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Athens, Dec. 3, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Greek Orthodox Archbishop Christodoulos has been hospitalized, his condition rapidly deteriorating in a battle with cancer.

The Greek prelate had spent 10 weeks in a Miami hospital, where he was expected to receive a liver transplant. But in October doctors discovered that his cancer was too far advanced to allow surgery, and Christodoulos returned home.

Archbishop Christodoulos, who is 68, played a key role in ecumenical history when he welcomed Pope John Paul II to Greece in 2001. The papal visit came after years of resistance from some members of the Greek Orthodox hierarchy, who retained bitter historical memories of conflicts with Catholics dating back to the era of the Crusades. Later, after welcoming the Pope to Athens, Archbishop Christodoulos made his own visit to the Vatican.

Catholic World News

Forum 18 News

04 December 2022

Joachim and Anna Rejoice

Today the bonds of childlessness are loosed, * for God has heard Joachim and Anna * and He promises manifestly that they, against all hope, would give birth to the Maiden of God * from whom the Uncircumscribed One Himself would be born, becoming man, * and he commanded the Angels to cry out to her: * “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!” (Troparion - Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Today the whole world celebrates * the conception of Anne which was brought about by God, * for she gave birth to the one who, beyond understanding, * gave birth to the Word. (Kontakion - Tone 4)

Saint Nicholas of Myra

The truth of your deeds has revealed you to your flock, * as a rule of faith, an image of meekness, and a teacher of abstinence. * Therefore, you attained the heights through humility, * and riches through poverty. * O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, * pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved. (Troparion, Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

In Myra, You were shown to be a servant of the sacred things, O Holy Nicholas, * for, fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, you, O Venerable, laid down your life for your people, * and saved the innocent from death. * Therefore, you were sanctified as a great initiate of the grace of God. (Kontakion, Tone 3)