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The Bible was not originally written for the modern reader, but the testimony of the Church is that it continues to speak God’s word to readers/hearers today. However, many modern Bible readers come across texts that need further explanation because the biblical authors did not offer clarification of their writings. They assumed the readers of their time were familiar with the background and could understand the reported events without further explanation. To achieve a “legit” interpretation of Old Testament texts, we first need to understand Scripture correctly, meaning that the biblical text must be read in its narrower and broader context. Only within a context does it become clear what the author meant to say. The main argument of this article is to exhibit that the Bible can only be fully understood against the backdrop of the Ancient Near East (ANE). The broader context consists of the knowledge of surrounding nations during Bible times (i.e., Hebrew Bible). By examining ANE texts and archeological findings we achieve a more complete and enriched comprehension of a given scriptural text or passage. This article exhibits through some concrete examples how archeological findings, inscriptions, and Ancient Near East texts can aid in understanding the broader context of the Old Testament world. In return, the wider context of the Bible world can enlighten or clarify a difficult, incomprehensible, or ambiguous biblical text and henceforth scriptural interpretation become more accurate and closer to the original message and meaning.
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The Church in the New Testament is described with various images, and this article argues that one image that is implicitly present in the New Testament is the Church as a “court” or a “community of trial.” First, this can be argued because the God of the Bible – YHWH - is Creator, King, and Judge. That means that YHWH’s community is responsible, per YHWH’s revelation, to maintain the purity of its members in all aspects of life. Second, in the New Testament, we find examples where the Church functions as a court. However, the question is, does the biblical requirement for “two or three witnesses” also support the claim that the Church should function as a court? The purpose of this article is to identify places where the biblical command about “two or three witnesses appear,” to trace its development and to see what role and place it plays in the Church. By doing so, we would demonstrate that the presence of this stipulation in the New Testament is additional proof that we should sometimes view the Church as a “court.” The first part of the article explains that the context for the concept of witness is the Mosaic covenant and underlying assumption that governs the command about “two and three witnesses.” The second part analyzes the appearance of “two or three witnesses” in the Old Testament. In the third part, we will argue that the Church is truly a community of trial. We will so argue by observing selected examples from the New Testament where the Church functions as a court, and by tracking the development of the requirement about “two or three witnesses” in the New Testament. Based on this research, we will end by offering a reflection and a conclusion.
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For Metropolitan Anthony Bloom, the kenosis of Christ climaxes with his God-forsakenness on the cross. It is this aspect of kenosis that the present article tries to explore and build upon. One key element will be the meaning of the concept of “a-theist” Christ – coined by Bloom – and how this status of the incarnated Son can function as a basis for our identification and solidarity with today’s atheists. By the way of kenosis, the incarnation brings together in one hypostasis the divine and human nature. This reality endowed both our nature and created order with significant dignity. This paper explores the possibilities from this dignity and how it can serve as a bridge for dialogue with humanists and materialists. As Bloom suggests, this can open the discussion towards the secular world and Christians could take some responsibility for the process of secularization. The objective of this article is to demonstrate that Anthony Bloom’s controversial idea of “a-theist” Christ can become a connection point with the other and a mirror in which western Christians might look at some of their anthropological shortcomings that hamper their solidarity and dialogue with those who do not share the faith in God.
