The find still requires research and confirmation, but scientists are already calling it the largest discovery in recent decades.
An international team of archaeologists excavating the Egyptian desert in Abu Gorab in 2021, south of Cairo, have uncovered ancient ruins that they believe are one of six known lost temples of the Sun.
According to scholars, these temples were built about 4,500 years ago during the lifetime of the Pharaohs of the Fifth Dynasty as their final resting places to ensure that the pharaohs are resurrected as gods in the afterlife.
Experts are aware of six such buildings, but only two of them have been found. However, it is likely that the new find may turn out to be the third temple.
Initially, experts excavating north of the Egyptian archaeological site of Abusir discovered the remains of a likely Temple of the Sun, built for Pharaoh Nyuserra, who ruled for about 30 years in the 25th century BC. But further excavations revealed an older foundation made of mud bricks, indicating that a building had already existed at this site.
Experts then found the base of a white limestone column about half a meter deep and many beer jugs for ritual offerings, which, combined with the newly discovered architecture, is important evidence for the theory of the Temple of the Sun.
For whom and when exactly this old original temple was built remains a mystery. Although scientists believe that, most likely, it was a ruler of the same period.
Recall that the pharaohs of the Fifth Dynasty ruled for about 150 years from the beginning of the 25th century BC to the middle of the 24th century BC. Only a small number of these rulers had their own temples of the Sun, created in the name of the sun god Ra on the western bank of the Nile, writes The Sun.
Scientists have yet to complete the excavations and carry out the necessary research, but they already call the new find the largest archaeological discovery of Egypt in recent decades.
Sintra is one of the most beautiful cities in all of Portugal. It offers an abundance of various tourist attractions to its visitors and has established itself as one of the most popular day trips from the capital Lisbon. The distance between the two cities is about 30 km. Sintra is a charming Portuguese jewel and it is no coincidence that Hans Christian Andresen describes it as “the most beautiful place in Portugal”.
Archaeological finds indicate that this area has been inhabited since the early Paleolithic. It hides in itself a unique nature, shown architecture and a great deal of mystery. Sintra is part of the cultural and historical heritage of UNESCO and there is definitely a reason for that. The city is so different from the rest of Portugal that it can not fail to fascinate and captivate you in an instant.
Colorful architectural beauty – Pena Palace
One of the most interesting and arguably most visited landmarks in Sintra, and in all of Portugal, is the Pena Palace. This majestic architectural jewel was built in 1842 by Ferdinand II – uncle of the Bulgarian king Ferdinand. The first thing that impresses every visitor to the palace is its unique appearance. It is a mixture of many styles, including those typical of North Africa. The colorful, displayed palace rises on a high hill above the city of Sintra, on the site where it is believed that in the twelfth century there was a chapel of the Virgin Mary. Over the years, the small chapel was enlarged, but was severely damaged by lightning in the tenth century and almost destroyed by the great earthquake in 1755. The palace is equipped with two gates, one called the arch of the lizard, and the other is equipped with a movable bridge. The palace also has a magnificent clock tower, the construction of which was completed in 1843.
In front of the main entrance of Pena is the so-called “Queen’s Terrace”, which, in addition to revealing a phenomenal view of the park, is also the place where you can fully enjoy the exterior architecture of the palace. The most photographed place here is the front door, where you can see different styles and many preserved and restored elements of the old monastery. The most impressive figure on it is the newt, which symbolizes the creation of the world. The interior of the palace is as interesting as its exterior.
One of the most beautiful rooms is undoubtedly the Indian room. It is definitely the absolute pinnacle of lavish decoration, which some would even compare to light kitsch. The park to the palace is another place worth visiting. It is nearly 200 hectares and has a variety of vegetation, beautiful statues and fountains. The highest point in it is Cruz Alta, from where you can enjoy an exceptional view of the capital Lisbon. When you visit Pena Palace it is important to know that very often there are various discounts when buying tickets online.
