News

Mosul, Mar. 3, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Iraqi police are scouring the city of Mosul and its surroundings, searching for the gunmen who abducted Chaldean Catholic Bishop Paulos Faraj Raho on February 29. As Church leaders pleaded for his release, an Iraqi bishop revealed that the kidnappers had issued a "staggering" ransom demand.

Bishop Shelmon Warduni, an auxiliary of the Chaldean Archdiocese of Baghdad, told the SIR news service that Church officials had sought unsuccessfully for a chance to speak with Bishop Rabo, whose physical condition is unknown. Church leaders declined to provide more details about their negotiations with the bishop's captors, saying that the situation is extremely delicate.

Pope Benedict XVI described the kidnapping as "a powerful blow to the whole Church in the country and especially the Chaldean Church… and to the entirely sorely tried Christian community" in Iraq. During his Sunday Angelus audience on March 2 the Pontiff made a public appeal for the immediate release of Bishop Raho-- noting that the Iraqi prelate was "in delicate health" even before his abduction.

Bishop Raho was seized by gunmen who attacked his car as he left the Holy Spirit cathedral in Mosul after leading the Stations of the Cross. Three companions were killed in the attack-- which, the Vatican observed, seemed to have been planned carefully in advance.

 

Catholic World News

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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)