nicholas’ Church was across the street from the World Trade Center. In 2008, a deal was announced with the New York Port Authority to rebuild the church two blocks from its original site. But civil authorities objected to the church’s plans for a larger structure, with a dome and spire in the Greek Orthodox tradition. Their express concern was that the church not be taller than the World Trade Center Memorial. There is no apparent concern about the Park 51 Islamic center being taller than the WTC Memorial (it is). It will not be built as a wholly new structure, of course. But on the other hand, the commercial skyscraper planned by the Port Authority will be a new structure, and it will tower over the WTC Memorial. The principles at work appear to be as follows: new commercial structures may be taller than the Memorial. An Islamic group may occupy a building that is taller than the Memorial and devote it to a religious purpose. But a Christian structure may not be built taller than the Memorial. We must note about St. Nicholas’ that the 2008 deal with the Port Authority entailed a contribution of $20 million from the Authority toward the new building. Certainly, public funding properly gives the Authority some leverage over the structure. St. Nicholas’ hasn’t been singled out for special public benefits, however; it was the only church that was destroyed by the 9/11 attack. Rebuilding it was simply proposed for public funding as part of the overall plan for the 9/11 site. The Port Authority planned to build a platform and foundation for the church, because under the 2008 deal it was to sit on top of a garage and security screening area. In March 2009, Authority officials refused to allow the church to review the plans for the garage and screening area. At that point, talks regarding the church’s rebuilding ground to a halt. The other Christian development is the ongoing question about the fate of the “Ground Zero cross.” This remnant of the WTC was found in the rubble after the 9/11 attack and stood at the site until it was moved to nearby St. Peter’s Church in October 2006, to clear the way for renovations. Atheist organizations, which began objecting to the display of the cross in 2002, oppose its planned incorporation in the WTC Memorial. Although the Port Authority reportedly intends to display the cross at the Memorial, the possibility of a lawsuit by opponents can’t be excluded. Interestingly, there has been no attempt by the MSM or leading politicians to denigrate as bigots the atheists who object to the cross. Nor has the Port Authority’s dilatory approach to rebuilding St. Nicholas’ Church earned it any contumely from them for acting in questionable faith regarding a religious group.
II. USATODAY - Obama signs border security bill, with no comment
President Obama signed a new border security bill today, but didn't comment on it or the prospects of more immigration legislation down the line. Only photographers were allowed into the Oval Office ceremony. No reporters. The Southwest Border Security Bill provides $60 million "to enhance technology at the border, share information and support with state, local and tribal law enforcement, and increase (federal) presence and law enforcement activities at the border," the White House said in a statement. Regarding new federal help, the Justice and Homeland Security departments will provide "increased agents, investigators and prosecutors, as part of a multilayered effort to target illicit networks trafficking in people, drugs, illegal weapons and money," the statement added. Obama has called for comprehensive immigration reform that includes not only better security on the border, but a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants who are already here. Republican critics support a tighter border, but citizenship proposals amount to amnesty for lawbreakers.
III. B92 - Serbia looks to freeze Kosovo recognitions
President Boris Tadić has sent 55 of his personal emissaries to as many countries, pleading that they do not recognize Kosovo. Belgrade daily Večernje Novosti writes today that this "diplomatic campaign" is already bearing fruit. What the newspaper refers to as the "shuttle diplomacy" is directed as those countries that are under great pressure to recognize Kosovo, while Tadić's letter explains Belgrade's position after the ICJ advisory opinion and calls on these states not to change their stance on Kosovo. Although new recognitions were announced for the days after the court's ruling, none have materialized thus far. On July 22, the top UN court said that the Kosovo Albanian unilateral declaration of independence, made in February 2008, and rejected by Serbia as an illegal attempt at secession, did not violate international law, since no provision in it actively prohibited such proclamations. The ICJ did not rule on the right to secession and self-determination. Among the countries that the newspaper says "great powers" are pressuring to recognize Kosovo are EU's Slovakia, Romania, Spain, Greece and Cyprus, Caribbean and Central American countries, some members of the Non-Aligned Movement, and former British and French colonies. The government has not revealed the names of Tadić's emissaries, "for diplomatic reasons". Kosovo has been recognized by 69 out of 192 UN member-states. The territory itself has not been able to join the UN.
