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DAVID MARCUS: Why the government must protect our neighborhoods from violent protests

Wed, 13 May 2026 10:16:14 -0400

The scenes in Brooklyn this week of anti-Israel agitators flooding into a Jewish residential neighborhood to decry the Jewish state need to be a wake-up call to all of us, and we must plainly say, "Don’t make trouble where our families live."

The images of terrified Orthodox Jews on their porches watching as their tree-lined streets were taken over by radical progressives, several of whom were arrested for acts of violence, requires a firm response from the government, which must protect our residential areas from mayhem.

While the Constitution protects protest, even in residential areas, such as outside the home of a Supreme Court justice, there are measures the government can take to prevent violence and intimidation in such areas.

Here is how Ilya Shapiro, director of constitutional studies at the Manhattan Institute, put it:

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"The Constitution protects the right to protest, but as with speech protections more broadly, there can be time, place, and manner restrictions," he told me. "Someone can properly be charged for disturbing the peace for using a megaphone at 2am to express his views about political leaders. More pointedly, a state or municipality can define ‘disturbing the peace’ in a way that protects residential areas as it does for schools, houses of worship, and other sensitive areas."

So, for example, local, state and federal governments can and should provide far stiffer penalties for protest-related crimes committed in a residential area, where the clear goal is not speech, but intimidation.

Agitation in residential areas has a long and fraught history in our culture, from medieval anti-Jewish pogroms to the ransacking of Catholic neighborhoods in Elizabethan London, to the KKK of the Jim Crow South, and the Crown Heights riots of the 1990s. It rarely ends well.

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I’m not sure that there is even one historical example of protest in residential enclaves bringing about positive, peaceful change, but examples of chaos and violence abound, written in blood.

Both Renee Good and Alex Pretti would be alive today had they been protesting in a traditional manner in a public square instead of physically impeding federal agents in residential neighborhoods.

Since the dawn of civilization, towns and cities have been built with large public spaces that grant egress and exits, that allow a safe place for throngs of thousands to celebrate or protest. But that is not what residential areas are for.

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What purpose could there be in marching past the homes of innocent Jews to protest the Jewish homeland, other than pure intimidation?

These are the same deranged leftists who think there should be no buffer zones for their protests outside of synagogues. But why? Why do they need to be in arm's reach of their Jewish targets, if not to intimidate or assault them?

This is why federal legislation to enhance penalties for protest-related crimes in residential areas is essential, and we know that such measures work because, ever since Don Lemon and his band of idiots invaded a Minnesota church and were arrested, no other churches have been overrun.

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Likewise, as soon as the Trump administration made clear in 2020 that destroying federal statues would get you 10 years in jail, the statues magically stopped falling.

In a sane world, protest organizers themselves, or their leaders like New York City Mayor Zohran "Madman" Mamdani, would insist that demonstrations never occur in residential areas, that people’s homes be respected. But don’t hold your breath.

For whatever maniacal reason, these leftists think it is not only their right, but their responsibility to inflict chaos and fear on Jews until everyone comes around to their pro-Hamas politics of terror, a cabal of cowards frightening children.

As idiotic and reprehensible as the behavior is, we cannot stop progressive loonies from setting up camp outside the house of a conservative judge or a member of the Trump administration. Sometimes, in fact, with some regularity, freedom of speech becomes freedom to be a moron.

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But we can make clear that, if in so doing, you break the law, it’s not just a ticket and a summons but real jail time for terrorizing people on the streets where they and their children live.

Brooklyn is known as the city of homes and churches, and we are very lucky that, so far, the targeting of those homes and places of worship by lefty protesters has not left anyone dead. But before that luck runs out, Congress should act, and protect our residences and our families from political violence.

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Ukraine, Russia claim thousands of violations of Putin-imposed holiday ceasefire

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:56:32 -0400

Russia and Ukraine traded accusations of hundreds of attacks Sunday, casting doubt on a Kremlin-declared Easter ceasefire that appeared to be unraveling less than a day after it began.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a 32-hour ceasefire for the Orthodox Easter holiday, ordering forces to halt fighting from Saturday afternoon through the end of Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to honor the pause but warned Kyiv would respond quickly to any violations.

The holiday ceasefire, however, appeared to be short-lived.

Ukraine’s military said it had logged 2,299 ceasefire violations by early Sunday morning, including assaults, shelling and small drone activity, though it noted no use of long-range drones, missiles or guided bombs.

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A Ukrainian officer told The Associated Press that Russian troops continued attacking positions despite the declared truce.

Russia’s Defense Ministry fired back, accusing Ukrainian forces of 1,971 violations, including drone strikes in the border regions of Kursk and Belgorod that allegedly injured civilians.

The head of Russia's Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said Sunday that the bodies of two civilians have been recovered following an alleged Ukrainian attack on Saturday.

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The dueling claims highlight the deep mistrust between the two sides and underscore the difficulty of enforcing even temporary pauses in fighting.

Past ceasefire attempts have collapsed quickly, with both nations routinely blaming each other. A similar truce declared by Putin last Easter also unraveled amid accusations of violations from both sides.

Irena Bulhakova told The Associated Press at a holiday gathering outside Kyiv that she had her doubts about any ceasefires as Russia’s four-year war on Ukraine drags on.

"Every time a ceasefire is announced for a holiday, the shelling continues regardless," she said.

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Reflecting on the meaning of the Orthodox Easter holiday, she added: "Good triumphs over darkness, and we hope for that very much."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Pope Leo joins Eastern and Western patriarchs in Turkey to pray for Christian unity

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 13:14:10 -0500

Pope Leo XIV joined Eastern and Western patriarchs and priests Friday in commemorating an important anniversary in Christian history, gathering at the site in Turkey of an unprecedented A.D. 325 meeting of bishops to pray that Christians might once again be united.

Leo, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and other Christian leaders met on the shores of Lake Iznik, the site of the Council of Nicaea that produced a creed, or statement of faith, that is still recited by millions of Christians today.

Standing over the ruins of the site, the men recited the creed, which Leo said was "of fundamental importance in the journey that Christians are making toward full communion."

"In this way, we are all invited to overcome the scandal of the divisions that unfortunately still exist and to nurture the desire for unity for which the Lord Jesus prayed and gave his life," he said.

The prayer marked the highlight of Leo’s visit to Turkey and the main reason for his trip, the first of his pontificate.

POPE LEO XIV OPENS FIRST FOREIGN TRIP IN TURKEY WITH A VISIT TO CHRISTIANITY’S EARLY HEARTLANDS

A crucial moment in Christianity

The Nicaea gathering took place at a time when the Eastern and Western churches were still united. They split in the Great Schism of 1054, a divide precipitated largely by disagreements over the primacy of the pope. But even today, Catholic, Orthodox and most historic Protestant groups accept the Nicaean Creed, making it a point of agreement and the most widely accepted creed in Christendom.

As a result, celebrating its origins at the site of its creation with the spiritual leaders of the Catholic and Orthodox churches and other Christian representatives marked a historic moment in the centuries-old quest to reunite all Christians.

"The Nicene Creed acts like a seed for the whole of our Christian existence. It is a symbol not of a bare minimum; it is a symbol of the whole," said Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians.

At the start of the prayer service, he told the men they were gathering not just to remember the past.

"We are here to bear living witness to the same faith expressed by the fathers of Nicaea. We return to this wellspring of the Christian faith in order to move forward," he said.

A prayer for unity

Roman Emperor Constantine had convened the gathering of bishops from around the Roman Empire after he had consolidated control following years of civil war and political intrigues.

Constantine wouldn’t formally convert to Christianity until the end of his life, in 337. But by 325, he had already been showing tolerance and favor toward a Christian sect that had emerged from the last great spasm of Roman persecution.

The version of the creed that emerged from the council, and recited today by Catholics, begins: "I believe in one God, the Father almighty … "

The service commemoration, which featured alternating Catholic and Orthodox hymns, took place at the lakeside archaeological excavations of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytos. The stone foundations of the basilica, which were recently uncovered by the lake’s receding waters, are believed to be on the site of an earlier church that hosted the council 1,700 years ago.

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In addition to Leo and Bartholomew, the participants of the commemorative service included priests, patriarchs and bishops from Orthodox Greek, Syrian, Coptic, Malankarese, Armenian, Protestant and Anglican churches.

In his remarks to the men, Leo said all Christians must strongly reject the use of religion to justify war, violence "or any form of fundamentalism or fanaticism."

"Instead, the paths to follow are those of fraternal encounter, dialogue and cooperation," he said.

