Syriac Christians to get first church in Istanbul

Vercihan Ziflioğlu

Hürriyet Daily News (Wednesday, October 5, 2011)

ISTANBUL- Turkey’s Syriac Christian community has secured approval from officials for the construction of its first church. The church, planned to be constructed in the Yeşilköy neighborhood, is expected to host 17,000 Syriacs who live in Istanbul

After years of tussling and hairsplitting, Turkey’s Syriac Christian community has secured approval from both the prime minister and the president for the construction of its first church in the Yeşilköy neighborhood on the European side of Istanbul.

“Half of our community lives in and around Yeşilköy. We rent churches for Sunday rites, but we can only start morning mass at 11:30, whereas we are supposed to finish our Sunday rites before 10:30 in accordance with our tradition,” Kenan Altınışık, a prominent Syriac community leader, told the Hürriyet Daily News via e-mail.

The church site will be allocated to the ancient community by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, while construction expenses will be paid for by the Syriacs. An official from Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Hürriyet Daily News that they are searching for a suitable location for the new church.

The church architecture is planned to bear traces of the Syriac’s thousands-of-years-old culture, while the construction is set to begin as soon as suitable lands are allotted.

Community representatives held a series of talks with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President Abdullah Gül and EU Minister Egemen Bağış regarding their problems concerning the new church, including the allocation of land for its construction, Altınışık said.

“Afterward, we also met with the head of the Istanbul Metropolitan Construction Affairs Committee upon a directive issued by the Istanbul metropolitan mayor,” he said, adding they have no communication problems.

“We presented several files to the head of the construction affairs committee and he offered a few places, but they were not suitable for us,” said Altınışık, a businessman and head of the Syriac community’s Foundation for the Church of Mother Mary, which is located in the Tarlabaşı neighborhood in central Istanbul.

The community holds the title deed to the Church of Mother Mary and the metropolitan center that houses it, Altınışık said, adding that about 17,000 Syriacs live in Istanbul with scant numbers still living in the southeast as well.

A metropolitan center acts as a higher institution for an orthodox church. Many of Turkey’s Syriacs migrated to Europe during the mid-1980s, when there was political turmoil in the southeast.

http://www.soc-wus.org/2011News/1010201118929.htm

Antiochian Syriac Orthodox Church (Rebel faction) stopped all their operations in India

Chandai, France: Rebel faction of Antiochian Syriac Orthodox Church of Europe headed by His Eminence Mor Severius Moses stopped all their operations in India and canceled all the dioceses in Kerala. The Holy Synod that took place in Chandai, France from 21 to 22 of September 2011 has passed these decisions. Here are some of the decisions of the Holy Synod and the pastoral letter of the Primate


http://syrorthodoxchurch.com/index-Dateien/PDF_Texte_u_Medien/Holy_Synod_2011.pdf

http://www.malankaraorthodox.tv/news_bureau/2011/September/29/Kalpana.pdf

Kolencherry Church row: Rebel Jacobite Plea for status quo dismissed

HC adjourns Kolenchery Church case to Nov 2

KOCHI, 30th September 2011: The Kerala High Court has denied a petition by the Rebel Jacobite Syrian Christian faction (dissident Patriarchal group) to maintain the status quo of rights at the disputed Kolencherry St Peters’and St Paul’s church. The High Court on 30th September 2011 adjourned the Kolanchery Church case to November 2 after recording submissions by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and Rebel Jacobite faction that they will participate in the negotiations with the government through its subcommittee.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and C T Ravikumar passed the order while considering a petition filed by the Rebel Jacobite faction challenging the order of Additional District Court granting permission to Orthodox Church for administration of the Kolenchery church and a chapel at Kottoor.

The court also urged the parties to do the needful to come to a peaceful solution through reconciliation. To enable the process, the parties will maintain good relationship even at individual level, the court said.

Meanwhile, the government submitted that the state has no particular interest in either of the two factions and the utmost importance that the state would give is to ensure that peace and tranquility prevail and law and order is maintained. This is the first among the foremost duties of the state.
The court recorded the government’s submission. “The peaceful modes of conciliation of such litigation should be the first priority rather than carrying an adjudicatory process,” the court said.