The fortress of the Moors
Another place that definitely deserves your attention is the so-called Moorish fortress. It is located directly opposite the Pena Palace and many people liken it to a miniature copy of the Great Wall of China. The fortress was built by the Moors in the IX century, with a view of the sea and the whole area for better observation for defense. Over the years, it gradually declined due to the Crusades, suffered devastating fires and earthquakes, to almost complete destruction. Nowadays, the Moorish fortress has been restored and is open to the public.
The hidden Masonic greatness
One of the most interesting places in Sintra, however, remains the mansion “Quinta de Regaleira”. This is a mystical place, a mixture of many styles, but with a predominant Gothic touch. It was built in the 19th century and arouses mixed feelings in its visitors – excitement, admiration and even a little fear. The building of the manor is surrounded by interesting gardens, which are quite complex labyrinths, statues with mysterious symbols, in some places pagan, other religious.
Definitely this place arouses interest and curiosity, as it is believed to be associated with the Freemasons. In 1840, the wonderful mansion was bought by Baroness de Regaleira, daughter of Alphonse Allen, a wealthy merchant from Porto, and perhaps a Mason, who knows. That’s where his name comes from. The mansion is also called the “Millionaire Monteiro’s Mansion” because Antonio Monteiro, an extravagant millionaire, bought it at auction in 1893. He hired the architect Luigi Manini, who turned the building into a real architectural jewel – a mixture of Gothic, Romantic, Renaissance and Masonic. style. It is believed that he left a lot of hidden messages and symbols throughout the estate. The project was completed in 1911.
The interior of the building is just as impressive as its appearance. There is a huge fireplace in the dining room, which depicts many hunting scenes. One of the most beautiful rooms, however, is the Hall of Kings. Its ceiling is richly decorated with 20 kings and four queens of Portugal, as well as various characters from the glorious Portuguese history.
In the park to the yard there is a small chapel, which is decorated with scenes from the life of Christ. There are many Templar symbols on it as well.
The palace is as beautiful as it is mysterious. The most exciting and mysterious place here is the Well of Enlightenment, which has long been without water and is believed to have been used for various rituals and ceremonies. It is believed that this is where the Freemasons dedicated themselves to their brotherhood. One of the beliefs is that when the traveler descends into the well, with each step he is enveloped in deeper darkness and only the compass at the bottom, drawn above the waist of the Knights Templar, which always points to the east, reminds him that man always strives for light.
Another mysterious well near this one contains nine platforms, which is believed to symbolize the Nine Circles of Hell according to Dante. In addition to these strange places, there are many others in the gardens that are believed to be the work of Masonic art and genius. It is no coincidence that the whole mansion is called the “Palace of Mysteries”.
Free time
If you have some free time left after visiting these majestic mystical places, don’t forget to enjoy the local specialties in a restaurant in the very center of the city. In addition to places to relax and eat, there are many souvenir shops where you can buy various local products. The most popular are cork souvenirs, such as notebooks, cards, purses, bags and more.
Chelsea’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich has officially announced that he will sell the English club. A few days ago, the billionaire resigned from the management of the “blues” from London, and now, through a message on the team’s website, he announced his intention to terminate the ownership of the team after nearly 20 years at the helm.
The oligarch began investing in Chelsea in 2003, when he bought Sofia for 190 million euros, and under his rule won all major trophies in world football, including two Champions Leagues, the Europa League (twice), the UEFA Super Cup (twice) ), The FA Cup (five times), the Premier League (five times) and the League Cup (three times).
“I want to comment on the speculations in the media that have emerged in the last few days and related to my ownership of Chelsea Football Club. As I have already said, I have always made decisions, putting the interests of the club first. In the current situation, I decided that I should sell the club, because it is best for Chelsea, the employees, the fans, as well as the sponsors and partners”, reads the position of Abramovich.
“The sale of the club will not be rushed and I will also not want to be repaid any loans. It was never just a business investment for me, but most of all a passion for the game and the club. I have also instructed my team to set up a foundation that will receive all proceeds from the sale and donate to charity – for the benefit of all those affected by the war in Ukraine. This includes the funds that are currently needed, as well as those for recovery from the consequences in the long run in time, “the statement continued.
Abramovich added that it was not easy to make that decision and it hurts him to part with Chelsea in this way, but again points out that this is the best for the club.
