Introduction to Theology
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Christians and Jews in Muslim Societies
Arabic and its Alternatives Christians and Jews in Muslim Societies Editorial Board Phillip Ackerman-Lieberman (Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA) Bernard Heyberger (EHESS, Paris, France) VOLUME 5 The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/cjms Arabic and its Alternatives Religious Minorities and Their Languages in the Emerging Nation States of the Middle East (1920–1950) Edited by Heleen Murre-van den Berg Karène Sanchez Summerer Tijmen C. Baarda LEIDEN | BOSTON Cover illustration: Assyrian School of Mosul, 1920s–1930s; courtesy Dr. Robin Beth Shamuel, Iraq. This is an open access title distributed under the terms of the CC BY-NC 4.0 license, which permits any non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided no alterations are made and the original author(s) and source are credited. Further information and the complete license text can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ The terms of the CC license apply only to the original material. The use of material from other sources (indicated by a reference) such as diagrams, illustrations, photos and text samples may require further permission from the respective copyright holder. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Murre-van den Berg, H. L. (Hendrika Lena), 1964– illustrator. | Sanchez-Summerer, Karene, editor. | Baarda, Tijmen C., editor. Title: Arabic and its alternatives : religious minorities and their languages in the emerging nation states of the Middle East (1920–1950) / edited by Heleen Murre-van den Berg, Karène Sanchez, Tijmen C. Baarda. Description: Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2020. | Series: Christians and Jews in Muslim societies, 2212–5523 ; vol. -
Catholic Christians – Freedom of Religion – Islamist Groups 22 March 2010
Country Advice Syria Syria – SYR36307 – Catholic Christians – Freedom of religion – Islamist groups 22 March 2010 1. Please provide information on the number, status, activities and profile of Catholics in Syria. Syria has a population of 20 million of which Christians constitute 10%.1 There are 368,000 Catholics in Syria, approximately 2% of the total population.2 The Catholics of Syria follow several different rites, including Armenian, Chaldean, Syrian, Maronite, Melkite (Greek) and Catholics of the Latin Rite. 3 The largest Catholic church in the country is the Greek Catholic Church (Melkite).4 According to the US Department of State, most Christians live in urban centers in and around Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Hama, and Lattakia, although significant numbers live in the Hasaka governorate in the northeast.5 The Melkite Church The Melkite Church is a community with its religious centre in Syria. 6 In 2008, there were approximately 234,000 adherents in Syria.7 Greek Catholic communities are Arab Syrians but are called Greek to highlight that their religious celebrations are focused on the Greek / Byzantine rites.8 The Church is affiliated to the Roman Catholic Church, through the regime of Eastern Rite Churches, allowing it a great deal of autonomy and the right to preserve its original character. The Patriarch of the church is in Damascus. 9 The 1 US Department of State 2009, International Religious Freedom Report for 2009 – Syria, October 26, Section 1 – Attachment 1. 2 „Roman Catholicism in Syria‟ updated 25 August 2009, Wikipedia website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholicism_in_Syria – Accessed 3 March 2010 – Attachment 2. -
Appendix B: Baptismal Churches Eastern Rite Churches in Communion with Rome Eastern Rite Churches Not in Communion with Rome
Appendix B: Baptismal Churches Eastern Rite Churches in Communion with Rome The Churches on this list are Catholic Churches. The Roman Catholic Church recognizes fully the sacraments that have already been received. There can be no doubt cast upon the validity of Baptism and Confirmation conferred in the Eastern Churches. It is sufficient to establish the fact that Baptism was administered. Valid Confirmation (chrismation) is always administered at the same time as Baptism. In some situations, the child has also received First Communion at the time of Baptism. Children who have celebrated the full initiation rite in the Eastern Rite Church may require further catechesis concerning the sacrament of the Eucharist. If the child is attending a Roman Catholic school the ongoing Religious Education program will provide this catechesis. If it is deemed appropriate the family may be encouraged to complete a family resource book at home and to continue the practice of bringing their child to the table of the Lord. Adults who have celebrated the full initiation rite in the Eastern Rite Church are to be catechized as needed. No rite is required. The Eastern Churches in Communion with Rome, as listed in the Archdiocese of Toronto’s Directory include: Alexandrian Rite Byzantine Rite Coptic Catholic Church Melkite Catholic Church Ethiopian Catholic Church Byzantine Slovak Catholic Church Byzantine Ukrainian Catholic Church Antiochene Rite (West Syrian) Albanian Catholic Church Malankara (Malankarese) Catholic Church Byelorussian Catholic Church Maronite -
