Latest news with #CouncilofNicaea
Watani
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Watani
'Connected': 5th LOGOS International Coptic Youth Forum
On the evening of Saturday 26 July, Pope Tawadros II opened the Fifth LOGOS Coptic Youth Forum for young Copts from the Coptic Orthodox Church in the diaspora. Participating were 250 young men and women from Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia; also by a number of Coptic bishops and priests. The Logos Youth Forums for young Copts from around the world consistently bear the motto 'Back to the Roots'. This year's forum is held under the theme 'Connected', a theme intended to affirms that the Coptic Orthodox Church is grounded in an uninterrupted connection between forefathers and children, whereby the faith is passed down from generation to generation. Connection encompasses individuals and communities, with openness rooted in faith, using modern-day communication facilities, fulfilling the commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ: 'You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world'(Matthew 5:13–14). This year's forum coincides with the Church's celebration of the 17th centennial of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. The opening ceremony featured a performance that included five scenes that of theatre, voice-over narration, and hymns. The scenes depicted key moments in the Council of Nicaea, focusing on the heroes of orthodox faith throughout the ages: Pope Athanasius the Apostolic, Cyril I, and Dioscorus. The central message was the significance of preserving the faith along generations. The performance included segments in Arabic, Coptic, English, and French. In tribute to the Thrice-Blessed Metropolitan Pachomius (1935 – 2025) Metropolitan of Beheira who passed away last March and who had led the Church in 2012 as Acting Patriarch during a critical time of Islamist dominance in Egypt, a documentary was screened, highlighting his most significant works. Fr. Younan Samir, coordinator of the Fifth Forum, and Dr. Mina Ramsis, representing the LOGOS Forums Office, each delivered a word during the event. The ceremony concluded with a word from Pope Tawadros, in which he warmly welcomed the youth to the Fifth Logos Forum, and offered his appreciation and gratitude to their bishops, priests, and families for facilitating their coming to Egypt and reconnecting with their roots. The Pope said that, throughout the forum, the participants will be able gain knowledge, learn, study, and visit important sites—an experience that would enrich their lives. Today, Sunday 27 July, the Pope celebrated Mass with the youth of the 5th Logos Youth Forum. Watani International 27 July 2025 Comments comments Tags: 5th LOGOS Coptic Youth Forum Connected 2025Donia Wagdy
eNCA
20-07-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Pope Leo eyes Turkey trip
VATICAN CITY - Pope Leo XIV said he hoped to visit Turkey in the coming months for a Christian religious commemoration, in what could be his first overseas trip as pontiff. "I hope to be able to meet you again in a few months to take part in the ecumenical commemoration of the anniversary of the Council of Nicaea," Leo said at a meeting with members of an Orthodox and Catholic pilgrimage from the United States. This year marks the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a milestone in Church history, held in what is now the Turkish city of Iznik. Convened by the emperor Constantine in 325 AD, the council was the first to bring together Christian bishops from across the Roman Empire. It resulted in a statement of faith -- the Nicene Creed -- intended to exclude certain heresies. The creed confirmed there was one God who exists in three parts -- the Father, the Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit -- which remains key doctrine for most Christian denominations. The late Pope Francis was to visit Turkey for the anniversary of the Nicaea Council in May, but the trip was cancelled due to his ill-health before he died on April 21 at the age of 88. The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, has indicated that Leo wanted to go to Turkey, mentioning November 30, Saint Andrew's Day, as a possible date.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pope Leo says he hopes to visit Turkey later this year
ROME (Reuters) -Pope Leo said on Thursday he hopes to travel to Turkey later this year for the 1,700th anniversary of a major Christian Church summit, in what would be the first foreign trip of his papacy. The early centuries of Christianity were marked by a lively debate about how Jesus could be both God and man, and the Church decided on the issue at the First Council of Nicaea - now known as Iznik in Turkey - in 325. "I hope to be able to meet you again, in a few months, to take part in the ecumenical commemoration of the anniversary of the Council of Nicaea," Pope Leo said in an audience with Orthodox and Catholic pilgrims from the United States. The pilgrims visited Leo at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, before continuing their journey to Istanbul. Earlier this month, the Turkish presidency said the pontiff had told Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan about his intention to visit her country. Leo, elected on May 8 following the death of Pope Francis, has not yet embarked on any foreign travels. Francis had been planning to go to Turkey to celebrate the anniversary of the Nicaea Council with Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church. In May, after visiting Leo at the Vatican, Bartholomew told the Italian bishops' TV2000 broadcaster that a possible date for the pope's Turkish trip was November 30. Solve the daily Crossword
Herald Malaysia
30-06-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Council of Nicaea anniversary is call to Christian unity: Turkish archbishop