I hope to be able to visit Stamford Bridge one last time to say goodbye to all of you personally. It was a real privilege to be part of Chelsea and I am proud of all our achievements together. Chelsea and the fans of the club will always be in my heart. Thank you “, the billionaire concludes.
According to unofficial information, the value of the club is currently over 3 billion euros.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country was attacked by Russia a week ago, called on the European Union to accept Ukraine immediately.
Earlier on Thursday, another former Soviet republic, Georgia, also applied for EU membership, AFP reported.
Turkey praises the European Union’s efforts to include Ukraine in the bloc, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, and called on Brussels to be equally sensitive to Turkey’s accession process.
Asked about Ukraine’s bid for EU membership at a press conference in Ankara, Erdogan said Turkey, a candidate for EU membership for decades, would support any NATO and EU enlargement.
“We appreciate Ukraine’s efforts to join the EU. But I ask EU members why Turkey’s EU membership worries you?” he said.
He called on the bloc to show “the same sensitivity” it showed to Kyiv’s bid for Turkey’s membership, and criticized member states for “not being sincere”.
“Will you put Turkey on your agenda when someone attacks us too?” He said.
On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for Ukraine’s “immediate accession” to the EU.
“We call on the European Union to join Ukraine immediately under a new special procedure,” Zelensky told the nation.
Turkey is a candidate for EU accession, but accession talks are stalled due to a number of problematic issues. Turkey has been applying for EU membership since 1987, and accession talks began in 2005. But negotiations stalled in 2007 due to objections from Cyprus, as well as resistance from Germany and France.
On Tuesday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for an EU bid for Ukraine a day after eight bloc countries – Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia – voiced support for Zelensky’s call.
Erdogan also reiterated his call for “both Russia and Ukraine to cease fire as soon as possible,” Erdogan said, urging Moscow and Kyiv to “make a good contribution to world peace.”
Erdogan reiterated that Turkey, which has the second largest army in the alliance, supports NATO enlargement.
With war on its doorstep, Moldova is officially applying for EU membership
It has taken 30 years for Moldova to reach maturity, but it is now ready to take responsibility for its own future, President Maya Sandu said
The Republic of Moldova is officially applying to join the European Union. President Maya Sandu signed the document on March 3rd, the government said in its Telegram channel, specifically open to communication with citizens and the media during the country’s state of emergency due to the situation in neighboring Ukraine.
“It took Moldova 30 years to reach maturity, but today the country is ready to take responsibility for its own future,” Sandu said before picking up the signed document in front of television cameras, Reuters reported.
“We want to live in peace, prosperity, be part of the free world. While some decisions take time, others must be made quickly and decisively, taking advantage of the opportunities that come with a changing world,” she said.
The application will be sent to Brussels in the coming days, she said.
In 2014, Moldova signed an association agreement with the EU. However, it does not contain any guarantees for further integration, AFP notes.
European Commission Speech Arles, 04 Mar 2022 Bonjour, tout d’abord, permettez-moi de souligner combien j’apprécie que la présidence française ait adapté le programme de notre réunion ministérielle informel…
Found evidence of the first ever operation on the ear, made 5300 years ago
Researchers from the University of Valladolid in Spain and the Spanish National Research Council in Italy published an article in Scientific Reports. They found evidence of the earliest human ear surgery, in the region of Burgos, in a place most likely used by ancient people as a burial site.
Previous research has shown that the site was used for this burial for 800 years between 3800 and 3000 BC.
The scientists analyzed the skull found in Burgos and found that it had traces of a skull operation. Not only were doctors able to perform ear surgery, but the woman who had the operation survived it, even though she lived only a few months after that.
The skull of a woman between the ages of 35 and 50 is 5,300 years old, making it the earliest example of ear surgery. In modern science, this procedure is called a mastoidectomy. It is performed to clean a suspected infected area. Failure to manage the problem can cause many people to become deaf or have serious infections that can lead to death.
A flint tool was also found on the same grave of the patient. It showed signs of having been heated several times, which means it may have been used as a cauterizing tool to stop bleeding.