February 2015 Issue Of
Eastern Catholic Life Official Publication of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic VOL. LI, NO. 2 FEBRUARY, 2015 When the Bridegroom is Taken Away Great Fast Pastoral Message 2015 from Bishop Kurt magine a young man moving into a house or an apartment building eat dairy products before Easter. But it’s not a rule, it’s a tradition. As a re- or a community. The first day he has “orientation,” and they explain sult, I see people in our church who keep the tradition because they have a that there is a rule against alcohol in the rooms and a curfew at 11p.m. healthy sense of pride in themselves. They try to keep the tradition to prove Well,I we all know how that comes out. Half the men in the house will be to themselves that they can do it. Instead of following a rule because it’s re- smuggling alcohol into their rooms, and figuring out ways to sneak into quired, many people have a memory of their holy grandparents. They think the building after 11p.m. They will be climbing up the fire escape or the to themselves, “Well, I’ll never be as holy as my grandmother, but I can drain pipes. A few years ago, I got try.” And with each passing year, to know a number of young men they try to pray a little more, and who were becoming involved in fast a little more, and learn a little FOCUS, a very successful cam- more. They try to keep the fast pus ministry for Catholics. -
Cardinal Defends Christian Freedom
SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR ONLY NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SEE PAGE 24 FOR DETAILS No 5289 Vatican warning over WikiLeaks’ claims Page Prudence is advised for those reading the latest diplomatic cables 24 No 5395 www.sconews.co.uk Friday December 17 2010 | 90p Cardinal defends Christian Freedom I His Eminence Cardinal Keith O’Brien stands up for the Christian faith at Westminster Carol service By Ian Dunn CARDINAL Keith O’Brien has made a stir- ring defence of the Christian faith, saying reli- gious freedoms in the United Kingdom are not as they ‘should be.’ Speaking at the annual Carol Service for Christians in Government at Westminster Cathedral, London, Cardinal O’Brien said it was vital the politicians present sought to uphold ‘free- dom of religious expression.’ The cardinal told an audience of around 1800 including Home Secretary Theresa May MP, Cabinet secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell and the Attorney General Dominic Grieve MP that whether ‘priest or politician’ they had a ‘common vocation’ to follow God’s way. Under attack The main thrust of the cardinal’s address was the assault on Christians in British public life. “Our own Christians in politics do sometimes risk public ridicule, loss of office, being over- looked for promotion, and so on because of their beliefs,” he said. In response the cardinal said he had backed the Westminster 2010 Declaration of Christian liber- ties, and urged all those present to do the same. “I ask you to consider endorsing [the declara- tion] as it does uphold the rights of conscience of all peoples particularly those in positions of responsibility and especially concerning Christian beliefs and values, and the dignity of human life and marriage,” he said. -
Icons and Iconography in the West Syriac Church
ICONS AND ICONOGRAPHY IN THE WEST SYRIAC CHURCH Benedict (Valentin) VESA Abstract: From an Orthodox perspective, the heresy condemned at the Second Council of Nicaea (the Seventh Ecumenical Council, 787), iconoclasm, is considered to be the last form of development of the heresies condemned at the previous six ecumenical councils, as it comes directly against the very scope of Christ’s incarnation – human’s transfiguration, and, finally, against the doctrine of salvation. Christ is the perfect human and, in consequence, those who follow and imitate Him, Virgin Mary and the saints, are His very ‘icons’ who reached the holiness by participation to Christ’s divine life. In the context of the commemorative year 2017, dedicated by the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate to the icon painters and iconography, it is interesting and quite new for the Romanian theological landscape to focus on the theology of icons and sacred art in the West Syriac Church, which had a parallel existence with the Byzantine Church (from 451 onwards, at least) and did not really take direct contact with the iconoclast movement. And yet, one can find the icons present in its cult and determinative, during the liturgical year. This paper will be dedicated to this subject, observing two directions – one dedicated to the theological base of the icons’ usage in the cult and a second one presenting and analysing some concrete ancient icons and their connection with the annual liturgical festivals in the West Syriac Church. Keywords: Iconography, West Syriac Church, liturgical year, icon veneration, Iconoclasm. Icon is a concrete form of expressing the Christological dogma and, from an experiential point of view, is the apex of the theological PhD, Rev. -
