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World Council of Churches acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca expressed grave concern for the people of Ukraine amid the latest developments and escalating tensions threatening peace and security.
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Ukraine is a border between European democracy and the agressive Kremlin nostalgia for the Soviet past. This democratic experiment comes at the great cost.

I am deeply worried by the latest reports of escalating military actions of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, opening up the alarming scenario of an armed conflict causing horrific human suffering, death and destruction. Today, peace on the whole European continent and beyond is facing a serious threat.

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The head of the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine spoke of an “unprovoked, insidious, cynical attack by Russia and Belarus” against his country.

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Shocked by the invasion of the armed forces of the Russian Federation in the territory of Ukraine this morning, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew telephoned Metropolitan Epiphanios, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, expressing his deep sorrow at this blatant violation of any notion of international law and legality, as well as his support to the Ukrainian people struggling “for God and country” and to the families of innocent victims.
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The International Forum "Mediterranean - Border of Peace" is held in Florence (Italy) from February 23-27. At the beginning of the meeting, Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, President of the Episcopal Conference of Italy, read a letter from His Beatitude Sviatoslav. The bishops and mayors of the Mediterranean cities, the Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi and delegates from various international organizations arrived in Tuscany, Italy. Pope Francis will arrive in Florence on Sunday, February 27.

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"Unfortunately, even now there threats emerge, everyone is familiar with what is happening on the borders of our homeland. Therefore, I think that our servicemen must have no doubts that they’ve chosen a rightful path in their lives. By following this path, you are protecting the people even without any military action. The strength of the Armed Forces, the strength of the Russian army — this is already a weapon that protects our people," said the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, whose words were shared by the official website of the Russian Orthodox Church.

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Today, February 22, the 7th All-Church Pilgrimage of Monasticism began in Zaporizhia, attended by more than 120 consecrated persons from different parts of Ukraine. Bishop Mykhailo Bubniy, head of the Patriarchal Commission on Monastic Affairs and Bishop Stepan Menyok, exarch of Donetsk, are taking part in the pilgrimage.

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while the prospect of a renewed Russian invasion in Ukraine is becoming a reality, the Vatican office which oversees Eastern Catholic Churches is considering a request that the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church be given “patriarchal” status. 

During the homily, Bishop Mykola emphasized that “the Sunday of the Prodigal Son on the one hand reminds us that we will soon enter Lent; on the other hand, it reminds us of our sinfulness, because each of us has felt something similar. We know from the history of our own lives how easy it is to fall into sin, but it is very difficult to rise from sin. God, as a merciful Father, awaits our conversion with open arms, granting us His forgiveness.”

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  The Ecumenical Patriarch, during this private visit, was accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria, the Rev Deacon Fr Oekoumenio, Codifier of the Holy and Holy Synod, the Rev Deacon Fr. Michael Giavris, from the Archdiocese of America, and Mr. Themistocles Karanikolas , employee of the Patriarchate.

"Collaboration and dialogue are key to building Europe and to transforming the Mediterranean into a common good." It is the belief of Msgr. Stanislav Hocevar, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Belgrade, due to attend the meeting in Florence of Bishops and Mayors of the Mediterranean region. SIR interviewed him ahead of the inaugural session on 23 February. The lessons learned from the Balkan war to promote coexistence

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The bishops of the Churches of the Mediterranean region will convene in Florence following the 2020 meeting in Bari. Sixty delegates from 20 countries bordering the Mare Nostrum will exchange views on the life of Christian communities in their cities, with a special focus on the theme of citizenship – a central topic of the second conference on the "Mediterranean, Frontier of Peace.” Participants include the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Msgr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, whose pastoral jurisdiction includes Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Cyprus. SIR collected his testimony

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The Metropolitans informed the Patriarch about the developments that this Patriarchate experienced after the Church of Moscow invented the new “Exarchate of Africa”.