IV. WINNIPEGFREEPRESS - Sailors may have gorged on olives aboard 2,300-old Cyprus shipwreck
A marine archaeologist says plenty of olives kept ancient seafarers going aboard a wine-carrying ship that sank off Cyprus' southern coast 2,300 years ago. Stella Demesticha of the University of Cyprus said Thursday that hundreds of olive pits found at the wreck indicate the fruit was a likely a staple of the crew's diet at a time when sailors mostly were limited to dried foods. The vessel's sand-buried hull was found in 2007 at a depth of 45 metres (150 feet) just off the southern coastal village of Mazotos. It was carrying hundreds of wine amphorae — or large terra-cotta vases — from Chios and other Aegean Sea islands. Demesticha said lead rods forming part of an anchor also were found where the ship's bow is thought to be.
V. RIANOVOSTI - U.S. ready to supply firefighting equipment to Russia
The United States is ready to supply firefighting equipment to Russia to help deal with continuing wildfires and peat bog fires caused by abnormally hot weather, the Kremlin press service said. U.S. President Barack Obama made a phone call to his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev late on Thursday to express his condolences about the disastrous environmental situation in Central Russia. "Obama reiterated the U.S. readiness to supply the necessary firefighting equipment and render expert assistance," reads the statement, posted on the kremlin.ru website. A scorching heat wave has gripped much of European Russia since mid-June, which coupled with the worst drought since the 1970s has made the countryside particularly susceptible to wildfires. Thousands of emergency workers and military personnel have been working round the clock for almost three weeks to fight fires in 22 Russian regions, which have so far killed more than 50 people and left over 3,500 homeless. The immediate economic cost of the fires has been estimated at $15 billion.
Experiencing the worst heat wave in Russia since record-keeping began more than 130 years ago, the Russian people have been suffering from uninterrupted high temperatures for the past 50 days and deteriorating air quality as a result of more than 500 active fires burning nationwide. News agencies have reported that more than 50 people have died so far from the fires and an estimated 5,000 others have died as a result of the heat and poor air quality in Western Russia. International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), in consultation with the Orthodox Church in America, is working with its partners in the Russian Orthodox Church to formulate an appropriate IOCC response to this latest humanitarian crisis. Constantine M. Triantafilou, IOCC Executive Director, expressed his concern at the situation, stating, "We pray for those who have died. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those mourning the loss of loved ones. We are also steadfast in our prayers for all who have been affected by the wildfires." In addition to the immediate concern for the loss of life, it is estimated that approximately one third of Russia's wheat crop has burned. One of the world's largest exporters of wheat, Russia has suspended its wheat exports. You can help the victims of disasters around the world, like the Russian Heat Wave and Wildfires, by making a financial gift to the IOCC International Emergency Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief as well as long-term support through the provision of emergency aid, recovery assistance and other support to help those in need. To make a gift, please visit www.iocc.org. IOCC, founded in 1992 as the official humanitarian aid agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), has implemented over $330 million in relief and development programs in 33 countries around the world. IOCC has been providing emergency relief to Russia since the organization's first airlift in 1992. Since that time, IOCC has implemented more than $60 million in aid projects throughout the Russian Federation.