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Review of: Matthew Kaemingk and Cory B. Willson, Work and Worship: Reconnecting Our Labor and Liturgy, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2020, 292 pp
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In the context of the Commemorative Year dedicated to those reposed in the Lord; the liturgical and cultural value of cemeteries, the seventh edition of the NationalSymposium of Martyrology took place on 3-4 April 2021, under the title „The(un)forgotten dead of the communism. Topography of repression: between thearchaeology of assassinations and the places of memory. Public homage and liturgicalcultivation”. This year, the academic event was organized by the Archdiocese of AlbaIulia and the National Museum of the Union, in partnership with the Faculty ofOrthodox Theology in Alba Iulia, Aiud Memorial and „Sfânta Cruce [The HolyCross]” Monastery of Aiud. Given the current special circumstances, and the rulesconcerning the events attended by a great number of persons, the Symposium washeld online, on the „Zoom” platform, and was broadcast live to the Facebook pageof the National Museum of the Union in Alba Iulia.This academic and cultural event was attended by University staff, researchersand scholars, involved in various projects or actions aimed at retrieving the memoryof recent past. This academic, cultural and spiritual event was closely connected to the celebration of the patronal feast of the „Holy Cross” Monastery of Aiud– standing above „Râpa Robilor [Slaves’ Ravine]”, where many of the political detainees of Aiud prison were buried during the communist times. Given the dedication of the Aiud Monastery and the spiritual significance of theCross, the editions of the National Symposium of Martyrology have been regularly held on the Sunday of the Holy Cross – the third Sunday of Lent and, more recently, on theSaturday preceding it. The main responsibility in organizing and running the symposiabelonged to protos. Gavriil Vărvăruc, the abbot of the monastery, and to doctor PavelChirilă, president of Aiud Foundation and moderator of many of the past editions of thesymposium. Over the recent years, in the organizing of this event took part representatives of the Cultural Department of Alba Iulia eparchy, and of the Museum of the Union.
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The Joint Standing Committee of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senatefor the Relation with UNESCO marked 65 years of Romanian membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation by a series of events. They began on 13 April 2021, in „Avram Iancu” Hall – the Palace of the Parliament, with a roundtable discussion on „UNESCO world heritage inRomania – challenges and solutions”, conducted both face-to-face and online, on the International Day for UNESCO Monuments and Sites, celebrated on 18 April every year. The event was attended by representatives of central and local authorities and of the cultural institutions in Romania. In the opening address,Ludovic Orban – president of the Chamber of Deputies, expressed his interestin the efficient capitalizing on, and developing the UNESCO patrimony inRomania. The permanent delegate of Romania to UNESCO, Simona-Mirela Miculescu, spoke about the defining factors in the process of patrimony preservation: „Successful, long-term conservation begins with the steps taken on-site by the authorities and communities of the country holding an asset or element of patrimony that may become the object of a proposal to be submitted to UNESCO”. The delegate on behalf of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel forthis event was pr. Nicolae Dascălu, patriarchal counsellor and director of Lumina publications, who pointed out that the monuments and sites of the Romanian Orthodox Church included on the UNESCO world heritage list testify to the Romanian creativity and spirituality, worth being protected and being known worldwide. Senator Anca Dragu, president of Romania’s Senate, also presented the essential role played by UNESCO in promoting Romanian culture and its diversity.
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On 21 April 2021, the Romanian Academy held a memorial for its prominent members and sponsors, reposed in the Lord. His Grace Varlaam Ploieșteanul, VicarBishop to the Patriarch, officiated a panikhida service in the Memorial Park of the Romanian Academy - Bellu cemetery. In his address, His Grace gave the members of the Romanian Academy executive the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel for this commemoration of the remarkable personalities of Romanian culture and science, and described the significance of the memorial service.In his turn, Academician Ioan-Aurel Pop – president of the Romanian Academy, pointed out that this event is an act of moral duty to both the members of the institution reposed in the Lord, who were representatives of Romanian culture and science, and to those who by their philanthropic donations supported the activity and mission of the Romanian Academy.The event concluded with His Grace Varlaam Ploieșteanul and acad. Ioan-Aurel Pop lighting vigil lamps at the grave of Romanian philologist and bibliographer Ioan C. Bianu, former managing director of the Romanian Academy Library between1884-1935, and president of the Romanian Academy between 1929-1932.The memorial event was attended by the institution’s presidents, by priests counsellors of Bucharest Archdiocese, and by staff members of the Romanian Academy.