A brief protest before Leo arrived

Christians are a minority in predominantly Sunni Muslim Turkey, and ahead of the prayer in Iznik, around 20 members of a small Turkish Islamic party staged a brief protest. They said the encounter posed a threat to Turkey’s sovereignty and national identity.

Under a heavy police presence, Mehmet Kaygusuz, a member of the New Welfare Party, read a statement denouncing what he said were efforts to establish a "Vatican-like Greek Orthodox state" in Turkey. The group dispersed peacefully shortly after.

Iznik resident Suleyman Bulut, 35, acknowledged his town’s deep historical and spiritual significance for Christians and said he had no issue with them coming to honor their heritage.

"Muslims (too) should go and visit places that belong to us in the rest of the world, in Europe," he said.

But Hasan Maral, a 41-year-old shopkeeper, said he felt uncomfortable with the visit. "The pope coming here feels contradictory to my faith," he said.

A boost for Turkey’s tiny Catholic community

Leo began his first full day in Istanbul by encouraging Turkey’s tiny Catholic community to find strength in their small numbers. According to Vatican statistics, Catholics number around 33,000 in a nation of 85 million, most of whom are Sunni Muslims.

He received a raucous welcome at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, where he was greeted with shouts of "Papa Leo" and "Viva il Papa" (Long Live the pope).

"The logic of littleness is the church’s true strength," Leo told them in English. "The significant presence of migrants and refugees in this country presents the church with the challenge of welcoming and serving some of the most vulnerable."

Leo later visited with a group of nuns, the Little Sisters of the Poor, who run a nursing home in Istanbul.

"He was so simple. We just felt he was at home. He felt very much at ease. Everybody got what they expected: a blessing, a kind word. It’s just enormous," said Sister Margret of the Little Sisters of the Poor Nursing Home.

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On Saturday, Leo continues with his ecumenical focus, meeting with Bartholomew and other Christian leaders. But he’ll also visit the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, commonly known as the Blue Mosque, and will celebrate a late afternoon Mass in Istanbul’s Volkswagen Arena.

Leo heads to Lebanon on Sunday for the second and final leg of his trip.

All Jewish councils in key New Jersey area endorse Jack Ciattarelli for governor: report

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 17:12:45 -0400

In a first for New Jersey politics, Orthodox Jewish leaders across Ocean County have united behind Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, forming one of the state’s most influential faith-based voting coalitions, according to a report.

The Lakewood Scoop reported that the endorsement — announced jointly by councils representing Lakewood, Jackson, Toms River, Howell, and Manchester — marks an unprecedented show of unity from a community that has become a decisive force in New Jersey politics.

The Vaad — Lakewood’s longtime community council — worked closely with counterparts in nearby towns to align this year’s endorsements.

Leaders told The Lakewood Scoop the effort reflects a deliberate move toward broader collaboration across municipal lines, stressing that this election season is about unity, turnout and shared priorities.

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"While the process took a little longer than usual, this time it was for a meaningful reason – for the first time, we worked to ensure that all towns are united and on the same page," organizers told the outlet. "The focus has been on Achdus – unity and collaboration – so that every community’s voice is represented in one strong collective statement."

"Every single vote in every single town is critical in this election," they added. "Each area has its own local races and priorities, but together we share a larger responsibility – turning out every possible vote. This election will be decided by turnout. Let’s make sure our communities are heard loud and clear at the ballot box."

The Lakewood Scoop also obtained letters from local communities underscoring that unity, including one sent to residents in Howell urging every eligible voter to take part in the election.

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"Our voice is only as strong as the number of people who actually vote," the letter reads. "We strongly recommend voting for the following individuals who have shown care and friendship toward our community: TOGETHER WITH OUR FRIENDS IN NEIGHBORING TOWNS, JACK CIATTARELLI FOR GOVERNOR."

The letter also lists additional candidates for state and local offices.

The Lakewood Vaad issued an urgent call for unity and turnout across the Orthodox Jewish community, emphasizing that every vote matters as New Jersey enters a pivotal election season. The letter highlights the Vaad’s long-standing practice of consulting rabbinic leadership and community representatives to reach collective, values-based political decisions.

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Leaders described voting as both a civic duty and an expression of gratitude to officials who have supported local priorities — especially education funding, transportation and religious freedom.

After thanking President Donald Trump for his efforts on behalf of Israel and his fight against antisemitism, the Vaad endorsed Ciattarelli for governor, citing his alignment with the community’s concerns over schooling, infrastructure and taxes.

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The Vaad said, "Remember, your vote is your voice. Make it count for our community’s continued strength and influence."

Ciattarelli aims to flip New Jersey from blue to red as he faces Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill.

Martin Scorsese brings St. Sebastian's story of steadfast faith, martyrdom, to Fox Nation

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 09:46:17 -0500

Not much is known for certain about St. Sebastian, an early Christian martyr, but his life story has been shared and admired for millennia.

He was referred to as a saint long before the official canonization process was established. St. Sebastian's story of deep faith in the face of persecution has been inspiring Christians ever since his martyrdom at the order of the Roman emperor Diocletian.

This patron saint of athletes and soldiers is the subject of the latest installment of legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese's "The Saints," streaming now on Fox Nation.

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"The stories of the early saints were spread from person to person, and they gradually became legend – that is, the realm where historical truth gives way to a spiritual truth," Scorsese narrates.

Since his martyrdom, St. Sebastian has "lived on as a kind of prototype, a supreme example, of absolute and undying faith," he also says.

The episode takes viewers back to the streets of third century Rome, at a time when Christians were about to be under intense persecution by the Roman emperor – Diocletian.

Diocletian "wanted to bring back the glory days of the Pax Romana, to make Rome great again," said Scorsese.

Among the steps taken by Diocletian was a return to Rome's pagan religion, with a pantheon of gods.

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Previously, noted Scorsese, Christian beliefs had been tolerated, "but Diocletian reverted to the old ways. He ruled by divine right of the Roman gods, making anyone who refused to worship them a threat to his power."

Sebastian, who at the time was a commander of the Praetorian Guard, an elite cohort of soldiers who were charged with protecting the emperor, is keeping a secret: He is a Christian.

Meanwhile, twin brothers and deacons, Marcellus and Marcellianus, had been captured and were imprisoned.

In their cell, they were told if they made a sacrifice to the Roman gods, they would be released without further punishment.

Their parents, Tranquillinus and Martia, are not Christians. The parents were not previously aware of their sons' faiths — and they tell their sons to make the sacrifice.

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Sebastian tells the guard, Nicostratus, that he wishes to speak to Marcellus and Marcellianus alone. He reveals to the brothers that he, too, is a Christian and encourages them to remain steadfast in their faith.

"Brother, don't you believe?" asks Sebastian. "Then you must know, we only answer to the one true God. Not to our ancestors, not to our elders, not to our father, not to our mother – to God."

Following God, as Sebastian reminds the brothers, is the "only way of salvation" — and while they may be tortured or killed, their persecutors "can't touch your soul."

Overhearing Sebastian's message to Marcellus and Marcellianus, Nicostratus confronts them, before dropping his sword and falling to his knees, overcome with emotion.

"It was impossible, unthinkable," said Scorsese. "Nicostratus, the terror of all Roman Christians, had converted to Christianity. He freed all of his prisoners, and he had his entre household baptized."

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This was the start of "dramatic, mass conversions" that were happening throughout Rome, said Scorsese. "And Sebastian was at the secret heart of it all."

All would not stay well, however. Nicostratus, Marcellus and Marcellianus would all soon be martyred, and Sebastian's Christianity would be discovered.

Sebastian, too, would see the same fate as his fellow Christians – but he would not go down quietly.

"The Saints" follows the lives and legacies of saints such as Sebastian, who serve as examples of tenacity, courage and righteousness in the face of adversity.

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The eight episodes explore the lives of Joan of Arc, John the Baptist, Sebastian, Maximilian Kolbe, Francis of Assisi, Thomas Becket, Mary Magdalene and Moses the Black, with Scorsese and his team journeying over 2,000 years of history to focus on these extraordinary figures and their extreme acts of kindness, selflessness and sacrifice.

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To watch weekly installments of "The Saints," sign up for Fox Nation and begin streaming the series today. Fox Nation is offering a 3-month free trial with the promo code "SAINTS."

Catholic bishop and Orthodox artist discuss materialism, scientific arguments for Christ, reunification

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 05:20:47 -0400

A Catholic bishop and an Orthodox artist are asking believers and non-believers of all backgrounds to open their minds to a world more complex than what is visible.

