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Watani
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Watani
'Connected': Coptic youth in service
The month of July 2025 witnessed a host of activities that gathered young diaspora Copts into the embrace of their Mother Church in their Egyptian motherland. On the evening of Saturday 26 July, Pope Tawadros II opened the Fifth LOGOS Coptic Youth Forum for young Copts in the diaspora. Participating were 250 young men and women from Coptic Orthodox dioceses in Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia; also a number of Coptic bishops and priests. From generation to generation Logos Youth Forums for young Copts from around the world consistently bear the motto 'Back to the Roots'. This year's forum was held under the theme 'Connected', a theme intended to affirm 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 coincided 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 relevant scenes 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 sound Christian faith along generations. The performance included segments in Arabic, Coptic, English, and French. In tribute to the Thrice-Blessed Metropolitan Pachomius (1935 – 2025) of Beheira, a singular character in the contemporary history of the Coptic Church, 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. Enriching experience Fr. Younan Samir, coordinator of the Fifth Forum, and Dr Mina Ramsis, representative of 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 to gain knowledge, learn, study, and visit important sites—an experience that would enrich their lives. The following day, Sunday 27 July, the Pope celebrated Mass with the youth of the 5th Logos Youth Forum. From then on, the youth embarked on a busy programme of spiritual activity and visits during which they toured Egyptian landmarks and Coptic sites. The visits included a tour of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on the Pyramids Plateau in Giza. GEM, the world's biggest repository of ancient Egyptian antiquities boasts significant monumental pieces in addition to the famous Tutankhamun collection. It is scheduled to officially open in a grand international celebration later this year. Official opening of Grand Egyptian Museum postponed The Logos youth also visited Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Abbassiya, Cairo, which was built in 1968 as the patriarchal seat in Cairo, and was renovated and reconsecrated in 2018. Its crypt houses the relics of St Mark who preached Christianity to Egypt and was martyred in Alexandria in AD68, and the remains of Pope St Athanasius the Apostolic, the world famous theologian and 20th Coptic patriarch who died in 373. Pope Tawadros personally welcomed the young men and women on the steps of the cathedral, and took a commemorative photograph with them. Officials and institutions Upon invitation from the Pope, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy visited the Logos Youth Forum as the young people gathered at St Mark's in Abbassiya. Accompanying him was Nabil Habashy, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Migration and Egyptians Abroad, along with other officials. In attendance were metropolitans, bishops, and politicians. Mr Fathy addressed the young people, explaining about Egypt's world-famous cultural tourist destinations and official efforts to preserve them as precious heritage sites; also to present them to the world. Mr Fathy and Mr Habashy then joined Pope Tawadros to open the LOGOS Exhibition for service, cultural, and social institutions, held on the sidelines of the Fifth LOGOS Youth Forum. Some 16 institutions took part, among them the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority, Fahim Foundation for persons with mental disabilities, Coptic Institute for Church Management, Official Website of the Coptic Orthodox Church HIGH Office for Service Weeks, Arab Academy for Maritime Science and Technology, Alexandria Youth Council, Papal Office for Projects, Tyrannus School of Education, Bible Society, Pope Cyril the Pillar of Faith Centre for Theological Studies, St Paul the Apostle Medical Services, and Anafora Retreat Centre. Service Week Earlier in July, Pope Tawadros II had inaugurated the fifth Service Week for Coptic Orthodox Youth from around the world at Karma House in Ikingi Maryut, southwest Alexandria. Some 80 young men and women from around the world took part in the Service Week. The opening ceremony included a documentary showcasing the history of the Logos youth gatherings from 2018 until 2025. The young men and women then engaged in discussions with the Pope, tackling topics related to voluntary service, the work of the apostles, and comparisons between past and present. Pope Tawadros spoke about the theme of the Service Weeks, 'GPS,' and offered new spiritual reflections on its meaning: G for Glory, P for Power, S for Sky. In a moving gesture, the young people celebrated the 37th anniversary of the Pope's monastic vows, which coincides with the end of July. World Service Week for Youth of the Coptic Orthodox Church is the fifth such week organised for young people following the Logos Gatherings of 2018 and 2022. The week was held under the patronage of the HIGH Office for Service Weeks, and the theme of this year's event was 'Discipleship.' The voluntary service of the young people involved work with the poor and underprivileged, with children, the elderly and the handicapped. The youth were also treated to visits of Coptic landmarks. The Coptic Orthodox HIGH office is in charge of coordinating among dioceses of the Coptic Church outside Egypt and the areas most in need of services inside Egypt's dioceses. HIGH, which stands for 'Hands in God's Hand', was established through a decision issued by the Holy Synod in March 2024. Newcastle Coptic Youth On 23 July, Pope Tawadros II received at the papal headquarters in Alexandria a