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This study focuses on a particular period in Romania’s history, namely the occupation of Bucharest by the German army during the First World War. FromThis short and intense chapter in Romania’s history, a subchapter is under analysis:Iuliu Scriban’s activity in this period of time and especially the character of its work.The reason of our interest in this subject has to do with the allegations that have been made by many contemporary personalities (I.G. Duca and Nicolae Iorga being the most important) that Iuliu Scriban betrayed the national interests.In the light of what we mentioned above, one can see that, despite numerous criticisms from contemporary personalities, the accusation of collaborating with the German occupying force does not have very strong arguments. The accusation is understandable given the context in which it was made. Back then, anti-Germanfeelings were intense, and against those who betrayed the Romanian cause there wereeven higher. The pain caused by the military defeat against von Makensen’s offensive along with the humiliation of leaving the capital city to the German occupation caused many to seek scapegoats. Most likely this mindset has led many to accuse those who remained in Bucharest, judging them all the same.In the case of Iuliu Scriban, despite all the accusations, he was found not guilty. But the fact that in 1926 he considers himself obliged to write a book to explain what happened shows that in the period after the German occupation, either his enemies made efforts so the public remembered his accusation and not that he was found not guilty, either that, due to misinformation, this had remained the general opinion about him.What we can clearly state about the controversy surrounding Iulius Scriban’s activity during the German occupation is that he was not pro-German. Although some significant data about him might fall into this category (he had studied inGermany at Baden-Baden, he had an affinity for German theology and culture, he spoke German, he had chosen to stay in Bucharest at that time) Iulius Scribanhad belonged before the war to “Liga Culturală” (the Cultural League), an entity insistently fighting for Romania’s entry in the war alongside the Allies. A pro-German intense activity before Romania entered the war would have been a clear sign that Scriban was an agent of the Germans, but this activity never existed.The most important arguments that defend Iuliu Scriban are the events that took place under German occupation. These events broadly suggest the relationship between the Church and the German High Command in general and between Iuliu Scriban and the German occupation force in particular.
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The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church concerned itself with the matter of the canonical organization of the Orthodox Diaspora.Therefore, the respective documents were discussed concerning the OrthodoxDiaspora and the Rules of Operation of Episcopal Assemblies in the Diaspora, which were submitted by the Fourth Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference (Chambésy, 2009), and by the Synaxis of Primates of the AutocephalousOrthodox Churches (January 21-28, 2016).
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Between March 18 to April 9, 2021, with the blessing of His Eminence Nicolae, Metropolitan of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas,Rev. Fr. Daniel Adrian Ene, the Diocesan Secretary and the Dean of New York,New England and the Eastern United States, took two missionary journeys in SouthAmerica and visited Mexico and Columbia. The visits took place at the invitationof His Excellency, Mr. Marius-Gabriel Lazurca, Ambassador Extraordinary andPlenipotentiary of Romania to the Mexican United States and Her ExcellencyClaudia Tușa, Chargée d’Affairs of Romania to the Republic of Colombia.In Mexico, on March 18, 2021, Father Daniel met with His Excellency Mr.Ambassador Lazurca and the members of the diplomatic team of the RomanianEmbassy in Mexico, the discussions were about the realities of the Romaniancommunity in Mexico and about the difficulties encountered during this pandemicperiod. On this occasion, Father Daniel presented, on behalf of His EminenceMetropolitan Nicolae, as a symbol of the appreciation and care of His Eminence to the Romanians living in Mexico, but also for the efforts of the Embassy, the Commemorative Icon of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas for the year 2021, the Solemn year of the pastoral care of Romanians from outside Romania in the Romanian Patriarchate. On Friday and Saturday, March 19-20, Father Danielaccompanied Mr. Lazurca to Cancun on the first working visit of the new ambassadorsince the beginning of his term. On Friday evening, an official meeting with theRomanian community took place and another one with Mr. Eduardo Albor, the Honorary Consul of Romania in Cancun. Saturday, March 20, was a real blessing on the occasion of the service of the first Divine Liturgy in Romanian in Cancun. The