Bishop Robert Barron, the most widely followed Catholic bishop in the world outside the Vatican, hosted his second annual Wonder Conference focusing on the intersection between faith and science.

ӣ��Ƶ Digital sat down with the bishop and his guest speaker, Orthodox liturgical artist Jonathan Pageau, to talk about how human beings should conceive faith and science in their daily lives.

"People are victims of indoctrination," Barron told ӣ��Ƶ Digital about the increasingly atheistic culture in the Western world. "When it comes to materialism, materialism isn't something the sciences yield. Materialism is a philosophy. It's a philosophical view, and it's ultimately incoherent […] You cannot be a scientist and not believe, at least implicitly, in the invisible – that's to say, in the purely intelligible pattern."

Pageau feels similarly, telling ӣ��Ƶ Digital that one of the main goals of his work is "trying to kind of shatter some of the presuppositions that people have" about what God is.

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"What are we talking about when we talk about 'God'?" he asked during the interview. "There's still people that think that God is basically a guy – an invisible guy that is just equal to all material reality. And that's what the ancients talked about when they talked about ‘gods.’"

"Ultimately, the source of all reality is the transcendent God," Pageau continued, adding that he hoped his artwork and speeches were "helping people see that again."

The 2024 Wonder Conference, held this year in the Barron's home Diocese of Winona-Rochester, is focused on the theme of "Nature and the Human Body."

The conference ran from Aug. 2 to 4 and boasted speakers from a variety of backgrounds, including theoretical physicists, priests, scholars of gender studies, philosophers and computer scientists.

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"The human body is at the core of today’s most controversial topics, including evolution, artificial intelligence and gender ideology," according to Wonder organizers. "It’s become more important than ever to become confident when talking with friends and family about these topics."

In addition to the hundreds of Catholics attending the conference in-person, its lectures and keynotes were livestreamed for free online.

Pageau spoke at Wonder on Saturday in a lecture titled "The Body as a Symbol and the Symbol of the Body."

The Orthodox liturgical artist has become popular through his YouTube series "The Symbolic World" – videos that examine patterns of meaning and symbolism in Scripture with lectures such as "Sacrifice: The Paradox of Salvation" and "Ritualized Behavior from Animals to Church."

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Barron said he originally met Pageau through mutual academic connections, including behavioral psychologist and lecturer Dr. Jordan Peterson.

Barron and Pageau, despite their denominational differences, preach a similarly complex and intricate conception of God rooted in the earliest theologians of Christianity – from a time when denominational distinction did not yet exist among believers.

It was Pageau's methodology for explaining the Scriptures that ultimately convinced Barron to collaborate with the Orthodox speaker – a focus on early Christian leaders that Barron also picked up earlier in life after what he described as an unsatisfying catechesis.

"It was [Pageau's] way of reading the Bible, which is very patristic, based on the Church fathers. And I grew up with a very rationalistic approach to the Scriptures that was kind of a spiritually dead end, actually. And I came upon the fathers eventually," Barron told ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

He continued, "But when I heard Jonathan speaking about them, I thought, 'That's right. That's the best way to open up the meaning of the Scriptures in a way that honors the Scriptures.'"

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"The major difference, as far as I'm concerned, would be the papacy. That is the major point of demarcation," Barron said of their divergent beliefs. "Now there is a theological dimension to it, to be sure, but it's also a juridical issue."

And while both would be thrilled to see the Catholic Church and Orthodox Communion reunite after nearly 1,000 years of schism, neither wants such a reunion to be rushed or haphazard.

"I'm sitting here with Bishop Barron and I love him very much, and I appreciate our discussion," Pageau said. "But I honestly hope, at least in the short term, that [unification] doesn't happen. And I know that sounds might sound mean at the outset, but I think that we […] have to be careful not to gloss over things."

He continued, "Like if we are going to have reunification, it has to be a true unification that heals the things that make us different. If we just try to plow over it, and we try to impose it top down, or we try to just make it happen, for kind of political or… ideological reasons. I think that it will cause a lot of chaos down the line."

A pre-recorded discussion between Barron and Pageau is soon to be published on the bishop's YouTube channel, in which the two dive deeper into their shared approach to theology and Christian witness.

Ukrainian-American pastor joins faith leaders counseling, reinvigorating chaplains on the frontlines

Thu, 09 May 2024 07:05:08 -0400

A Ukrainian-born American pastor is contributing to supporting efforts for chaplains on the front lines against the ongoing Russian invasion.

Andrew Moroz — a lead elder at Gospel Community Church in Lynchburg, Virginia — is currently volunteering in Ukraine, helping military chaplains to recuperate from the traumas of the conflict.

"I show up where I’m needed and invited. I come to listen and to learn first," Moroz told ӣ��Ƶ Digital. "If I can model a faith that is curious and humble, as well as courageous — that’s what I want these chaplains to bring to the soldiers they serve."

ӣ��Ƶ Digital reached out to Moroz to learn more about the very recent creation of Ukraine's chaplaincy corps, how its clerics and faith leaders operate, and the challenges they face alongside normal combatants.

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Chaplains in the Ukrainian conflict are divided into two groups — enlisted soldiers and volunteers supported by churches or regional dioceses.

The Military Chaplaincy Service is a brand-new structure within the Ukrainian armed forces, introduced in 2022 by an act of the nation's parliament. Prior to its introduction, the only spiritual support provided to soldiers was auxiliary programs run independently by churches.

Training for chaplains inside and outside the armed forces is disorganized and lacks standardization. Many are forced to learn on the job and pick up pastoral skills as they go.

Ukraine is an overwhelmingly Christian country with a solid Eastern Orthodox majority, followed by a smaller contingency of Catholics, and an even smaller Protestant minority.

Sergii Dadsko — a chaplain who began volunteering in 2014 working with civilian refugees — now puts most of his effort into serving soldiers. He studied at a seminary before the invasion, but says most of his training has been through his wartime ministry.

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Mykhailo Hryhoruk is a member of Olive Branch, an organization coordinating religious support for years across Ukraine. Olive Branch has given Mykhailo opportunities to take courses and attend seminary classes in Kyiv and Ryvne.

The pair work together, often coordinating relief for soldiers coming out of combat to resupply or due to injuries. The chaplains help soldiers find showers and a place to rest. They serve all members of the military, regardless of their religious beliefs or lack thereof.

In between the logistical work of caring for the wounded and exhausted, they find time to read Scripture and invite others to join them.

The work is crucial, Moroz says, as Ukrainian society continues suffering an overwhelming mental toll in the face of massive casualties.

"In the midst of trauma and conflict, I have personally experienced both individuals who are finding their faith and actively expressing it, and individuals who are experiencing a crisis of faith," Moroz told ӣ��Ƶ Digital. "I would say the longer this war goes, the more I see discouragement and hardening of hearts. I heard one of the volunteers say this week, trauma will either drown you (harden you) or it will teach you how to float (it will tenderize your heart)."

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Moroz, through his Renewal Initiative program, is one of many foreign faith leaders entering Ukraine in order to support those aiding the soldiers.

"I just finished a three-day retreat on a beautiful (and peaceful) camp property outside of Kyiv. We had between 80–100 chaplains and civilian volunteers that have been actively serving others during the last two years (some longer - since 2014)," Moroz said. "I brought four mental health specialists with me and three other pastors. We had self-care/self-assessment sessions based around physical, emotional, and spiritual care. Outside of the sessions, the guests set counseling appointments with the therapists."

He continued, "With the help of donors from the United States, we were able to purchase delicious and wholesome food, hire massage therapists, and provide a sauna experience. There were also moments of prayer for personal health and the country of Ukraine. We were told that this is something that is desperately needed in Ukraine and does not exist broadly."

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is now in its second year. Hard figures on military and civilian casualties are impossible to accurately calculate, but numbers in the tens of thousands for both sides.

Greece legalizes same-sex civil marriage despite Orthodox Christian church opposition

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 08:53:39 -0500

Greece legalized same-sex civil marriage, making it the first Orthodox Christian country to do so, despite opposition from the Greek Church.
A cross-party majority of 176 lawmakers out of 300 voted in favor of the bill, with 76 against, two abstaining and 46 not present during the vote.
The law grants full parental rights to married same-sex partners with children but excludes surrogacy for gay couples within Greece.

Greece on Thursday became the first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex civil marriage, despite opposition from the influential, socially conservative Greek Church.

A cross-party majority of 176 lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament voted late Thursday in favor of the landmark bill drafted by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ' center-right government. Another 76 rejected the reform while two abstained from the vote and 46 were not present in the house.