VII. GREEKREPORTER - Greece’s Most Celebrated Holy Virgin
The passing of the Holy Virgin is celebrated in different regions of Greece and in many other countries where there is a Greek presence . The Holy Virgin Maria (Panagia) is considered the most holy person of Orthodoxy and her passing is called “The Easter of the Summer”. On Tinos, Mount Athos, and throughout Greece a large group of followers gather at churches and to the processions of the icon of “Megalohari”, or great grace. Many names are given to the Virgin Mary depending on the place where the icons were found. Some of these names are: “Soumela”, “Melikarou”, “Fodeliotissa”, “Thalassini”, “Anemi”, etc. There are over one thousand names and many traditions and legends. Many Christians go to the island of Tinos in the summer to visit the church of “Megalohari” (of great grace). Many of the followers travel from the port to the church on their knees. “Panagia Soumela” In Vermion near the village of Kastania, there is the center of the Pontian Greeks at The Monastery of “Panagia Soumela”. According to tradition, the Evangelist Loucas carved the icon of the Virgin Maria on wood. In the 4th century monks Varnavas and Sofronios, founded in Trapezounta, Turkey the monastery “Panagia Soumela”. After the exchange of populations, the Turkish government gave the holy heirlooms to the Greek government after the actions of the Greek Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos in 1931. In 1952 the Greek history of the icon began in the region of Vermio, where the association “Panagia Soumela” in Thessaloniki started the construction of a Monastery near the village of Kastania. By then many Christians travel to the Monastery annualy to visit the icon of the Virgin Maria ‘Soumela’. The garden of Holy Virgin Mary: “The garden of Holy Virgin Mary” is the name given to Mount Athos. According to tradition the Virgin Mary stopped to Mount Athos with John the Evangelist during their trip to Cyprus due to a tempest. She was excited by the beautiful landscape and she ask her son to gift her the place. “Panagia Kosmosotira” (savior of the world): In the southeast of Evros in Ferres, there is the church of Panagia Kosmosotira (the Holy Virgin, Saver of the world). It was built in 1151-52 by Isaakios Komninos son of emperor Alexios Komninos. “Panagia Ecossifinissa”: Built in Paggeon, Drama the monastery was founded by Saint Germanos in 518 A.C. Currently outside the monastery there is now a church of the Dormition of the Holy Virgin, the cells of the monks, the priory, the hospice, a chapel of Saint Paraskevi and a museum. The “Easter of the summer” in Grevena: Every summer in the region of Grevena, thousands of immigrants visit the villages and meet their relatives. The center of celebrations is the village of Samarina where thousands of Christians visit “Megali Panagia”. “Panagia Ekatontapiliani”: In Paros there is “Panagia Ekatontapiliani”; one of the greatest byzantine monuments in Greece. The 15th of August holds many areevents, dances and fireworks. On other islands such as in Corfu, Patmos and Ikaria, Christians attend funeral processions for the Holy Virgin. In Dodecanese, the most known name is “Kavouriani” i.e. “of crabs”, because a fisherman found the icon while he was searching for crabs. On Lipsi island there is “Panagia tou Harou” i.e. “of death”. This icon is unique because it is the only one that shows the Virgin Maria to hold the crucifix instead of the child. Since 1942 the icon is adorned with the “lilies of the Virgin Maria”. “Panagia Spiliani” i.e. “of the cave”: Nisiros island holds the “Panagia Spiliani” i.e. “of the cave”. The name originates from the cave in which there icon since 1600 A.C. “Panagia Diasozousa”: On Patmos there is “Panagia Diasozousa” i.e. “the Saver”, the church of the Virgin Mary Apolou, Kampos, the monastery of the Virgin Mary in Livadi, the Koumana in Skala and many more destinations for the Virgin Mary. On the island of Kalimnos there is the “Panagia of Tsoukhouon”, “Kirapsili”, “Arginonton”, “Telendou”, “Pserimou” and “Vothinon." In Astipalea,there is the name “Portaitissa”. There is also the monastery of the Virgin Mary Vlefariotissa and the monastery of the Poulariani. The church of “Panagia Gorgoipikoos” is on the island of Cos and was built in the 15th century. In Asklipio, Rhodes, there is the Church of the Dormition of the Holy Virgin built in the 11th century. There is also a church of the Dormition in Messanagro built the 13th century. Near this region there is also “Panagia Plimiriani”, a small monastery of the 17th century. In the valley of butterflies there is “Panagia Kalopetra” established in 1489. In Lindos there is the church of the Holy Virgin originating in 15th century. In Skiadi there is Panagia Skiadeni, where an ancient temple of Artemis used to lie. In Agiassos, Lesvos an icon of the Holy Virgin with the name “Agia Sion” was located. The monastery of the Holy Virgin in Proussos, Evritania is dedicated to the dormition of the Virgin Mary.It originates from Proussa, Asia Minor. Is is known to be made by Evangelist Loucas.