Divine Liturgy was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Cancun (Santuario MariaDesatadora de Nudos). The Divine Liturgy was attended by Ambassador Marius Lazurca and Honorary Consul Eduardo Albor along with many Romanian believers living in Cancun and Playa del Carmen. They had the opportunity to confess in thisfirst week of Lent, to commemorate those asleep and to listen to the Divine Liturgyin Romanian for the first time in this part of the world. The Holy Mass was followedby several meetings with Father Luis Pablo Garza, pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Cancun, and with Monsignor Pedro Pablo Elizondo Cardenas, Catholic Bishop of Cancun. During these meetings, the idea of establishing a Romanian Orthodox parish in this area where there is no Orthodox church was discussed.On Sunday, March 21, 2021, Father Daniel celebrated the Divine Liturgy again in the midst of the Orthodox and Romanian community in Mexico City, this time atSt. Sophia Greek Cathedral with the blessing and participation of His EminenceArchbishop and Metropolitan Athenagoras of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Venezuela and the Caribbean, as well as ofBishop Isihios de Makrianis (Ecumenical Patriarchate). On Monday, March 22,at noon, Father Daniel and Ambassador Marius Lazurca had a meeting with His Eminence Metropolitan Ignatius (Samaán) of the Antiochian Orthodox Church of Mexico, Central America and Venezuela, who also received the Commemorative Icon of the Year 2021 from His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae and the album Pages of history of Romanian Orthodoxy in America.In Columbia, Father Daniel Ene travelled between March 25 and April 9 and he offered blessings and gifts from His Eminence Nicolae, the Romanian OrthodoxMetropolitan of the Two Americas, and had multiple meetings with Romanians and other Orthodox communities from this country. On Sunday, March 28, hecelebrated the first ever Romanian-language Divine Liturgy at the “Dormition ofthe Mother of God” Greek Cathedral in Bogota. He was joined in celebration by HE Timoteo Luis Antonio Torres Esquivel, Bishop of Assos – Auxiliary for Colombia and Venezuela of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Mexico, Central America,Colombia, Venezuela and the Caribbean Islands (Ecumenical Patriarchate). FatherDaniel Ene met the next days the Romanians from Barranquilla and Cartagena, where he discussed the opportunity of creating there a Romanian Orthodox parish, and, together with Ambassador Claudia Tușa and HE Timoteo of Assos, he also visited the city of Cucuta, where, in a former Catholic nunnery, the Greek OrthodoxDiocese of Assos will soon establish the first Theological Seminary and the firstOrthodox nunnery in South America.Through these missionary visits, the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas wanted to bring a message of solidarity to the Romanian communities in Mexico and Columbia. In his words, Father Daniel Ene reminded the Romanians in Mexico and Columbia that they are not alone, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae carries them in prayers, and that we must not forget our Romanian roots, ourOrthodox faith and our Romanian culture and traditions wherever our lives take us.
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On April 7, 2021, at the Headquarters of the Romanian Embassy in the Italian Republic, in Rome, a special event tooked place. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, His Excellency Mr. Bogdan Lucian Aurescu, presented to the hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Italy the distinctions conferred upon them by the President of Romania, His Excellency Mr. Klaus Werner Iohannis. The President of Romania awarded His Grace Father Bishop Siluan, the Order“Cultural Merit”, in the rank of Commander, Category G – “Cults”, and His GraceFather Auxiliary Bishop Atanasie of Bogdania awarded the National Order „ForMerit”, in the rank of Knight. The hierarchs received the distinctions “as a sign of high appreciation and gratitude for the solidarity and dedication they showed in their intense social-philanthropic activity for the Romanian citizens on the territory of the Italian Republic, thus contributing to limiting the impact of the current epidemiological crisis on the Romanian community and especially on the vulnerable social categories”. In his speech of thanks, His Excellency Bishop Siluan pointed out that the distinctions „are not granted for individual merits, but they represent the collective effort and merit of the whole Diocese, which is why we dedicate them to all clergy, clergy wives and volunteers involved in helping those materially and morally affected by the pandemic”. The decrees on the decoration of the hierarchs were signed by President Klaus Iohannis in August 2020. The awarding ceremony of the distinctions was attended by His Excellency Mr. George Bologan, the Ambassador of Romania in the Italian Republic, members of the diplomatic corps, as well as representatives of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Italy.