Mitsotakis tweeted after the vote that Greece "is proud to become the 16th (European Union) country to legislate marriage equality."

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"This is a milestone for human rights, reflecting today’s Greece — a progressive, and democratic country, passionately committed to European values," he wrote.

Scores of supporters of the reform who had gathered outside parliament and were watching the debate on a screen cheered loudly and hugged as the vote result was announced.

"This took a long time to be adopted in our country … but at least it happened and that’s what is important," said a man who only gave his first name, Nikolas. "We are no longer invisible."

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Earlier, people opposed to the bill had also protested nearby, holding prayer books and religious icons.

Opinion polls suggest that most Greeks support the reform by a narrow margin, and the issue has failed to trigger deep divisions in a country more worried about the high cost of living.

The bill was backed by four left-wing parties, including the main opposition Syriza.

"This law doesn’t solve every problem, but it is a beginning," said Spiros Bibilas, a lawmaker from the small left-wing Passage to Freedom party, who is openly gay.

It was approved despite several majority and left-wing lawmakers abstaining or voting against the reform. Three small far-right parties and the Stalinist-rooted Communist Party rejected the draft law from the start of the two-day debate.

"People who have been invisible will finally be made visible around us. And with them, many children (will) finally find their rightful place," Mitsotakis told lawmakers ahead of the evening vote.

"Both parents of same-sex couples do not yet have the same legal opportunities to provide their children with what they need," he added. "To be able to pick them up from school, to be able to travel, to go to the doctor, or take them to the hospital. ... That is what we are fixing."

The bill confers full parental rights on married same-sex partners with children. But it precludes gay couples from parenthood through surrogate mothers in Greece — an option currently available to women who can't have children for health reasons.

Many LGBTQ+ rights advocates have criticized that limitation, as well as the absence of any provision for transgender people.

Psychologist Nancy Papathanasiou, scientific co-director of Orlando LGBT+, which advocates for LGBTQI mental health, echoed that concern but said the new law confers a very important sense of equality.

"Discrimination is the most pervasive risk factor for mental health," she said. "So just knowing that there is less discrimination is protective and promotive for LGBTQI mental health."

Maria Syrengela, a lawmaker from the governing New Democracy, or ND, said the reform redresses a long-standing injustice for same-sex couples and their children.

"And let’s reflect on what these people have been through, spending so many years in the shadows, entangled in bureaucratic procedures," she said.

Dissidents among the governing party included former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, from ND's conservative wing.

"Same-sex marriage is not a human right … and it’s not an international obligation for our country," he told parliament. "Children have a right to have parents from both sexes."

Polls show that while most Greeks agree to same-sex weddings they also reject extending parenthood through surrogacy to male couples. Same-sex civil partnerships have been allowed in Greece since 2015. But that only conferred legal guardianship to the biological parents of children in those relationships, leaving their partners in a bureaucratic limbo.

The main opposition to the new bill has come from the traditionalist Church of Greece — which also disapproves of heterosexual civil marriage.

Church officials have centered their criticism on the bill's implications for traditional family values, and argue that potential legal challenges could lead to a future extension of surrogacy rights to gay couples.

GREECE POISED TO LEGALIZE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, BUCKING ORTHODOX TRADITION

Church supporters and conservative organizations have staged small protests against the proposed law.

Far-right lawmaker Vassilis Stigas, head of the small Spartans party, described the legislation Thursday as "sick" and claimed that its adoption would "open the gates of Hell and perversion."

Politically, the same-sex marriage law is not expected to harm Mitsotakis' government, which won easy re-election last year after capturing much of the centrist vote.

A stronger challenge comes from ongoing protests by farmers angry at high production costs, and intense opposition from many students to the planned scrapping of a state monopoly on university education.

Nevertheless, parliament is expected to approve the university bill later this month, and opinion polls indicate that most Greeks support it.

Greece poised to legalize same-sex marriage, bucking Orthodox tradition

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 10:31:53 -0500

Greece is poised to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide, despite urgent warnings from the Greek Orthodox Church.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, an ostensibly center-right politician, is relying on a coalition with left-wing lawmakers to push through the legislation next week without support from a significant faction of his own New Democracy party.

The proposal has been vehemently opposed by the Greek Orthodox Church — the "prevailing religion" of Greece claiming approximately 90% of the population.

The Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece ruled in a unanimous decision last month that the implementation of same-sex marriage and adoption of children by same-sex couples is inadmissible.

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"Obviously, the State legislates, but this parameter neither deprives the Church of its freedom of speech nor exempts the Church from the duty to inform the faithful people, nor can it indicate to the Church what constitutes sin," the report from the Holy Synod reads. "The Church does not legislate and is not responsible for the laws. If it remains silent, however, it bears a grave responsibility and abolishes itself."

The Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus went so far as to declare, "Those who vote for it cannot remain members of the church."

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Mitsotakis has characterized the legislation as a matter of equality, to avoid "having two classes of citizens and certainly not to have children of a lesser God."

In a speech to his cabinet last month, the prime minister made no apologies for disregarding theology in his goals.

"I appreciate the perspectives of the Church, which I fully respect. This government has, in fact, addressed long-standing practical matters concerning the clergy," Mitsotakis said. "However, let me be clear on this matter: we are discussing the decisions of the Greek State, unrelated to theological beliefs."

The controversy provoked by the legislation highlights a growing divide between secular Greek leaders and the spiritual identity of Greece's population.

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"Historically, we’ve had divergent opinions with the Church on civil marriage, cremation, and the omission of religion from Greek IDs," Mitsotakis said. "Experience has shown that these changes were necessary. They didn’t harm society or the collaboration between the State and the Church, and I am confident the same will apply now."

The prime minister and a coalition vote are expected to pass the proposal on Feb. 15.

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Tue, 09 Jan 2024 15:59:33 -0500

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Russian Orthodox Church condemns abortion as murder, at odds with Putin

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 12:10:23 -0500

The Russian Orthodox Church reaffirmed its strict opposition to abortion this week, putting it at odds with the Kremlin's more relaxed position.

A spokesperson for the church released a statement on Wednesday clarifying that the Holy Synod — the church's governing body chaired by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow — condemns all elective abortion as murder.

"The Church unequivocally equates arbitrary surgical or medical abortion to murder, regardless of the gestational age and the manner in which it is carried out," said church spokesman Vladimir Legoyda, according to translations from the Moscow Times.

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"For that reason, the proclamation of the ‘right to an abortion,’ otherwise the ‘right to murder,’ is unacceptable," Legoyda added.

The church's comprehensive rejection of abortion puts it at odds with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has previously affirmed that women have a limited "right" to terminate their pregnancies.

Putin nixed a federal bill this month that would have outlawed private abortion clinics across Russia.

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The president urged pregnant women considering abortion to "choose to keep the life of the child," but called on officials to "respect for the rights and freedoms of women."

Elective abortion is legal in Russia up to 12 weeks and under special circumstances up to 22 weeks.

Russia's Holy Synod urges the creation of crisis centers that can offer material support to pregnant women without sufficient resources to help them "fulfill their vocation as mothers after childbirth," according to Legoyda.

He added, "At the same time, without rejecting the women who have had an abortion, the Church calls on them to repent and to overcome the harmful consequences of sin through prayer and penance."

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Putin has announced that he is running for re-election on March 17, which will almost certainly see him secure a fifth six-year term in office. A change to the country's constitution will allow him to run again in 2030, which could see his authority extend to 2036. He secured 76% of the vote in 2018, though international bodies question the democratic legitimacy of Russian elections.

Putin has held continuous positions as president or prime minister since 1999. He has been president since 2012, with his previous stint in office running from 2000 to 2008.

Christian leaders in Bethlehem defend canceling Christmas celebrations to emphasize 'spiritual meaning'

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 07:33:04 -0500

Christian leaders in the city where Jesus Christ was born are saying the cancelation of Christmas celebrations is a meditation on the spiritual meaning of the holiday amid bloodshed in the region.

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, an interdenominational council of bishops and pastors responsible for churches in the Holy Land, made their decision known on Nov. 10 via a joint letter.

"Each year during the sacred seasons of Advent and Christmastide, our Christian communities throughout the Holy Land take great delight in their preparations for the commemoration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," the patriarchs wrote in their letter. "In addition to attendance in religious services, these celebrations have normally involved participation in numerous public festivities and the large-scale display of brightly lit and expensive decorations as a means of expressing our joy at the approach and arrival of the Feast of the Nativity."