Source: Express News Service



Court Order.
http://www.malankaraorthodox.tv/Court%20Orders/Kolenchery_order_sept_30_2011.pdf

Pope Shenouda: Modern-day Jews not 'God's chosen people'

CAIRO : Modern-day Jews are not God's chosen people, said Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, in a statement Wednesday (Sept. 28, 2011) evening.
"Do not believe their claims that they are God's chosen people, because it is not true," Shenouda said during his weekly sermon on Wednesday evening at the papal residence in Abbasseya.
When there were no believers on earth the Jews were really God's chosen people, but God's chosen people are now all those who believe in the existence of God and carry out all God's teachings, he added.
Shenouda said he had spoken earlier with former US President Jimmy Carter, and explained to him that Jews were called God’s chosen people because they were the only worshipers on earth, while the rest of its inhabitants were pagans.
Once billions believed in the existence of God, the Jews no longer were God’s chosen people, he said, and now all those who believe in God and have true faith are God's chosen people.
—Emad Khalil

Courtsy: almasryalyoum.com

The Boola issued by the Catholicos Patriarch of the East Baselios Marthoma Paulose II on indefinite fast at Kolenchery

No. 365/2011

In the blessed name of the Tri-une God, Self-existent,

Beginningless and Endless, Perfect in Being, (Glory be to Him)

Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II Catholicos of the East and

Malankara Metropolitan enthroned on the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas

Blessings to our beloved Vicars of the Church, Priests of the locality, Kaikkaran of the church, and all the members of all the Parishes

Our dearly beloved in the Lord,
Raising our thanks, glory and honor to the Almighty who guides us in the midst of crises and adversities by imparting His immeasurable grace to the Church and to us, we express our love
and joy to each one you.

The stalemate at St. Peter’s & St. Paul’s Orthodox Valiyappally was one of the most serious issues faced by the Church in recent times. The honorable court had categorically pronounced that the Kolenchery Church, the allied worship centers and the properties belong to the Orthodox Church and they are to be administered in accordance with the 1934 Constitution. But the District administration denied our legitimate right of worship flouting the court order. Under these circumstances, to persuade the government to execute the court order, with firm conviction, determination and reliance on God, we along with H.G. Dr. Mathews Mar Severious , the Metropolitan of Kandanad West Diocese began an indefinite fast. We were compelled to take this extreme step as a last resort when we realized that there was no other way to protest against the denial of justice to the Malankara Orthodox Church and to get justice executed. We glorify the Almighty who strengthen us to accomplish this fast in a victorious way, though the helth conditions of both of us degenerated. The support which you gave to us and our brother Metropolitan H.G. Mathew mar Severious was indeed beyond all our expectation. We express our profound happiness and gratitude to our brother Metropolitans, Priest Trustee Rev. Fr. Dr. Johns Abraham Konatt, Lay Trustee Shri M.G. George Muthoot, Association Secretary Dr. George Joseph, Members of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Christian Association, Members of the Managing Committee, our beloved priests, sisters, office bearers and members of various spiritual organizations especially the Youth Movement Members and above all, our crown and glory the beloved people of the Church who galvanized our strength through their prayer, tears and unconditional support. We remember with gratitude the various religious leaders, leaders of sister churches, office bearers of the Kerala Christian Council and leaders from various strata of the society and all those who responded to this issue as the question of honoring the very existence of the judiciary apart from a simple church issue.

Beloved,

We should not forget those who helped us during the hard times of the Church. Those who were responsible and expected to help us, hurt us. In spite of all these, the Almighty strengthened our hearts. God is with us. Each one of you are our strength and fortitude. The sacrifice you endured, the tears you shed, prayers you said before God empowered us and give us robust hope.

Dear children, you must love the Church above any political-regional interest. Our prime aim should be the progress of the Church which is our Lord’s Temple, Bride and Body. You should continue to pray for the perfect peace and permanent settlement of this issue of Kolenchry church. As prophet Nehemiah said The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it."

May the Grace and Blessings of God Almighty abide with you forever. And may the prayers of the Mother of our God the Holy Virgin Mary, St. Thomas the Apostle of India, our Holy Fathers Mar Gregorios, Mar Dionysius and all the Holy Saints be a stronghold for us. Amen.

Our Father who art in Heaven.........................

