Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow Will Protect Christians Worldwide

By Nina Achmatova
6/23/2011
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Metropolitan Hilarion announces effort to protect Christians

The World Russian People's Council will regularly publish information about violence and abuse against the community. The Orthodox Church is deeply concerned over christianophobia in the Middle East.

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MOSCOW, Russia (AsiaNews) - Concerned by a widespread "Christianophobia", the Russian Orthodox Church has decided to publish regular information on episodes of violence that affect Christians in the world.

Interfax news agency reports that the World Russian People's Council is a public forum that brings together several religious and political leaders in Russia and is chaired by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill.

"The Russian Orthodox Church will launch a program to protect the Christians who have recently become the most targeted religious," says Roman Silantyev, director of the Center. The idea is to monitor the crimes and atrocities committed against Christians, such as murders, threats, rapes, massacres and executions.

The greatest concern focuses on the Middle East, as explained by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Department for External Church Relations.

"The escalation of Christianophobia in some Middle Eastern countries can lead to serious consequences for the Orthodox faith, putting at risk the lives of the faithful of the ancient local church, deprived of their rights," he denounced in an interview with Interfax-Religion after having met with the rector of the Egyptian Islamic Al-Azhar University.

"If the governments of the Middle East do not take special measures to protect Christians, we will soon see another wave of immigration," continued the Metropolitan, concluding with a wish: that "extremism behind religious slogans is not identified with Islam, which preaches tolerance between members of different religions."

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Christianophobia, Metropolitan Hilarion, Russian Orthodox, Anti-Christian bigotry, Persecution

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1 - 5 of 5 Comments

Dawn in Kanas
1 year ago
The leaders of these countries themselves have been intimidated and they have no courage; otherwise would they not stand against this! It is unbelievable that the world continues to stand by while Christians are persecuted and murdered! Pakistani leaders, Christian, or standing up for Christians- Murdered! Is it time for the church to gather the EXORCISTS!!!! Thanks to the Russian Orthodox church for taking this step. We should make a plan to bring out the truth in who is encouraging such attacks and what the motive is. It seems to me that others try to keep the heat off themselves by stirring up emotions elsewhere.
Robert Burford
1 year ago
The world needs to know the work of the devil. Christ said we would know them by their deeds.This genocide must be proclaimed for what it is. Murder!
Westislander
1 year ago
The Russian Orthodox Church has no desire to stop persecuting its own Orthodox brothers and sisters who do not wish to place themselves under the jackboot of the Moscow Patriarchate. .
Jorge
1 year ago
you cannot protect any one when you submit to the islamization as our ortodox brother just did,when he said that islam has nothing to do with the destruction of christianity in all muslim countries. Is he blind? Isn't it obvious islam is NOT, NEVER WAS AND NEVER WILL be at peace with any one, specially non-muslims who are brutalised, forced to convert to islam or simply killed for their different faith?? islam is supremacist, ultra-intolerant, genocidal of all dissidence and difference, ultra-violent, ruthless and demonic. When will this dhimmi attitute towards muslims and islam end so we can FINALLY tackle the problem??
robert matzinger
1 year ago
Praise God that the Russian Orthodox Church has recognized the need for protection of our brothers and sisters residing in and attempting to worship in Islamic countries. And it's a shame our country, America, is unwilling to do the same!

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