"But these are not normal times. Since the start of the War, there has been an atmosphere of sadness and pain. Thousands of innocent civilians, including women and children, have died or suffered serious injuries," the bishops continued. "Many more grieve over the loss of their homes, their loved ones, or the uncertain fate of those dear to them. Throughout the region, even more have lost their work and are suffering from serious economic challenges. Yet despite our repeated calls for a humanitarian ceasefire and a de-escalation of violence, the war continues."

The Christian leaders clarify that their decision to downplay the fanfare of local Christmas celebrations is meant to highlight the spiritual core of the holiday amid more than a month of bloodshed.

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To date, there have been more than 1,200 Israelis reported killed by Hamas, while the Hamas-run Palestinian Ministry of Health is claiming nearly 13,000 civilians have been killed by Israeli military activity in Gaza.

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"Therefore, We, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, call upon our congregations to stand strong with those facing such afflictions, by this year foregoing any unnecessarily festive activities," the patriarchs wrote. "We likewise encourage our priests and the faithful to focus more on the spiritual meaning of Christmas in their pastoral activities and liturgical celebrations during this period, with all the focus directed at holding in our thoughts our brothers and sisters affected by this war and its consequences, and with fervent prayers for a just and lasting peace for our beloved Holy Land."

The Christian leaders' statement contextualizes reports from earlier this month quoting Bethlehem civil authorities on the decision to take down Christmas decorations in the area.

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Michele Burke Bowe, ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the Palestinian Authority, told ӣ��Ƶ Digital that the stripped down holiday in the Holy Land will be much closer to the "first Christmas" than people are used to.

"This year in Bethlehem, there will be no Christmas tree, choirs, lights or decorations. The 100-plus-year-old Christmas parade composed of marching bands and bagpipers from the parish scout troops has been canceled," said Bowe. "Instead, by edict of the Patriarch and Church Heads of Jerusalem, this December will be very much like that first Christmas 2,000 years ago. No gifts, no celebrations, no fireworks or festivities-- Just a babe born on a deep winter night under a bright star."

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Bowe also serves as president of the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem, which provides maternal care for expectant mothers in the region, regardless of faith.

"The families of Bethlehem will celebrate Christmas with Mass, prayer and sacrifice as requested by the religious leaders. Christmas will be somber, reflecting on the recent events in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank," Bowe said.

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She concluded, "But Christmas will not be without hope. Just as Mary and Joseph found shelter in the manger, the Holy Family Hospital, not 1,500 footsteps from the birthplace of Christ, will provide refuge to mothers delivering their babies without regard to financial need or religious creed."

Israel and Hamas are in the 48th day of the war, which began on Oct. 7 when Palestinian terrorists launched a surprise attack on southern Israel.

Both sides have agreed to a temporary cease-fire for humanitarian purposes that includes a hostage release deal.

Under the deal, Israel's military has agreed to temporarily stop its pursuit of Hamas — including its ground invasion of Gaza and its airstrikes — for humanitarian purposes. Also, Hamas has agreed to release dozens of hostages in tandem with Israel agreeing to release Palestinian prisoners on a 3-to-1 ratio. ӣ��Ƶ’ Trey Yingst reported Hamas leaders would release one hostage for every three Palestinians that Israel releases from its prisons.

ӣ��Ƶ Digital's Lawrence Richard and Bradford Betz contributed to this report.

Ukraine moves to ban Orthodox churches over alleged Russian ties

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 09:39:49 -0400

The Ukrainian legislature is moving toward a ban on its historic Orthodox church due to concerns about Russian ties.

Law 8371 would grant the Ukrainian government power to investigate and ban Ukrainian religious authorities with connections to Russia.

It was overwhelmingly approved with a vote of 267-15.

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A second vote on the bill is necessary before being presented to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for final approval as a law.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) is part of the greater Eastern Orthodox Church and formerly operated under the direct jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Moscow Patriarch Kirill is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has offered spiritual support for the invasion of Ukraine.

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The UOC formally split from the Russian Orthodox Church in May 2022, declaring itself autocephalous and autonomous.

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), founded in 1995, became official in 2018 with the approval of Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I, who oversaw the separation after a unification council.

Following the decision, a crisis of continuity has arisen between the UOC, the Russian Orthodox Church, and those clerics and laity who have assumed the name Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

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Both the UOC and the OCU claim to be completely severed from Russian influence, but accusations of Putin-aligned sympathies have kept them a national talking point.

The new law, if passed, would grant the Ukrainian government freedom to dismantle the UOC for the sake of national security.

The Russian Orthodox Church continues to consider churches under the UOC and OCU as part of their church, appointing bishops in the contested territories.

'Putin’s confessor' named bishop of annexed Ukrainian territory

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 11:27:27 -0400

President Vladimir Putin’s spiritual adviser has been appointed to a diocese in annexed Ukrainian territory.

The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church decided Wednesday to appoint Metropolitan Tikhon to head the Diocese of Crimea, located in an occupied region of Ukraine.

Tikhon is known to be a close ally of the Russian president and has been characterized as "Putin's confessor" by experts.

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In many Christian churches, a "confessor" is a priest who hears an individual's confessions and offers absolution for sins.

Tikhon and Putin have been photographed together on multiple occasions, including in March of this year when the pair visited Crimea on the ninth anniversary of its annexation.

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Governor Sergei Aksyonov, who was installed by the Russian government following the territory's annexation in 2014, has called Tikhon "one of the most famous and influential" prelates of the Russian Orthodox Church, according to the Moscow Times.

Despite his close ties to Putin and the Russian government, Tikhon has tried to posture himself as sympathetic to the Ukrainian people since the invasion began.

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"We must speak about what we wake up with, what's in our heads all day long, and what we go to bed with - it's Ukraine," Tikhon said in November 2022. "There is no doubt we are living through an unprecedented tragedy, a fateful stage in the life of our people, our country, and Ukraine."

"How will it end?" the bishop continued. "We shall pray that, of course, it should end with peace, and safely. Everyone is calling for peace now."

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Tikhon — secular name Georgiy Alexandrovich Shevkunov — is currently serving as the bishop of Pskov and Porkhov.

He will take up the position left open with the retirement of Metropolitan Lazar of Simferopol.

Serbian and Montenegrin presidents seek to mend strained relations in historic Balkan alliance

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 12:50:15 -0400

The presidents of Serbia and Montenegro agreed Monday to try to patch up strained relations between the historic Balkan allies.

The two countries had formed a joint state until Montenegro split in 2006 following a referendum on independence. The former allies grew further apart after Montenegro recognized the 2008 declaration of independence by Serbia's former province of Kosovo.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Montenegro's new President Jakov Milatovic said after a meeting in Belgrade that they will work to improve political ties to match their countries' economic cooperation.

Milatovic's visit to Belgrade was the first by a Montenegrin president in years. Naming the ambassadors in Belgrade and Podgorica following a diplomatic row in 2020 will be among the first moves, the two officials said.

"It is our responsibility to truly improve relations and not to disturb them, as has been the case often in the past," said Montenegro's Milatovic. "We are turning a new page in our relations with this visit."

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Milatovic replaced Montenegro's long-ruling pro-Western leader Milo Djukanovic following an election in April. While in power, Djukanovic led Montenegro to independence from Serbia and defied Russia to push his country into NATO in 2017.

Montenegro had been largely seen as the next to join the European Union before a political crisis stalled the effort. Milatovic's pro-EU party won the most votes at a parliamentary election in June — but not enough to form a government on its own.

About one-third of Montenegro's 620,000 people identify as Serbs and divisions in the country remain deep over relations with Serbia. The two nations share the same language and both are predominantly Orthodox Christian.

Vucic said Serbia "has no intention (to) force anyone to do what they do not want to do."

"We agree on some (issues)," he added, "and on some we don't but we have talked in a civilized, normal way which should help built trust between us."

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Montenegro remained in a union with Serbia after other republics in the former Yugoslavia split in the early 1990s. The breakup of the former federation resulted in a series of ethnic conflicts that killed more than 100,000 people and left millions homeless.

Ukraine asks court to put Orthodox leader under house arrest

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 12:55:05 -0400

In a bitter dispute over a famed Orthodox monastery, Ukraine’s top security agency notified a leading Orthodox priest there on Saturday that he was suspected of justifying Russia’s aggression, a criminal offense.

Metropolitan Pavel, the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery, Ukraine’s most revered Orthodox site, has resisted the authorities’ order to vacate the complex. Earlier in the week, he cursed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, threatening him with damnation.

During a court hearing in the Ukrainian capital, the metropolitan rejected the claim by the Security Service of Ukraine, known as the SBU, that he condoned Russia’s invasion. Pavel described the accusations against him as politically driven.