group of youth from the church of Mar-Girgis (St George) and Pope Athanasius in Newcastle in the Diocese of Ireland, Scotland, and North East England. The young people had come to Egypt on a visit of service in which they offered educational and awareness-raising services in several churches across the land. They were accompanied by the church's priest, Fr Bishoy Karam. The visit was in coordination between the Diocese of Ireland, Scotland, and North East England, and HIGH. The Pope expressed delight at the young people's visit and their keenness to serve their brothers and sisters in Egypt. He talked about Egypt's unique cultural, historical, and geographical position, noting that the Church of Alexandria is characterised by what he called 'three pyramids of living faith'; these being 'the pyramid of education and service (sweat); 'the pyramid of martyrdom (blood); and 'the pyramid of monasticism (tears). The Pope took time to hear the youth out, replying to their questions and concerns. Before they left, he presented them with souvenirs and a symbolic HIGH passport. Watani International 30 July 2025 Comments comments
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Incredible abandoned European town still 'so pretty' but locals cannot return
This southern Italian village was completely abandoned after landslides and earthquakes forced residents to leave, but the crumbling town is increasingly intriguing to travellers As ghost towns go, this one leans more stunning than spooky. Its dramatic setting on a hill in southern Italy gives this abandoned medieval town a distinct appeal for travellers, though it became too dangerous for former residents to remain. Craco is surely one of the most picturesque ghost towns in Europe, if not in the world. It sits on a clifftop between the valleys of the Agri and Salandrella-Cavone rivers. Before its ruin, the village had a prosperous past supposedly linked to the Templars. Craco was abandoned somewhat recently after an unfortunate series of natural disasters forced residents to pick up and move on. Almost all of the town's less than 2,000 inhabitants were moved to a settlement in a nearby valley after a landslide in 1963 - the last in a series of landslides that began at the end of the 19th century. Some contend that the landslides leading up to the 1963 disaster were caused by faulty pipework and excavations in the decades prior. Even the few inhabitants who chose to remain after the landslides were forced to leave when the village was devastated in 1972 by a flood. And when earthquakes hit the town in 1980, the remaining stragglers moved on, leaving it totally abandoned. Since then, Craco has remained relatively untouched and fuelled many mysterious legends. The town's fame became international when it was used as a location for the 2008 James Bond film James Bond, Quantum of Solace, and it continues to attract curious travellers. Craco has served as a filming location for many notable works, in fact. It was also chosen as the location for Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" and Francesco Rosi's "Cristo si è fermato a Eboli". Today, Craco is a collection of ruins though they highlight the rich ancient history of the area. Travellers will come upon ancient churches, such as the Mother Church of San Nicola and the Madonna della Stella church, and noble palaces, from palazzo Carbone to palazzo Grossi. The village has increasingly grown into disrepair as weekends sprout within the churches and balconies and weather-damaged properties continue to rust and disintegrate. That said, Craco has been included on a list of sites that are priorities of the World Monuments Fund. The town can only now be visited as part of guided tours, due to the instability of the buildings. Visitors are required to wear hard hats for their safety. Italy is home to quite a few abandoned towns, though Craco is arguably the most beautiful. Fossa is another Italian village that was left abandoned after natural disasters cause significant damage. When Matt Nadin travelled to Italy to explore the village of Fossa in the L'Aquila region of the country, he found many items had been left behind by families, including a mummified cat. Fossa had been inhabited for around 900 years until an earthquake struck in 2009. The quake caused severe damage to the village's buildings and left 308 people dead. Today the empty streets and abandoned buildings give the village the feeling of a ghost town. Another abandoned town that is gaining attention for the morbidly curious is Varosha. The once-thriving resort town was left abandoned after the Turkish army invaded the northern region of Cyprus on July 20, 1974. While the town remained closed to visitors for many years, in October 2020, a decision was made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the then prime minister of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, to reopen the area to tourists. More than 1.8 million tourists have visited the ghost town in the last four years - according to statistics released in 2024.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Where Will Pope Francis' Funeral Be Held? Inside the Vatican's Plan for a Simple, Powerful Farewell