Targeting Christian Places of Worship in Syria 63% Have Been Targeted by Government’S Forces
Targeting Christian Places of Worship in Syria 63% have been targeted by government’s forces الشبكة السورية لحقوق اإلنسان - Syrian Network for Human Rights 1 Introduction: Since the early days of the uprising in Syria in March 2011, Assad Government committed all of its resources to por- tray it as a sectarian conflict by retaliating with extreme military force, and by creating and deepening sectarian di- visions within the diverse Syrian society. Eventually, what started as a peaceful uprising transformed into a full-blown armed conflict. Assad Government has always promoted itself as “the protector of minorities” especially Christians. However, and for over 40 years, Assad Government used sectarianism systematically to tighten its grip on the Syrian society. As a result of the Government’s ruthless and sec- tarian nature, ethnic and sectarian divisions have become deeper and more established which threatens Syria’s na- tional and territorial integrity. This report, alongside other previous reports issued by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, shows that Assad Gov- ernment protects itself only and willing to target anybody who demands democracy and human rights regardless of their religious or ethnic affiliations. SNHR emphasises the importance of building a demo- cratic and inclusive state with the rule of law. A state that would ensure that all of its citizens would enjoy the rights encherished in the International Humanitarian Law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. SNHR vision for Syria is of a country where all citizens work together to- wards a prosperous, tolerant and vibrant society. Wael Aleji, the Spokesperson for SNHR, says: “Christians and their places of worship have suffered as much as the rest of the Syrian people. -
Arabic and Aramaic in Iraq: Language and Syriac Christian Commitment to the Arab Nationalist Project (1920-1950) Issue Date: 2020-01-08
Cover Page The handle http://hdl.handle.net/1887/82480 holds various files of this Leiden University dissertation. Author: Baarda, T.C. Title: Arabic and Aramaic in Iraq: Language and Syriac Christian Commitment to the Arab Nationalist Project (1920-1950) Issue Date: 2020-01-08 Appendix A The Syriac Churches in Iraq Numbers Christians formed two to four percent of the total population of Iraq. While the amount of Christians has sometimes been believed to be higher, official estimates and censuses from the period 1920–1950 are consistent in this figure.1 Demographic information divided by church and locations is scat- tered over various sources and comes without accountability. This in- formation is likely to come from the churches themselves, but on the whole the numbers from different sources are not completely consis- tent with each other. The numbers give some insight into the division of the Christians over the churches and over the country, however. Numbers from the Dominican mission (tables A.1, A.2, and A.3) These tables are representations of tables found in Bibliothèque du Saulchoir, Z-91, Statistiques et recensements Iraq 1935. The formula- tions inside the tables are literal translations from French. The per- centages were added by myself. No sources are given in this docu- ment. 1See the statistical information reproduced by Hannah Müller-Sommerfeld, Staatliche Religionspolitik im Irak gegenüber Juden, Assyrischen Christen und Bahá’í (1920–1958), 284. 209 210 the syriac churches in iraq Race Number Percentage Arabs (Muslims, -
St Augustine's Catholic Primary School, Tunbridge Wells
ADMISSIONS POLICY AND PROCEDURES 2021 ACADEMY COMMITTEE DATE OF LAST REVIEW: NOVEMBER 2019 DATE OF NEXT REVIEW: OCTOBER 2020 The Governors of St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and engage with staff in policy and practice developments and proactively encourages feedback. Recommended by the Academy Committee on the 19.11.2019 Signed Chair of Academy Committee …………………………………………. Agreed by Executive Governing Body on the 9.12.2019 Signed Chair of Executive Governing Body………………………………………………………………. Page 1 ST AUGUSTINE’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL ADMISSIONS POLICY AND PROCEDURES 2021 St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School is an academy school in the Diocese of Southwark and is part of the Kent Catholic Schools Partnership. It is in the trusteeship of the Diocese. The school is conducted by its governing body as part of the Catholic Church in accordance with its Trust Deed and Instrument of Government and seeks at all times to be a witness to Jesus Christ. The school exists primarily to serve the Catholic community and Catholic children always have priority of admission. However, the Governing Body also welcomes applications from those of other denominations and faiths and from those who have no faith who support the religious ethos of the school. ADMISSION TO EARLY Y EARS FOUNDATION STAG E ( E Y F S ) RECEPTION CLASS (SEPTEMBER 2021 ) Having consulted with the Diocese, the Local Authority and other admission authorities, the Governors intend to admit into the EYFS/Reception class, in September 2021, up to 45 pupils giving priority to applications from 1-11 of the oversubscription criteria specified below without reference to ability or aptitude. -
