News

CWN - Pope Francis renewed his pledge of support to the Christians of Syria, as he met on November 30 with a group of Melkite Catholic pilgrims from that country.

Acknowledging the “great tribulation” suffered by the Christians of Syria, the Pope offered his prayers that God would “comfort them in their anguish and keep them from desperation.” The Pope repeated his insistence: “We cannot resign ourselves to thinking of a Middle East without Christians.” Noting that the day was the feast of St. Andrew, he invoked the intercession of that apostle and martyr to strengthen the Christians of Syria.

The Pope concluded by invoking St. Andrew, whose feast day is celebrated today, and who is greatly venerated by the Eastern Churches; through his intercession he asked the Lord for “peace in the world and mercy for our souls”.

Another dramatic story of Christian suffering in Syria came on December 2, when the AsiaNews service reported that Islamic rebels had stormed an Orthodox convent in Maaloula, a town north of Damascus, and kidnapped 12 women religious. The whereabouts of the detainees is not known.

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)