SBU agents raided his residence, and prosecutors asked the court to put him under house arrest pending the investigation. The hearing Saturday was adjourned until Monday after the metropolitan said he was feeling unwell.

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The monks in the monastery belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has been accused of having links to Russia. The dispute surrounding the property, also known as the Monastery of the Caves, is part of a wider religious conflict that has unfolded in parallel with the war.

The Ukrainian government has cracked down on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church over its historic ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, whose leader, Patriarch Kirill, has supported Russian President Vladimir Putin in the invasion of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has insisted that it’s loyal to Ukraine and has denounced the Russian invasion from the start. The church declared its independence from Moscow.

But Ukrainian security agencies say some in the UOC have maintained close ties with Moscow. They’ve raided numerous holy sites of the church and then posted photos of rubles, Russian passports, and leaflets with messages from the Moscow patriarch as proof that some church officials have been loyal to Russia.

The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery is owned by the Ukrainian government, and the agency overseeing it notified the monks that it was terminating the lease and they had until Wednesday to leave.

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Metropolitan Pavel told worshippers Wednesday that the monks would not leave pending the outcome of a lawsuit the UOC filed in a Kyiv court to stop the eviction.

The government claims that the monks violated their lease by making to the historic site and other technical infractions. The monks rejected the claim as a pretext.

Many Orthodox communities in Ukraine have cut their ties with the UOC and transitioned to the rival Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which more than four years ago received recognition from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.

Bartholomew I is considered the first among equals among the leaders of the Eastern Orthodox churches. Patriarch Kirill and most other Orthodox patriarchs have refused to accept his decision authorizing the second Ukrainian church.

In other news Saturday, Zelenskyy said he spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron to brief him on the battlefield situation and discuss defense cooperation.

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While Ukraine is preparing for a counteroffensive expected later this spring, Russian forces have kept pressing their effort to capture the city of Bakhmut. The Ukrainian stronghold in the Donbas region in Ukraine’s east has been the focus of a ferocious battle that has dragged on for eight months.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said during a Saturday visit to the military headquarters overseeing the action in Ukraine that Russia’s defense industries have boosted production of ammunition "by several times." Russian’s government previously acknowledged ammunition shortages.

The U.K. Defense Ministry said in its latest analysis Saturday that the Russian offensive personally overseen by Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff of the Russian military, has fizzled. Putin put Gerasimov in charge of overseeing what Moscow refers to as its "special military operation" in Ukraine.

"Gerasimov’s tenure has been characterized by an effort to launch a general winter offensive with the aim of extending Russian control over the whole of the Donbas region," the British ministry said on Twitter. "Eighty days on, it is increasingly apparent that this project has failed."

As evidence, the ministry said that "on several axes across the Donbas front, Russian forces have made only marginal gains at the cost of tens of thousands of casualties."

With the losses, the Russian military was "largely squandering its temporary advantage in personnel" from a partial mobilization of 300,000 reservists Putin ordered in the fall, according to the U.K. analysis.

It noted that Gerasimov, who has been in his job for 10 years, "is pushing the limits of how far Russia’s political leadership will tolerate failure."

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The U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office, meanwhile, mocked a new edition of Moscow’s foreign policy doctrine published Friday that described the Russian policy as "peaceful, open, predictable, consistent, pragmatic and based on respect for universally recognized principles and norms of international law."

"April Fool’s Day is TOMORROW," the Foreign Office tweeted late Friday.

Seattle churchgoers becoming 'afraid' to attend services over growing homeless camp : 'We need help'

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 11:30:17 -0500

Parishioners at a Seattle church are reportedly becoming "afraid" to attend services over a growing homeless encampment and are calling on the city for assistance.

"We want them to get help, we want them to get off the streets. We don’t have the infrastructure as a small church to do that ourselves. We need help," Penny Peppes, parish council president for the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption told KOMO News last week. "Our parishioners who come from all over are very worried about their safety. They are afraid to come. It’s beyond frustrating because it’s impacting our ability to come to church to worship."

Peppes said that about a month ago, one tent was established near the church in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood and then "quickly, quickly escalated."

Some of the people living in the homeless encampment are even reportedly using the church as a mailing address for Amazon packages, KOMO News reported.

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"One of the homeless folks knocked on our door and asked, ‘Did you get my package?’" Peppes said. "So, they are using our church as their mailing address," Peppes recounted.

Peppes said the congregation at the Orthodox church has long worked to help the city’s homeless population, including delivering food to two shelters twice a month.

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"We want them to get the help they need," she said.

ӣ��Ƶ Digital reached out to the King County Regional Homelessness Authority for comment on the encampment, but did not immediately receive a response.

The independent agency previously told KOMO News about another nearby homeless encampment last month that "the need for housing and outreach is greater than current capacity."

"Meaning we need more affordable housing units for people to go to, and our outreach teams are quite busy working with people across the region. We confer weekly with outreach teams, and the City of Seattle tracks citizen reports," the statement said.

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Homelessness in Seattle and King County rose roughly 13.8% from 2020 to 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's yearly homelessness assessment.

Historic Ukrainian monastery burns after Russian shelling, Zelenskyy says

Sat, 04 Jun 2022 14:39:16 -0400

A centuries-old monastery in Ukraine has been burned beyond repair after shelling by Russian artillery, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

All Saints Monastery of the Svyatogorsk Lavra was set ablaze Saturday after a series of concentrated bombardments from Russian invading forces.

The monastery is a religious institute under the protection of the Moscow Patriarchate, which has continued to side with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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The blaze was reported by Ukrainian journalist Agath Gorski, who posted footage of the disaster to Twitter.

"The wooden All Saints Monastery of the Svyatogorsk Lavra in Donetsk region is on fire due to Russian shelling!" Gorski said. "The Lavra dates back to the 1500s. Second time Russia shells it. This is yet another act of Russian barbarism. For them, nothing is sacred."

Zelenskyy posted video of the burning holy site on social media Saturday.

The monastery, located in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, is made mostly of lumber and has stood since the 16th century.

The inferno is likely to strain ecumenical relations between Ukraine and Russia even further. The ongoing invasion has spurred Orthodox bishops to separate from the patriarchate of Moscow and begin operating autocephalous episcopal sees.

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The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) has formally separated itself from Moscow Patriarch Kirill, a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, amid Putin's invasion of Ukraine in what one analyst calls a "huge blow to Putin."

More than 100 churches in Ukraine had rejected the UOC in favor of the Kyiv-based Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which had split from Moscow in 2019.

Yet the UOC itself declared "full independence" from Moscow Friday.

"We fully understand how the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is suffering today," the head of the Russian Orthodox Church said in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in central Moscow. He warned that "spirits of malice" wanted to divide the Orthodox people of Russia and Ukraine but declared that they would not succeed.

Pro-Russia Ukrainian Orthodox Church splits from Moscow patriarch in 'huge blow to Putin'

Sun, 29 May 2022 17:01:03 -0400

More than 100 churches in Ukraine had rejected the UOC in favor of the Kyiv-based Othodox Church Ukraine (OCU), which had split from Moscow in 2019. Yet the UOC itself declared "full independence" from Moscow Friday.

Kirill appeared to downplay the move in comments Sunday.

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Yet Rebekah Koffler, former DIA intelligence officer and author of "Putin’s Playbook," described the move as a "huge blow" to Putin.

"This is a huge blow to Putin," Koffler told ӣ��Ƶ Digital Sunday.

"Kirill and Putin are buddies," she explained, noting that the Russian president "has weaponized the Russian Orthodox religion as a geopolitical tool."

"The idea of Putin unifying the Russian world, including Ukraine and other post-Soviet states, hinges on the idea that Russia is the center of Christianity and the center of the unique Eurasian civilization that the Russians believe is exceptional just like Americans think America is exceptional," Koffler added. "Once the church splits, it takes the whole divinity idea out of it."

The analyst suggested that it was unlikely that the newly independent UOC would join the OCU. She did predict, however, that some UOC churches would elect to remain with Moscow, against the council of the denomination.

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"With Russian forces gradually but steadily establishing control over Eastern and Southern Ukraine - Putin’s primary goal at this phase of the war – they have to balance their parishioners' interests," Koffler explained. "Some of the priests may decide to stick with Moscow, in order to survive a possible new regime if Putin succeeds in securing full control of Donbas and establish the so-called ‘Novorossiya’ (new Russia)."

Koffler attributed the split to Putin's military strategy, which she said involves directly targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure in order to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to end the suffering.

