CHURCHES IN EUROPE
Ukraine/Poland: churches put on UNESCO Heritage ListUnique Ukrainian and Polish wooden churches in the Carpathian region were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The decision was made at the 37th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Cambodia. “Situated on the eastern fringe of Eastern Europe, this transnational property includes a selection of 16 “tserkvas” – churches, built of horizontal wooden logs between the 16th and 19th centuries by communities of the Eastern Orthodox and Greek Catholic faiths”, readse the UNESCO statement, adding that these unique architectural works “represent the cultural expression of four ethnographic groups and the formal, decorative and technical characteristics they developed over time”. Eight Ukrainian and eight Polish “£tserkvas” bear testimony to a distinct building tradition rooted in Orthodox ecclesiastic design, interwoven with elements of local tradition, and symbolic references to their communities’ cosmogony. They are built on a tri-partite plan surmounted by open quadrilateral or octagonal domes and cupolas. They feature wooden bell towers, iconostasis screens, and interior polychrome decorations as well as churchyards, gatehouses and graveyards, informs the UNESCO.Lithuania: Bishops on the EU presidency”We need to have a balanced budget, provide stability to the Euro and create new jobs, but it is important to remember that economic stability depends to a large extent on a right approach to humans and their moral capacity” write the Lithuanian bishops in a message to the Nation at the beginning of its six-months presidency of the European Union. “Promoting the sense of responsibility of the human person and their creative ability is the most important factor in view of social harmony, so it should always be included in the list of the tasks of the EU”. In fact, “the true progress of society is to be measured by the moral condition, rather than by the GDP growth, and when it is ignored, legal and administrative measures are barely able to curb the decline”. According to the bishops, the demographic crisis is more serious than the bank crisis and needs for a “preferential approach to the family”. Moreover, they see the defence of freedom of conscience and religion as “an important task of all EU institutions”: “The representatives of Lithuania cannot keep quiet when the Christian tradition is marginalized or excluded, as this decreases the stability of the foundation the Union”. The bishops conclude with by encouraging to “seek the Lord, that He may give European leaders the wisdom to build peace on a solid foundation of truth and well-being based on solidarity and human dignity”.Belarus: meeting of leaders of Catholic mediaA decision to establish Catholic Media Center with role to coordinate the work of Catholic media in Belarus, carry out their analysis and follow overall development of their conception and vision, has come out of the meeting of directors of Catholic media in the country that took place on 24-26 June in Leskovka near Minsk. The event with participation of heads of key printed and electronic Catholic media from all Belarussian dioceses and representatives of Catholic publishing house “Pro Christo” was held under the leadership of Sofia Janusz from CAMECO – consulting institution specialising in media and communications in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific. “For the first time, the meeting was held on such high level. It’s very important for evaluation and outlining of our future goals in this area and solve the current situation of our media”, said archbishop metropolitan of Minsk – Mogilev, Mons. Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, pointing to shortcomings in coordination and mutual cooperation of Catholic media in Belarus, insufficient level of education, lacking material and financial background – areas that need to be improved.Germany: two thousand young people at the WYD in Rio2,000 young Germans, led by 13 bishops, will participate in the World Youth Day, which will start in less than a month in Rio de Janeiro. An expedition for which young people have been preparing for months, as stated by the president of the Youth Commission of the German Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Karl-Heinz Wiesemann. The President also emphasised that an “important task of the youth ministry is to try to understand how our young people can help to improve the Church in all our countries. Their enthusiasm is a godsend. I wonder how this enthusiasm can become even more contagious and widespread in our communities and dioceses. “For the new coordinator of the Pastoral Care for the Youth and head of the German delegation, Bianka Mohr, WYD offers all the basics – the relationship with Christ, community life and the Sacraments – which may enrich the lives of young people. Mohr also highlighted the intercultural dimension of the World Youth Day, guaranteed by the presence of so many young people from all over the world, with so many expressions of faith.
