News

The Serbian Royal Family just gained a new member

Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine announce with joy that the Royal Family just gained a new member. HRH Princess Danica, the wife of HRH Prince Philip, gave birth to a son Stefan, in Belgrade on Sunday, 25 February 2018 at 10:30 am.

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, the bells of Belgrade’s St. Sava temple rang as signal of the birth of the new born of the Karadjordjevic Royal family, and this was the first time in history that 49 bells of the biggest orthodox temple in Balkans will announce such a birth. The bells of St. George church in Oplenac rang as a sign of the birth as well.

World-renowned evangelist Rev. Billy Graham dies at 99

The Reverend Billy Graham, undoubtedly the world’s most famous evangelist of the 20th century, died in his sleep in his North Carolina home yesterday morning, reports ABC News. Rev. Graham had said in 2005, “Do I fear death? No. I look forward to death with great anticipation. I'm looking forward to seeing God face to face, and that could happen any day.”

President Radev of the Republic of Bulgaria Visited Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On February 13, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; received Mr. Rumen Radev, President of the Republic of Bulgaria and his wife Dessislava Radeva. They were accompanied by Mr. Edward Nalbandyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

Film wins award for depicting need for human rights in Central Africa

The WACC-SIGNIS Human Rights Award 2016 has gone to the documentary film Cahier africain directed by Heidi Specogna, who was recognized at an awards ceremony on 19 February in Berlin.

WACC, or the World Association for Christian Communication, and SIGNIS, a worldwide association of Catholic communicators, recognized the documentary for offering an exemplary human perspective on the horror of conflict situations that impact the lives of ordinary people, especially women and children.

Shubqono Prayer – Damascus

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II presided over the evening prayer (Ramsho) at St. George Patriarchal Cathedral in Bab Touma, Damascus. At the end of the prayer, His Holiness prayed the special prayer of Shubqono (Forgiveness) during which the clergy and faithful ask forgiveness from one another, before the beginning of the Great Lent.

Touching Heaven in Guaxacana

One of the joys in visiting a parish in Guatemala is the warm welcome given to the visiting clergy. Such was the case upon our arrival at the village of Guaxacana (wa-sha-ca-na) on January 28th.