"Regardless of whose side you’re on, even if you buy into Putin’s explanation for why he’s doing it, you can’t, as a spiritual person, condone civilian deaths," she said.

"Bottom line, the split punches a hole in Putin’s narrative that the Russians and Ukrainians are spiritually and ethnically one people and therefore Ukraine should not exist as a separate country," she concluded.

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A 2018 survey found that about 67.3% of Ukraine's population identifies as one or another strand of Orthodox Christianity, with 28.7% part of the Kyiv-based OCU, 23.4% simply "Orthodox," and 12.8% UOC. Another 7.7% of the population identifies as broadly Christian, while Ukrainian Byzantine Rite Catholics make up 9.4%, Protestants make up 2.2%, Latin Rite Catholics make up 0.8%, Muslims make up 2.5%, and Judaism makes up 0.4%. Another 11% declared themselves non-religious or unaffiliated.

Ukraine marks Orthodox Easter with prayers for those trapped

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 09:21:03 -0400

The sun came out as Ukrainians marked Orthodox Easter in the capital, Kyiv, on Sunday with prayers for those fighting on the front lines and others trapped beyond them in places like Mariupol.

St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral in Kyiv was ringed by hundreds of worshipers with baskets to be blessed. Inside, a woman clutched the arm of a soldier, turning briefly to kiss his elbow. Other soldiers prayed, holding handfuls of candles, then crossed themselves. An older woman slowly made her way through the crowd and stands of flickering candles. One young woman held daffodils.

UKRAINE PRIEST: ORTHODOX EASTER GIVES PEOPLE ‘HOPE, LIGHT’

Outside the cathedral, a soldier who gave only his first name, Mykhailo, used his helmet as an Easter basket. He said he didn’t have another.

"I hope I’ll only have to use the helmet for this," he said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at a service elsewhere in Kyiv, urged Ukrainians not to let anger at the war overwhelm them.

"All of us believe our sunrise will come soon," he said.

With the Orthodox church split by the tensions between Russia and Ukraine, some worshippers hoped the holy day could inspire gestures of peacemaking. "The church can help," said one man who gave only his first name, Serhii, as he came to a church in Kyiv under the Moscow Patriarchate.

He and others brought baskets to be blessed by priests for Easter with flicks of a brush sprinkling holy water over offerings of home-dyed eggs, lighted candles and even bottles of Jack Daniels.

Residents of rural villages battered by the war approached the holiday with some defiance.

ZELENSKYY CONDEMNS RUSSIA'S REJECTION OF EASTER TRUCE, SAYS IT SHOWS HOW PUTIN TREATS CHRISTIANITY

"We’ll celebrate Easter no matter what, no matter much horror," said Kateryna Lazarenko, 68, in the northern village of Ivanivka outside Chernihiv, where ruined Russian tanks still littered the roads.

"How do I feel? Very nervous, everyone is nervous," said another resident, Olena Koptyl, as she prepared her Easter bread. "The Easter holiday doesn’t bring any joy. I’m crying a lot. We cannot forget how we lived."

She and 12 others spent a month sheltering from Russian soldiers in the basement of her home before the soldiers withdrew.

Ukraine on Sunday prepared for the first high-level U.S. trip to Kyiv since before the war began Feb. 24 after Zelenskyy announced he would meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

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Zelenskyy in a news conference Saturday night gave few details but said he expected results, "not just presents or some kind of cakes, we are expecting specific things and specific weapons."

Zelenskyy condemns Russia's rejection of Easter truce, says it shows how Putin treats Christianity

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 01:35:57 -0400

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting that the Russian leader has little regard for Christianity because he rejected an Easter truce.

"Unfortunately, Russia rejected the proposal to establish an Easter truce," Zelenskyy said in a video Thursday. (While Western Christians celebrated Easter last Sunday, Eastern Christians celebrate it this upcoming Sunday, April 24.)

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"This shows very well how the leaders of this state actually treat the Christian faith, one of the most joyful and important holidays," the Ukrainian president declared. "But we keep our hope. Hope for peace, hope that life will overcome death." Easter celebrates the day when Christians believe Jesus Christ rose from the dead, three days after His Crucifixion on Good Friday.

"Tomorrow is Good Friday for Eastern Christians," Zelenskyy noted. He called the holiday "the most sorrowful day of the year a day when everything you can do in life will weigh less than prayer. Except for one [thing]… defending the Homeland, defending brothers-in-arms in battle."

Earlier this week, Russia rejected a United Nations proposal for a cease-fire during Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter.

RUSSIA REJECTS CEASE-FIRE FOR CIVILIAN EVACUATION AMID EASTERN ORTHODOX HOLY WEEK

Civilians, including children, remain trapped in the eastern region of Donbas, where Russian forces began a new fierce offensive, and in the devastated port city of Mariupol. Guterres said earlier Tuesday that more than 12 million people in Ukraine needed humanitarian assistance. He predicted that number would rise to 15.7 million, about 40% of all Ukrainians remaining in the country.

Even China, which has not condemned Russia and abstained from votes on resolutions against the aggressor country, said it supported a humanitarian cease-fire.

Russia's rejection came after the head of the World Council of Churches reached out to Moscow's Patriarch Kirill, urging him to use his religious authority as the head of Russia's Orthodox Church to call for a cease-fire as Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter this weekend.

"Our humble request to your Holiness in this particular and impossible situation is to intervene and ask publicly for a ceasefire for at least a few hours during the Resurrection service," Rev. Ioan Sauca, a Romanian Orthodox priest and acting general secretary of the World Council of Churches, wrote in a letter published Tuesday.

HUNDREDS OF ORTHODOX CHURCHES IN UKRAINE REJECT MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE FOR KYIV, CHURCH LEADER SAYS

Sauca also noted that the fighting in World War I "stopped for a moment so that the soldiers could share with one another the Resurrection greeting."

Most Russians and Ukrainians identify as Eastern Orthodox, as does Putin. Zelenskyy, however, is Jewish.

The Kyiv-based Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) broke away from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) before the Russian invasion, but hundreds of Orthodox churches have reportedly switched their affiliation from Moscow to Kyiv since the start of the war. While the OCU started in 1995, it gained official recognition at an Oct. 2018 synod in Constantinople. The Metropolitan Epiphanius I was elected in Dec. 2018.

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A 2018 survey found that about 67.3% of Ukraine's population identifies as one or another strand of Orthodox Christianity, with 28.7% part of the Kyiv-based OCU, 23.4% simply "Orthodox," and 12.8% UOC-MP. Another 7.7% of the population identifies as broadly Christian, while Ukrainian Byzantine Rite Catholics make up 9.4%, Protestants make up 2.2%, Latin Rite Catholics make up 0.8%, Muslims make up 2.5%, and Judaism makes up 0.4%. Another 11% declared themselves non-religious or unaffiliated.

Russia rejects cease-fire for civilian evacuation amid Eastern Orthodox Holy Week

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 23:04:49 -0400

Russia rejected a temporary cease-fire in Ukraine that the United Nations secretary general requested for the purpose of civilian evacuation during the Eastern Orthodox Holy Week leading up to Easter. Russia's deputy UN ambassador said the cease-fire request was not sincere and would only provide time to arm Ukrainian soldiers.

Dmitry Polyanskiy, the deputy ambassador, told the Security Council Tuesday that the cease-fire requests were "insincere, and in practice they merely point to an aspiration to provide Kyiv nationalists breathing room to regroup and receive more drones, more antitank missiles and more MANPADS," The New York Times reported. "MANPADS" refers to man-portable air-defense systems, smaller and more portable surface-to-air missiles.

While Russia rejected a cease-fire, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk announced early Wednesday that Ukraine had reached a settlement with Russia on a humanitarian corridor to evacuate women, children, and the elderly from Mariupol beginning at 2 p.m. It remains unclear whether the corridor will be maintained, as such measures have often fallen through, with each side blaming the other.

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U.N. Secretary General António Guterres called for a 4-day ceasefire to allow for evacuations in battle zones and for safe corridors to bring in food and medicine.

Even China, which has not condemned Russia and abstained from votes on resolutions against the aggressor country, said it supported a humanitarian cease-fire.

Russia, as a permanent member of the Security Council, has twice used its veto power on resolutions focused on Ukraine after the invasion began in February.

Russia's rejection also comes after the head of the World Council of Churches reached out to Moscow's Patriarch Kirill, urging him to use his religious authority as the head of Russia's Orthodox Church to call for a cease-fire as Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter this weekend.

