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Catholicos Karekin IIrisu.org.ua - The leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II was elected Chairman of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Holy See of Etchmiadzin said in an official statement, posted in Facebook.

It said Catholicos Karekin II was elected unanimously in the South Korean city of Busan at the 10th assembly of the WCC for the next eight years. The presidium of the WCC includes eight people. Their mission is to encourage interfaith and ecumenical relations, human rights, justice and peace, the statement says.

The eight WCC presidents are:

  • Africa: Rev. Dr Mary Anne Plaatjies van Huffel, Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa
  • Asia: Rev. Prof. Dr Sang Chang, Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea
  • Europe: Archbishop Anders Wejryd, Church of Sweden
  • Latin America and Caribbean: Rev. Gloria Nohemy Ulloa Alvarado, Presbyterian Church in Colombia
  • North America: Bishop Mark MacDonald, Anglican Church of Canada
  • Pacific: Rev. Dr Mele'ana Puloka, Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga
  • Eastern Orthodox: H.B. John X Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch and All the East
  • Oriental Orthodox: H.H. Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians

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)