Christian world

Erdoğan: Agia Sophia will never be a church as long as there is Turkish people

Agia Sophia, the ancient Christian cathedral in Istanbul, will never become a church again, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said recently in an angry commentary on the deadly New Zealand mosque shootings, reports Romfea.

The shooter’s manifesto targets Turks and Erdoğan specifically, reports Egypt Today. “We are coming for Constantinople and we will destroy every mosque and minaret in the city. The Hagia Sophia will be free of minarets and Constantinople will be rightfully christian [sic] owned once more,” the text reads.

Grand imam of Egypt's Al-Azhar calls polygamy 'injustice to women'

The grand imam of Egypt’s famed Al-Azhar institution, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, has described polygamy as an “injustice” for women.

“Polygamy is often an injustice to women and children,” said the influential cleric, in quotes published on Twitter late Friday by Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam’s most prestigious seat of learning.

World Day of Migrants and Refugees: ‘It is not just about migrants'

“It is not just about migrants".

That’s the theme for this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees, to be celebrated on Sunday, 29 September 2019.  The theme was announced on Sunday by the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

Iraq: First mass in one of Mosul’s oldest churches

The Parish of St. Toma Apostle Church, which is located in the Old City, the Right Coast of Mosul, hosted the “Peace” Mass, organized by the Iraqi Hope Society and supported by the UN Development Program (UNDP) and the Bridging Communities in Ninewa Governorate. This mass is acclaimed as the first of its kind for being held in one of Mosul’s oldest churches, which has been devastated and has suffered a lot of damages due to the liberation operations witnessed in the city. Participants, civil activists and priests called for speeding up the reconstruction of Mosul and the Nineveh Plains in order to stabilize the area and enable Christians and other spectrums of people to go back to their homes.

The Annual Feast of St. Ignatius Elias III at Manjanikkara Monastery

The Eighty-seventh memorial feast of St. Ignatius Ignatius Elias III (1867 – 1932), the lamented Patriarch of Antioch is being held at the Mor Ignatius Monastery (Dayro) Manjinikkara, Kerala. A large number of Syriac Orthodox faithful participated in the memorial celebrations.

Festal prayers were held under the auspicious of Abune Mor Baselios Thomas I (Catholicos-Maphriyno and the Metropolitan Trustee), Mor Dioscoros Benyamin Atas (Patriarchal-Vicar of Sweden) and Prelates of the Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church.

Pope Francis' visit to UAE sends 'message of coexistence'

On his first visit to the Arabic peninsula, Pope Francis will travel to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday. The UAE's ambassador to Germany, Ali Abdulla Al Ahmed, tells DW why it's so important for the region.

DW: Your Excellency, Pope Francis will travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this Sunday. He will be the first pope to ever visit the Arabic peninsula. What is the importance of the pope for your country?