The bells of Rome fell silent on Monday morning as news spread of Pope Francis' death at 88, marking the end of a transformative papacy that began in 2013. As thousands gather in St. Peter's Square, Vatican officials have initiated the rituals that will culminate in one of the most watched religious ceremonies in the world: a papal funeral that will blend centuries of tradition with Francis' characteristic simplicity. Here is everything we know about Pope Francis' funeral. The exact date hasn't been announced, but according to Vatican protocol, papal funerals typically occur between the fourth and sixth day after death. Cardinals from around the world are now gathering in Rome to determine the precise timing of the service. The funeral Mass is expected to last approximately two and a half hours, conducted primarily in Latin, with Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old dean of the College of Cardinals, presiding over the ceremony. During a nine-day mourning period, Vatican flags fly at half-staff, and the bronze doors of St. Peter's Basilica remain closed as a sign of respect. This tradition, called the Novendiales, dates back to ancient Roman times and provides a solemn period for the faithful to mourn their spiritual leader. Weather permitting, Pope Francis' funeral Mass will take place in St. Peter's Square. If history serves as any indication, the funeral could rival that of Pope John Paul II in 2005, which drew approximately four million people and became one of the largest gatherings of world leaders in history, with four kings, five queens, and about 70 presidents and prime ministers in attendance. The choice of St. Peter's Square as the venue allows for maximum participation. The square's vast expanse, framed by Bernini's famous colonnades, provides an appropriately grand yet accessible setting for the occasion. St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro) is the massive open-air plaza located directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini between 1656 and 1667. The square is framed by a colonnade consisting of 284 columns and 88 pilasters arranged in four rows. Adorning the top of the colonnade are 140 statues of saints, created in 1670 by Bernini's disciples. At the center of the square stands an ancient Egyptian obelisk flanked by two fountains—one designed by Bernini in 1675 and another by Carlo Maderno in 1614. The square is designed to symbolize "the maternal arms of Mother Church" embracing visitors, and it can accommodate more than 300,000 people during major events. From above, the piazza resembles the shape of a keyhole, designed in reference to the keys handed to Peter by Christ: the key to Heaven and the key to the church. There are two white circles amid the cobblestones of St Peter's Square which mark special vantage points. From these marked spots, the columns align in such a way that the three outer rows seem to disappear. The rituals surrounding a pope's death and funeral follow a carefully prescribed sequence outlined in the "Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis"(Order of Burial for Roman Pontiffs), a slim red volume that Francis himself revised in 2024. The first ritual began immediately after Francis' death with the formal confirmation of his passing. Unlike his predecessors, whose deaths were confirmed in their bedrooms within the Apostolic Palace, Francis' death was verified in his personal chapel at the Vatican's Santa Marta hotel, where he chose to live instead of the more luxurious papal apartments. The camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, one of Francis' most trusted aides, presided over this moment. After the Vatican health service chief examined the body and prepared a death certificate, the camerlengo formally declared the pope's death and drafted the official declaration. In a symbolic gesture marking the end of Francis' papacy, the camerlengo ceremonially destroyed the papal Fisherman's Ring to prevent unauthorized use. Following the declaration of death, Pope Francis' body was dressed in white and then in red liturgical vestments, with his head covered by the traditional white miter. Unlike his predecessors, whose bodies were displayed on elevated platforms (catafalques), Francis' body has been placed directly in a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc, in accordance with his wishes. The pope's body now lies in state in St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing, allowing the faithful to pay their respects. When the body was brought into the basilica, the Litany of Saints was chanted, with the camerlengo leading the procession. The coffin is positioned facing the pews, with the Paschal candle—a large, decorated candle used at Easter—placed nearby as a symbol of the resurrection. The night before the funeral, the camerlengo will preside over the closing and sealing of the coffin in the presence of other senior cardinals. A white silk cloth will be placed over the pope's face in a solemn gesture of farewell. A small bag containing coins minted during Francis' papacy will be placed in the coffin, along with a one-page written account of his papacy—known as a "rogito." This document will be read aloud by the master of liturgical ceremonies, rolled up, and placed inside a cylindrical tube within the coffin. Another copy will be kept in the Vatican archives. The funeral Mass itself will follow the traditional structure of a Catholic funeral, but with special papal elements. The Swiss Guards, who have protected popes since 1506, will kneel during the consecration of the host—a gesture reserved for papal liturgies. After the Mass, the coffin will be carried through the "door of death" to the left of the main altar in St. Peter's Basilica, while a 10-ton funeral bell tolls. The congregation will chant lines from Psalm 117 ("Open to me the gate of justice") and Psalm 41 ("In the splendid company of the saints, I will go to the house of God"). Following the funeral and burial, the Church will continue the nine-day mourning period, with daily prayer services and requiem Masses held in Catholic churches worldwide and at St. Peter's Basilica. Meanwhile, the cardinals will begin meeting in "General Congregations," a period of discernment and discussion where various papal candidates give speeches about their visions for the church. This process will eventually lead to the conclave, where the cardinals will elect Francis' successor. You Might Also Like From the Archive: Tour Sarah Jessica Parker's Relaxed Hamptons Retreat 75 Small (But Mighty) Kitchens to Steal Inspiration from Right This Instant
