In this week’s news from the Eastern Churches: A funeral is held for a once-persecuted Romanian Cardinal, Ethiopians celebrate the Cross, and the 1700th anniversary of Nicaea is marked in Iraq.
Welcome to News from the Orient, your weekly update on Eastern Christians.
Funeral of Cardinal Lucian Mureșan
Cardinal Lucian Mureșan, Major Archbishop of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church, passed away last week at the age of 94. His funeral was held on Monday, September 29, at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Blaj. The crowd far exceeded the cathedral’s capacity, with mourners including the Apostolic Nuncio and the President of Romania. The president paid tribute to the pivotal role Greek-Catholics have played in the nation’s history. Cardinal Mureșan was the first Major Archbishop of his Church and was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. He was also one of the last living witnesses to the persecution his Church suffered under the communist regime.
Meskel celebrated in Ethiopia
On Saturday, September 27, Christians in Ethiopia and Eritrea celebrated Meskel, the Feast of the Cross. This tradition, over 1,600 years old, commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by Empress Helena. Families return to their native villages for the occasion and take part in the lighting of the demera, a large bonfire covered with flowers and yellow herbs. The celebration features dances, religious songs, and processions, making it one of the most significant events in the Ethiopian Christian calendar.
1700th Anniversary of Nicaea in Ankawa
From September 27 to 29, Mar Awa III, Catholicos of the Assyrian Church of the East, hosted an international symposium in Ankawa, Iraq, marking the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. All the Assyrian bishops, along with numerous clergy and scholars from around the world, took part in the event. The opening session was attended by Chaldean Patriarch Cardinal Sako. On Sunday morning, Mar Awa celebrated Mass at the Assyrian Church of Mar Youkhana, together with the clergy of his Church and participants in the conference. Brother Hyacinthe, a Dominican and member of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, was also present, a significant step forward in ecumenical dialogue.
