Fairfax, VA – The 28th Annual Orientale Lumen Conference will be held “in-person” and “virtual” on June 17-20, 2024, at the Washington Retreat Center near the St. John Paul II Shrine in Washington, DC. The theme will be “Primacy in the 21st Century” reflecting on the last three agreed statements of the Orthodox-Catholic Theological Dialogue: Ravenna in 2007 (Sacramental Nature of the Church), Chieti in 2006 (Synodality and Primacy During the First Millennium), and Alexandria in 2023 (Synodality and Primacy in the Second Millennium and Today). The following speakers will give lectures: 1) Metro ..read more

(OSV News) — Two Eastern Catholic bishops have issued statements with in-depth theological and canonical reasons for their rejection of a controversial Vatican document on pastoral blessings for same-sex couples and other unmarried couples. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and Bishop Kurt E. Burnette of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic, New Jersey, provided detailed responses on behalf of their respective sees to Fiducia Supplicans (“Supplicating Trust”), which was released Dec. 18 by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Fai ..read more

Salhiya December 7, 2023 While watching the tragic scenes of our people in beloved Gaza, I wept repeatedly, especially at the sight of our children and infants, the darlings of their fathers and mothers, covered in rubble, blood and wounds, their cries rising to heaven as they called for help, looking for their parents and siblings. Today, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Child of the Cave, and approach the commemoration of the Children of Bethlehem, put to death by King Herod, I pray to the Child Jesus for the children caught up in this catastrophically violent, destructive and unjust ..read more

Salhiya, Lebanon - 10 December 2023 I am at a loss for words to express my condemnation of the United States of America’s veto on the UN Security Council’s resolution for an immediate ceasefire to stop the massacre in Gaza. The United States’ rejection of this resolution makes America an accomplice in the killing-fields of Gaza. This rejection proves its complicity in the killing of men, women, and children...indeed all those martyrs among the people of Gaza. In fact, it has been complicit in killing every one of the victims of the war that has been raging since the 7th October, on all fronts ..read more

Salhiya, Lebanon - 10 December 2023 I am at a loss for words to express my condemnation of the United States of America’s veto on the UN Security Council’s resolution for an immediate ceasefire to stop the massacre in Gaza. The United States’ rejection of this resolution makes America an accomplice in the killing-fields of Gaza. This rejection proves its complicity in the killing of men, women, and children...indeed all those martyrs among the people of Gaza. In fact, it has been complicit in killing every one of the victims of the war that has been raging since the 7th October, on all fronts ..read more

Episcopal Ordination and Enthronement of Fr. Robert Pipta as the Sixth Bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, November 8, 2023. A sacred and solemn occasion, filled with rich traditions and rituals that have been passed down through generations.   ..read more

Salhiyeh, Lebanon  6 November 2023  After a month of war in Gaza, I again raise my voice with all peace advocates, saying: Stop the War Stop the Shooting Stop the Killing Stop the bloodshed. “Come to a common word.” (Surah 3: 64) Jesus calls everyone to peace: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) Saint Paul the apostle, addresses us, as he did the Ephesians, with this sublime spiritual appeal, “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.” (Ephesians 2:14) All leaders o ..read more

17.10.2023 - We ask His Holiness, the Patriarchs, the Cardinals, the Bishops of all Churches and of all nations to issue a statement calling on the whole world - the European Union, the United States and all countries of the world – to work towards the two-state solution in the Holy Land in accordance with the oft-repeated UN resolutions on the Holy Land. We ask you to advocate energetically and by all available means for this international resolution on the two states of Israel and Palestine to be implemented. Just, universal and lasting peace is the greatest good for all the inhabi ..read more

Vintage Books Now Available A treasure trove of classic Greek-Catholic prayer books in Church Slavonic (Latin characters) has recently been discovered and Eastern Christian Publications has been invited to sell these “collector items.” The books are in mint condition (brand new still in original cases) and include: Duchovni Pisni (Slavonic Hymns), Stefan Papp, Presov, 1969, Hymns with music, 200 pages. $40.00 – advance sale $30.00. Maly Izbornik (A Small Collection Prayers), Nikolai Choma, Uzhorod, 1924, Prayerbook for the faithful, 416 pages. $60 – advance sale $50.00. Velikij Izbornik (A Lar ..read more

As the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church concludes its Holy Synod, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk expresses his gratitude for Pope Francis' closeness to the people of Ukraine and reflects on the Church's pastoral care of people wounded in war. vaticannews.va - By Sr. Nina Benedikta Krapić, VMZ The bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) concluded their annual Holy Synod on Thursday, which took place in Rome and included an audience with Pope Francis. The UGCC Synod focused on the Church's pastoral care for people wounded in Russia's war in Ukraine. On the sidelines of a press ..read more