(Signed)
Baselios Marthoma Paulose II

From MOSC Medical College
Kolenchery, Kerala, India
On September 20, 2011

P D F

100,000 Christians Have Left Egypt Since March: Report

2011 September 27 (AINA):  The Egyptian Union of Human Rights Organizations (EUHRO) published a report today on emigration of Christians from Egypt, saying that nearly 100,000 Christians have emigrated since March 2011. The report, which was sent to the Egyptian cabinet and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), warned that this emigration has been prompted by the escalating intimidation and attacks on Christians by Islamists.
"Copts are not emigrating abroad voluntarily," said Naguib Gabriell, the director EUHRO, "they are coerced into that by threats and intimidation by hard line Salafists, and the lack of protection they are getting from the Egyptian regime."
According to the report, the majority of Copts have emigrated for the US, with some 16,000 settling in California, 10,000 in New Jersey, 8000 in New York, and 8000 in other American states. Nearly 14,000 have gone to Australia, 17,000 to Canada, and 20,000 to the Netherlands, Italy, England, Austria, Germany and France.
EUHRO warned that emigration of Christians out of Egypt will threaten its demographic makeup and national economy. "Copts constitute a strong pillar in the economy." said Gabriel, "Copts who are leaving their homeland are not prompted by their need for work, as they are from the professional and business class, but from fear of the hard line Salafists."
Attacks on Copts and their religious institutions have spread fear, according to Gabriel. Recent attacks included the killing of Coptic youths in Moqattam (AINA 3-9-2011) and Embaba (AINA 5-8-2011), cutting-off the ear of a Copt, (AINA 3-26-2011) , attacks on churches (AINA 3-5-2011), as well as preventing the governor of Qena from occupying his post because he is Christian (AINA 5-3-2011)."
The EUHRO report noted that Coptic emigration escalated since March 19, 2011, after the constitutional amendments in Egypt and the escalation in Salafist attacks on Copts and their intention to implement Hudud laws (Sharia based punishments, which include capital punishment by sword/crucifixion, stoning, amputation and flogging).
"Salafist clerics, who gained political influence after the January 25 Revolution, have become emboldened," said Gabriel, "calling Copts Dhimmis who have to pay the jizya (tax paid by non-Muslims to the state) because they are not first class citizens and can never enjoy full citizenship rights, or obtain sensitive posts."
On September 12, Yasser Borhami, Head of Alexandria Salafists, accused Christians on a popular TV show of being "Infidels, who live in darkness, because they are away from Islam." His interview enraged Copts "who regarded it as a licence to kill the Christians by inciting Muslims," said Coptic activist Wagih Yacoub.
EUHRO filed a complaint against Borhami with the Prosecutor General, accusing him of "defaming a heavenly religion," which is against the constitution and which would "endanger social peace."
Gabriel sees a parallel with the Christian emigration from Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon. "After the massacre of the congregation of Our Lady of Deliverance Church on October 31, 2010, and other attacks in Iraq, the ratio of Iraqi Christians went down from 8% to 2%. In Palestine to just .5%, and in Lebanon from 75% to 32%."
"If emigration of Christians, who constitute nearly 16% of the Egyptian population, continues at the present rate, it may reach 250,000 by the end of 2011," said Gabriel, "and within ten years a third of the Coptic population of Egypt would be gone."
According to Gabriel Copts see a dark future awaiting them in Egypt, especially because neither SCAF nor the government is taking any measures to curb the Salafist violence. "They should bring to justice those criminals who attack the Copts and their churches, instead of letting them get off Scot-free."
He called on SCAF to pull the reins in on Salafists and to clearly announce that Egypt is a democratic, secular state, based on equal citizenship for all Egyptians.
By Mary Abdelmassih

Assyrian International News Agency

Pope Shenouda III urges US not to destroy Palestinian statehood 'dream'

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
presents a gift to Pope Shenouda III before their meeting in
Cairo Egypt, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011.Credit- str

Coptic pope calls for balanced US policies on Palestine and rejects foreign interference in Coptic affairs

Cairo, Monday 26 Sep 2011: Egypt’s Coptic Patriarch, Pope Shenouda III, has urged the US to pursue balanced policies in regards to the Palestinian crisis and to support the Middle East process, during a meeting with US Ambassador, Anne Patterson, on Monday.

The Pope also asked the US not to destroy the Palestinian dream of having a state recognised by the international community. The Pope made the statement after meeting with the ambassador in the Coptic Cathedral in Abbassiya, Cairo. During the meeting, the Pope also expressed his rejection of any foreign interference in the internal affairs of Egypt, especially regarding the situation of Copts.

It was Patterson’s first visit to the cathedral since she was stationed in Egypt last August.

Courtasy:

Ahram Online

Pope Shenouda rejects foreign intervention in Egyptian affairs