Arabic and the Syriac Christians in Iraq: Three Levels of Loyalty to the Arabist Project (1920–1950)
Chapter 6 Arabic and the Syriac Christians in Iraq: Three Levels of Loyalty to the Arabist Project (1920–1950) Tijmen C. Baarda In the twenties and early thirties of the twentieth century, a group of Assyrians in Iraq was busy setting up their own intellectual and educational infrastruc- ture revolving around a number of people inside the Assyrian Church of the East. Most of them had newly arrived as refugees from the Ottoman Empire and had started from scratch. They used a dialect of the Neo-Aramaic language which they called Swadaya, and which is also known as Modern Assyrian. If they employed Arabic at all it was because of the dominance of this language in the new state of Iraq, not because they were so keen on using it. On the other hand, around the same time the Patriarchate of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq propagated the use of Arabic and adherence to the Arab nationalist identity of the state. Drawing upon long experience in writing in Arabic and teaching the language, the Chaldeans were eager to take it to the next level by endorsing it as their own. Yet another type of dealing with the Arabic language is found with the Syriac Orthodox of Iraq. In the late forties, high-ranking clergy from this church used the Arabic language with the same eagerness as the Chaldean clergy did, but at the same time stressed their transnational con- nections with their coreligionists in the Middle East, North America and India, whom they saw as members of one Syriac nation. -
Syriac Catholic Church Reestablishes Diocese in Northern Iraq
Syriac Catholic Church reestablishes diocese in northern Iraq BERUIT (CNS) — To support the faithful and encourage them to stay in their homeland, the Syriac Catholic Church has reestablished a diocese for the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan celebrated the new diocese at a Mass at Queen of Peace Syriac Catholic Church in Irbil, Iraq, Aug. 24. In his homily, he commended the faithful for being “the embodiment of the living faith, and a testimony to the challenge and steadfastness amid takfiri terrorism and in the face of evil forces that wanted to kill hope in your believing souls.” “I say and repeat: You have carried the cross on the example of the Savior, our divine teacher, and you have persevered in your faith, your heritage and your hope, which has been admired around the world, East and West alike,” Patriarch Younan said. Archbishop Nathaniel Nizar Semaan heads the new Diocese of Hadiab-Irbil and all Kurdistan. Previously, the area was under the Mosul Archdiocese’s jurisdiction. Archbishop Semaan was ordained a bishop June 7 as the coadjutor archbishop of Mosul; then he was named archbishop of the new diocese when it was erected June 28. He had served as a priest in London for 14 years. The Hadiab Diocese was founded in the 13th century, but had dissolved by the mid-17th century. In the summer of 2014, some 120,000 Christians were uprooted from Mosul and the Ninevah Plain by the Islamic State, fleeing to Irbil in the Kurdistan region. While thousands of people have since migrated to the West, some families have returned to liberated areas in the Ninevah Plain, and others have settled in the Kurdistan region. -
The Archdiocese of Santa Fe Handbook for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Affairs 2009
The Archdiocese of Santa Fe Handbook for Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface Archbishop Sheehan’s Statement of Promulgation…………………………………………………………...................v Purpose and Scope…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….v PART I – THE CATHOLIC UNDERSTANDING OF ECUMENISM..................................................................... 7 A – Frequently Asked Questions on Ecumenism................................................................................. 9 Introduction..................................................................................................................................................9 B – The Theology and Goal of Ecumenism ....................................................................................... 17 Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 17 Christ Calls Us to Be One............................................................................................................................. 17 Fidelity to Christ’s Call................................................................................................................................. 18 Spiritual Ecumenism....................................................................................................................................19 An Ordered Fidelity.....................................................................................................................................19