News

Mosul, Mar. 4, 2008 (CWNews.com) - While Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki promised an all-out effort to secure the release of kidnapped Archbishop Paulos Faraj Raho, the prelate's abductors contacted Church officials in Iraq with new demands that "complicate the case," the AsiaNews service has reported.

"Any assault on Christians is an assault on all Iraqis," the Iraqi prime minister said in a message to Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Emmanuel III Delly. Al Maliki ordered troops to hunt for the gunmen who kidnapped the archbishop last Friday, February 29-- killing three of the prelate's companions, a driver and two bodyguards-- in the assault.

The Misna news agency reported that the kidnappers had contacted the Syrian Catholic archbishop of Mosul, Basile Casmoussa-- who was himself a kidnapping victim in 2005. The kidnappers, whose identity is still unknown, reportedly demanded a ranson and also set political conditions for the archbishop's release. AsiaNews sources said that the political conditions-- which they did not disclose-- seemed to indicate that the kidnappers were not merely criminals interested in financial gain.

The kidnappers reportedly used Archbishop Raho's cell phone to contact Church leaders with their demands. They did not provide any reassurance about the prelate's physical condition. The archbishop is in poor health and requires regular medication. The kidnapping of the Chaldean archbishop-- who was seized just after leading the Stations of the Cross in Mosul's cathedral-- occurred just after US troops conducted a military sweep of the area, targeted at eliminating Al Qaida forces around Mosul.

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)