Archbishop Martin Kmetec said the 1700th anniversary of the council has aroused great interest among Turkey's Christians Jun 30, 2025 Archbishop Martin Kmetec. (Photo: Aid to the Church in Need) A Catholic archbishop in Turkey has termed the commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea as 'an opportunity for ecumenical dialogue and unity.' Archbishop Martin Kmetec of Izmir (Smyrna) made his remarks in an interview on the commemoration of the council convened in AD 325, Vatican's missionary news service, Fides, reported on June 27. The prelate pointed out that pilgrimages were organized by communities from Smyrna, Istanbul, and other Turkish dioceses. People from parishes across the world were coming to Iznik, he claimed. The erstwhile Nicaea is now known as Iznik in Turkey. Kmetec, who also serves as president of the Turkish Catholic Bishops' Conference, recalled that the anniversary is also being celebrated by the Orthodox Church, "and is therefore an opportunity for ecumenical dialogue and unity." He said that an ecumenical symposium held last month in Antalya, which he attended, was very significant. Titled Restarting from Nicaea: The Importance of the Incarnation in Contemporary Theology , it was held on May 6-7. 'It helped us focus on the content of the faith we proclaim and live, that is, to reflect on the Incarnation of Christ, which expresses the gift of his divine and human nature,' Kmetec said. 'The gift given to us is salvation: today we are called to safeguard this gift and proclaim it to the world as Christians, Catholics and Orthodox together,' he added. The prelate pointed out that the celebration of the anniversary of the council aroused great interest among the Christian community in Turkey. This 'prompted us to explore the history of the Church in our region,' Kmetec said. He emphasized that the Council of Nicaea was not only a gathering for theological reflection. The council was also the 'fruit of the profound witness of faith by so many people who gave their lives for the faith in the first three centuries of Christianity,' Kmetec said, adding this initial Christian witness prepared the outcome of the Council of Nicaea. 'For us today, the memory of this witness of faith is the most important thing, because it inspires and strengthens us in the challenges we live in the present,' the prelate said. Hope for papal visit Archbishop Kmetec also expressed hope of a visit from Pope Leo XIV to Turkey. 'We eagerly await the official confirmation from the Holy See regarding Pope Leo XIV's visit to Nicaea: his presence in Turkey will be a source of great joy and grace for us believers and for the entire nation," Kmetec said. The prelate noted that the finalization of the various details and agreements associated with the papal visit between the Holy See and the Turkish government is underway. He stated that a Vatican delegation had arrived in Turkey in February this year to prepare for the visit. The prelate pointed out that it would be a privilege for the Catholic community in Turkey if Pope Leo were to choose the nation for his first apostolic visit. "It would be a great event for the entire nation, including the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople,' Kmetec said. He expressed firm belief that Pope Leo has 'an open ear to the realities of the world and will bring a word of peace to a torn world.' Catholics in Muslim-majority Turkey are estimated to be at 60,000, representing less than one percent of the country's more than 85 million
Watani
10-06-2025
- General
- Watani
Coptic Church hosts global celebration of 17 centuries on Nicaea Council
The Coptic Orthodox Holy Synod issued a statement on hosting a global celebration of 17 centuries on Nicaea Council. The statement said that the Coptic Orthodox Church will be hosting the International Conference on the World Celebration of 17 centuries on the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325AD. The Synod welcomed the event within the framework of the Coptic Church's role and responsibilities in the world ecumenical movement, in honour and veneration of the Church fathers among whom are Pope Alexandros, the 19th Patriarch of Alexandria, who participated in the Nicaea Council; and Pope Athanasius the Apostolic, the 20th Patriarch from 328 to 373, together with other heroes who safeguarded the orthodox faith. The conference will be held in October 2025 under the auspices of the World Council of Church's (WCC) Faith and Order Committee. It is the first time, the statement said, that such a conference is hosted by an Oriental Orthodox Church, and is the sixth to be held during the last 100 years. The first was held in 1927 in Lausanne, Switzerland; the second in 1937 Edinburgh, Scotland; the third in 1952 in Lund, Sweden; the fourth in 1963 in Montreal, Canada; and the fifth in 1993 in Santiago, Spain. 'In this regard,' the statement read, 'the [Coptic Orthodox] Holy Synod would like to stress that the conference is not a theological dialogue on Christian doctrines, but an opportunity to present research theses on the Council of Nicaea as a model in the face of heresies facing the Christian faith, given that the Council of Nicaea was a 'historical moment', when the Christian Church in the world was one. 'This means that the conference represents an academic opportunity in which research papers express the views of their writers, be those priests, professors or scholars. Therefore, the conference will not issue any resolutions, decisions, agreements, signatures, or even recommendations, but it may issue media statements only. 'It is known that our Coptic Orthodox Church has been a member of the World Council of Churches since 1954, and is also a member of regional and local church councils. More than 300 Churches and communities from more than 100 countries are members in the World Council of Churches. Eastern churches account for only 15 per cent of the members, while the proportion of Western churches amounts to 85 per cent. 'Our Church's hosting of this world event comes within the framework of its effective and strong role in spiritual work and strengthening of all Christian Churches inside and outside Egypt, because we are not isolated from the world. Rather, we have Coptic churches and monasteries in more than 60 countries in the world, and we entertain loving relations and communication with the other Churches present in these countries. We participate in theological dialogue to explain and present the orthodox faith on the basis of the glorious history of our Church and upright faith, and we always pray for unity of faith and an end to Church division. 'Over the last few years, we succeeded in hosting important Church events such as the 12th General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches in 2022, the meeting of representatives of the Orthodox Churches in the world in 2024, the meeting of the Patriarchy of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East in 2025, and other international conventions.' The statement concluded with prayer for the great upcoming canonical event, to be crowned with success and fruitfulness. Comments comments