Le lundi 14 février 2022 s’ouvre devant la Cour d’assises spéciale de Paris le procès des personnes accusées d’être impliquées dans l’attentat contre le Père Jacques Hamel.

CONSTANTINOPLE – Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew appealed to all the parties involved to “follow the path of dialogue so that peace, stability and justice can prevail in Ukraine,” during his sermon after the Sunday service at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Fanar, Istanbul.

On February 12, 2022, in conclusion of the events marking the sixth anniversary of the meeting of Pope Francis with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia in Havana, a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church led by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, visited the church of St. Germain l’Auxerrois and venerated the Crown of Thorns of the Saviour brought here for a special occasion.

Asmara-Eritrea: It was reported by Radio Erena broadcasting station that the canonical Patriarch Abune Antonios of Eritrea passed away at the age of 92. Abune was the 3rd legitimate Primate of the Eritrean Church who has been under house arrest since 2007.

The Conference is held at the Theological School of Halki, on the occasion of the completion of 50 years since the operation of the School was stopped. The title of the Conference is “From the sad to the happiest: wish and prayer”.

Greece Ipsala Border 12 of the 22 migrants pushed back by Greek Border Units, stripped off from their clothes and shoes have frozen to death.

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Cardinal Péter Erdő, the head of the Hungarian Catholic Church, met Holy See Secretary of State Pietro Parolin in Vatican City on Wednesday.

On the 29th of January, 2022, on The Church and the World TV program shown on Saturdays and Sundays on “Rossiya 24”, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), answered questions fr om the anchor Ekaterina Gracheva
E. Gracheva: Hello! This is the time of the program “The Church and the World” on the TV channel “Rossia 24”, where we talk weekly with the Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk. Hello, Vladyka!--- 

During a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi on Monday, President Isaac Herzog said the Middle East had a stark choice of possible futures, between one of hope and peace and another of Tehran-led chaos.

Answering questions from a correspondent of the "Izvestia" newspaper Sofia Devyatova, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem spoke, in particular, about the threats to the Christian presence in the Holy Land, about his vision of ways to overcome problems in the inter-Orthodox relations, and about vaccination and pilgrimage during the pandemic.

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NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The head of Cyprus’ Orthodox Christian Church said Sunday that he will suspend a dozen priests from his diocese because they refused to heed his call to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

BEIRUT, Jan 30 (Reuters) - A decision by Lebanon's leading Sunni Muslim politician to step back from politics and boycott a parliamentary election in May must not be used as an excuse to call for a delay, the Maronite Christian patriarch said on Sunday.

Visit to the Maronite Patriarchate at Bkerke: L-R: Archbishop Paul El-Sayah; H.E. Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald; H.B. Cardinal Béchara Raï, Patriarch of Antioch; John Fox, chairman of FACE
© Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch

BEIRUT: Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi has reiterated the necessity of implementing the Taif Agreement, international resolutions and the removal of illegal weapons from Lebanon.

(Peter Anderson) On January 22, a delegation from the and met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.Patriarchate of Alexandria visited the Phanar and met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.  At the meeting, the establishment of an exarchate in Africa by the Moscow Patriarchate was discussed.  The delegation also gave the Ecumenical Patriarch a letter from Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria.(link) The three-person delegation consisted of Metropolitan Gregory of Cameroon, Metropolitan Ioannis of Zambia, and Bishop Prodromos of Toliara and South Madagascar.  At the January 10-12 meeting of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, Metropolitan Gregory was the hierarch who made the main presentation relating to the Moscow Patriarchate’s actions in Africa.  The full text of his presentation at the Holy Synod can be read at (link) (in Greek).

Le patriarche maronite, Béchara Raï, s'est déclaré dimanche opposé à de nouvelles taxes qui pourraient être imposées aux Libanais dans le cadre du projet de budget 2022, à l'ordre du jour du premier Conseil des ministres prévu demain lundi après plus de trois mois de paralysie gouvernementale.