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At the Metropolitan Residence, His Eminence Andrei, Archbishop of Vad, Feleac and Cluj and Metropolitan of Cluj, Maramureș and Sălaj, received the presentation visit of His Excellency David Saranga, ambassador of Israel to Romania.During the meeting which took place on Wednesday, March 10, His EminenceMetropolitan Andrei spoke about his visits to Israel and the pilgrimages to the HolyLand, which „allow the faithful to venerate the places where God revealed His love and providential work for the people and through people. The Metropolitan of Cluj also expressed his wish to return as soon as possible to those places so fraught withhistory and spirituality”,declared the cultural counsellor of the archdiocese, priestCornel Coprean. His Excellency David Saranga assured His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei of Israel’s firm intentions to conclude an agreement with Romania with a view to resuming tourism. The impact of the pandemic on spiritual life was also discussed, as well as the need for people to find spiritual grounds during these times.
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On April 21, 2021, a delegation of ambassadors of Belarus, Palestine andMorocco, and economic counsellors to the embassies of the Netherlands and theRussian Federation visited the Eparchial Centre of the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău. Present at the event, His Eminence Archbishop Ioachim welcomed the distinguished guests and thanked them for their visit. The distinguished guestsvisited the Archdiocesan Cathedral „Blessed Paraskevi”, the Eparchial Museum, as well as the kindergarten, the daycare centre and the chapel in Melchisedec Park, part of „Bishop Melchisedec Ștefănescu” Foundation. They admired and appreciated the religious and cultural treasure belonging to the Eparchial Centre patrimony, the beauty of iconography and the architecture of the princely foundation, as well as the complex activities now carried out through „Bishop Melchisedec Ștefănescu”Foundation. At the end of the visit, each of those present signed the Honorary Book of the Museum, where they noted their thoughts and experiences generated by this visit. After the visit to the Eparchial Centre, guests went on to visit a number of cultural landmarks of Roman, among them the Municipal Museum „George Radu Melidon”.
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Jiří Melantrich, the Czech printer and publisher, started with a small personal printing office and gradually built a large printing and publishing enterprise of European significance. The Bible became the basis for his editing activities. He also focused on printing the humanistic literature and Latin poetic collections. Additionally, he published various guides and dictionaries, legal literature, as well as cheap entertaining books of folk readings. After 1576, he started cooperating with his son-in-law, Daniel Adam from Veleslavín, who took over the printing office after Melantrich´s death. Of no less importance were also his contacts with the court of the Czech governor, the Archduke Ferdinand II. Melantrich used these contacts for his business activities, as proved by an assortment of published books. However, in the collection of Slovak National Library, we can find works of this publisher also with other although no less interesting topics. One of the preserved Melantrich´s works is Knijžka Potěssytedlná wssechniem Tiehotnym, in which he deals mainly with the prayers for pregnant women, as well as for women after the pregnancy. Moreover, the book includes advice or obligations for men, instructing them how should they behave toward women during this period.
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The literary work of Karel Reban was shaped by multiple reformist movements whose roots can be traced back to the turn of the 20th century. First, there was the Liturgical Movement, within which he was a recognized figure. The second major influence was the so-called Katolická moderna (Catholic modernism), a Czech Catholic literary movement that eventually transformed into a Church revival initiative. This movement followed the example of European Catholic modernism. Katolická moderna was established in 1895 by a group of young priests, Catholic poets, theologians and university professors looking for a way to use their modernised work to reform the religious life of society as a whole. Katolická moderna reacted to a marked decrease in religiousness, lack of piety and the subsequent crisis in society. Since his youth, Karel Reban had been an avid reader of the magazines published by Katolická moderna, to which he later contributed with academic articles and commentaries.
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Predmetom reštaurátorského a umelecko-historického záujmu sa stala medzi kapitulskými rezbami aj pomerne malá neskorogotická plastika kľačiacej postavy svätého Jozefa, ktorej proveniencia je toho času ešte diskutabilná
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