Sauca requested this move in order "to give a chance to the soldiers and to the terrified civilians to embrace and greet one another with the paschal greeting, to silence for a moment the bombs and the missiles and to hear instead the triumphant sound of the church bells and the joyful signing of the faithful people. May such a short ceasefire be a foretaste and a proof that a lasting peace can be achieved."

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Sauca noted that "the Orthodox and Greek Catholic faithful in Ukraine, in Russia and all over the world are preparing to celebrate at the end of this week the most important feast of the year, the Day of Resurrection." The priest also noted that the fighting in World War I "stopped for a moment so that the soldiers could share with one another the Resurrection greeting."

Hundreds of Orthodox churches in Ukraine reject Moscow Patriarchate for Kyiv, church leader says

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 01:18:21 -0400

About 150 churches in Ukraine have either rejected the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under Moscow and embraced the Kyiv-based Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) or are in the process of doing so, according to OCU head Metropolitan Epiphanius.

"In recent days, we are seeing the beginning of a wave of transitions from the ROC [Russian Orthodox Church] to the OCU," Bishop Epiphanius, the head of the Kyiv-based OCU, said in a national telethon, Ukrinform reported. "And in almost a few days we have already made more than 50 transitions. Now we say that about 100 communities have already decided, they are already in the process of transition."

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"That is, gradually Ukrainians who have been in spiritual delusion so far are beginning to see," Epiphanius added. "Community after community, throughout Ukraine, in every region, not only in the West, but also in the Center, in the East and in the South."

Every day, the OCU reports that one or another community has decided to reject the Moscow-based church hierarchy, Epiphanius said. This change roughly amounts to switching church denominations – it would be analogous to a conservative congregation rejecting the liberal Episcopal Church to join the Anglican Communion.

"And according to the law, every community has the right to change its jurisdiction," the Kyiv metropolitan said. "Therefore, I urge the communities of the Moscow Patriarchate to make appropriate decisions in the future, not to remain silent, but to join the recognized Orthodox Church."

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The Kyiv-based OCU broke away from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP). While the OCU started in 1995, it gained official recognition at an Oct. 2018 synod in Constantinople. The Metropolitan Epiphanius I was elected in Dec. 2018.

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A 2018 survey found that about 67.3% of Ukraine's population identifies as one or another strand of Orthodox Christianity, with 28.7% part of the Kyiv-based OCU, 23.4% simply "Orthodox," and 12.8% UOC-MP. Another 7.7% of the population identifies as broadly Christian, while Ukrainian Byzantine Rite Catholics make up 9.4%, Protestants make up 2.2%, Latin Rite Catholics make up 0.8%, Muslims make up 2.5%, and Judaism makes up 0.4%. Another 11% declared themselves non-religious or unaffiliated.

Russian victory in Ukraine would be 'complete religious freedom catastrophe,' human rights leader warns

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 03:35:35 -0500

A human rights expert has warned that a Russian victory in Ukraine would prove a "catastrophe" for religious freedom, considering Russian President Vladimir Putin's record and the record of the pro-Putin breakaway regions in Ukraine.

"If Ukraine falls, it will be a complete religious freedom catastrophe for countless faith communities," Tina Ramirez, president and executive director of the Richmond, Virginia, based human rights nonprofit Hardwired Global, told ӣ��Ƶ Digital. "For evidence, we need look no further than what is already the case in Russia itself and in the Russia-controlled Ukraine regions Luhansk and Donetsk."

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"Media sources, religious freedom activists, the OCU, Muslims, Protestant churches, and Jehovah’s Witnesses stated that Russia-backed authorities in the Russia-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts (regions) continued to exert pressure on minority religious groups," according to a 2020 State Department report on religious freedom in Ukraine.

Authorities in the "Luhansk People's Republic" (LPR) have perpetrated a ban on Jehovah's Witnesses as an "extremist" organization, while the "Supreme Court" in the "Donetsk People's Republic" (DPR) upheld a similar ban. LPR and DPR authorities, whom the U.S. does not recognize, implemented laws requiring all religious organizations except the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) to undergo "state religious expert evaluations" and reregister.

According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, most religious groups recognized under Ukrainian law continued to be unable to reregister due to stringent legal requirements under Russian law. All but one mosque remained closed in Donetsk and Russia-led forces have used the religious buildings of minority religious groups as military facilities.

UKRAINIAN BISHOP: PUTIN IS THE ‘ANTI-CHRIST’ OF OUR CURRENT TIME'

"Through Hardwired, the non-profit I founded, I’ve worked in some of the worst religious freedom situations in the world, including Sudan, Nigeria, and Iraq," Ramirez told ӣ��Ƶ Digital. "The religious freedom situation in Russia, Luhansk, and Donetsk ranks right up there with these others. It’s truly abysmal."

Ramirez noted that "many religious communities, such as Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Baptists, Pentecostals, and Muslims, have been subjected to violence, arrested, and had their congregations raided. If Russia takes Ukraine, we can fully expect this evil to continue and spread."

"Freedom of conscience is the most fundamental of our rights and liberties, and it is the foundation upon which our other rights are built," Ramirez declared. "What you think, believe, and hold sacred - these are the things that distinguish us as human individuals."

"It is imperative that we stand tall against the vicious, malevolent forces that work to deny our most basic human dignity and rights," she added.

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A 2018 survey found that about 67.3% of Ukraine's population identifies as one or another strand of Orthodox Christianity, with 28.7% part of the Kyiv-based Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), 23.4% simply "Orthodox," and 12.8% UOC-MP. Another 7.7% of the population identifies as broadly Christian, while Ukrainian Byzantine Rite Catholics make up 9.4%, Protestants make up 2.2%, Latin Rite Catholics make up 0.8%, Muslims make up 2.5%, and Judaism makes up 0.4%. Another 11% declared themselves non-religious or unaffiliated.

According to the U.S. State Department, Russia has used a "disinformation campaign to fuel further conflict" between the Moscow-leaning UOC-MP and the Kyiv-based OCU, which split off from the Russian Orthodox Church in 2019.

Ukrainian bishop: Putin is the 'anti-Christ of our current time'

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 05:26:34 -0500

A Ukrainian archbishop and spokesman for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin as the "anti-Christ of our current time" as Russia invades Ukraine.

While Putin appears to be portraying himself as a kind of messianic figure, seeking to reunite the Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches (which formally split in 2019), Yevstratiy Zoria put him on the other side of the Christian spectrum.

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"Putin is really not messiah, but really anti-Christ of our current time," Yevstratiy Zoria, the spokesman for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, told Harry Farley, religion and ethics producer for the BBC.

"You think he's the anti-Christ of your time?" Farley pressed in an interview broadcast on the BBC's Global News Podcast.

"Yes, he is anti-Christ because everything what he does, everything what he do now, is totally against gospel, against God’s law," the spokesman responded.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Kyiv did not immediately respond to ӣ��Ƶ' request for comment and clarification.

A large majority of Ukraine's population identifies as Eastern Orthodox Christian, while a significant minority of Ukrainian Catholics worship with a Byzantine liturgy similar to the Orthodox but are loyal to the pope, surveys show. Ukraine's Orthodox population is split between the Kyiv-based Orthodox Church of Ukraine (which Yevstratiy Zoria represents) and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is under the Orthodox patriarch of Moscow but has broad autonomy.

Putin justified his invasion in part as a defense of the Moscow-oriented Orthodox church, but the leaders of both churches are denouncing the invasion, as is the country's Catholic minority.

"With prayer on our lips, with love for God, for Ukraine, for our neighbors, we fight against evil - and we will see victory," Metropolitan Epifany, head of the Kyiv-based Orthodox Church of Ukraine, told the Associated Press.

PUTIN LAID OUT HIS UKRAINE INVASION RATIONALE BACK IN JULY 2021

"Forget mutual quarrels and misunderstandings and ... unite with love for God and our Motherland," Metropolitan Onufry, head of the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church, said.

Ukraine and Russia both trace their history back to the medieval kingdom of Kievan Rus, whose 10th century Prince Vladimir (Volodymyr in Ukrainian) rejected paganism, was baptized in Crimea, and adopted Orthodoxy as the official religion. In 2014, Putin cited that history in justifying his seizure of Crimea. He similarly referenced that history in a speech last July, which provided an early warning of his rationale behind invading Ukraine.

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While many Western Christians associate Antichrist with the figure from the biblical book of Revelation and look to the Antichrist as a demonic figure who will unite the world in opposition to God, the term "anti-Christ" can also have a much broader meaning, generally referring to a person who opposes Jesus Christ and sets himself up as a false messiah.

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