In the woman’s skull, scientists found signs of bone growth in the holes, suggesting that the operation may have been successful, albeit not for long.
On March 1, five Ukrainian dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in eastern Ukraine officially refused to mention Moscow Patriarch Kirill during a service. The decisions are published on their official websites. These are the dioceses of Sumy, Rivne, Mukachevo, Vladimir-Volyn and Zhytomyr, which have suffered greatly from the aggression of Putin’s army.
This is supposed to be with the consent of Metropolitan Onufriy of Kiev.
Earlier yesterday, several dozen clerics from the Sumy diocese sent a letter to their bishop announcing their decision that their pastoral conscience no longer allowed them to mention the Russian patriarch as their superior. Today the Sumy miter. Eulogius, who was known for his strong pro-Russian positions, joined them. Its decision reads: “Condemning Russia’s bloody aggression against the Ukrainian state and the Ukrainian people, taking into account the address of our clergy and laity on February 28, 2022, I bless the end of the prayerful mention of the Moscow Patriarch in Sumy temples and monasteries. Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church ”.
Here is the full text of the address:
“On February 24, 2022, the armed forces of the Russian Federation insidiously invaded the territory of Ukraine without declaring war. The Sumy diocese, which covers part of the Sumy region, is border, and that is why one of the most terrible blows of the Russian army fell on the territory of our diocese. Residential areas are being attacked, innocent civilians are being killed.
In this terrible moment of trials, we express our full support for our homeland, Ukraine. We offer prayers for the Ukrainian authorities, for the armed forces of Ukraine and for all those who stood up today in defense of Ukraine with weapons in their hands. We are ready to provide the Ukrainian army with all possible assistance. We also support the suffering civilian population and call on all our parishioners to support with acts of mercy all the victims: those who were left homeless; those in need of food and sustenance; those in need of medical care. Everything we do for our neighbors, we do for Christ Himself, fulfilling His commandment to love.
On the first day of the war, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of Kiev and all of Ukraine issued an appeal to the flock, and also recorded a video address in which he unequivocally condemned the aggressive actions of the Russian Federation, fully supported the Ukrainian armed forces and called on the Russian leadership to stop this bloody madness. . We fully sympathize with His Beatitude and sincerely thank Him for these important addresses filled with pastoral wisdom and responsibility.
At the same time, we are forced to admit with particular sorrow that in these terrible days, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia did not condemn in any way the aggressive actions of the Russian authorities. In his address of February 24, 2022, Patriarch Kirill only called on “all parties to the conflict to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties.” So the war itself is not condemned here. The insidious invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army has not only not been condemned, but has not even been named.
On Sunday, February 27, during a service in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Pat. Cyril read a prayer for Ukraine, in which he called what is happening in our country internal “quarrels and conflicts.” And in a speech after the Liturgy Patr. Cyril literally said: “God, do not allow the current political situation in fraternal Ukraine, which is close to us, to be used for the evil forces that have always fought against the unity of Russia and the Russian Church to take over.” Again, these words do not condemn the aggression committed against our country. Moreover, these words give reason to think that the patriarch fully approves of forcing Ukraine to relinquish state sovereignty and forcibly join Russia.
Despite the fact that His Holiness Patriarch Kirill has been saying for many years that Ukraine is an area of his pastoral responsibility, today we do not see any attempts on his part to protect the suffering people of Ukraine.
In this difficult situation, guided by the dictates of our pastoral conscience, we decided to stop mentioning the Moscow Patriarch of Worship. This decision was dictated by the demands of our flock, which, alas, no longer wants to hear the name of the patr. Cyril in our temples.
We especially want to emphasize that this step does not contain any canonical violations. According to the prescriptions of the church canons, the priest is obliged to mention only his ruling bishop. We continue to mention at the services His Beatitude Onuphrius, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, and His Eminence Eulogius, Metropolitan of Sumy and Akhtyr. We remain part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. It is known that there are parishes in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that have not mentioned the name of the Moscow Patriarch for many years, and no one accuses them of that.
We address this appeal primarily to our fellow clergy, the clergy of the Diocese of Sumy:
Dear fathers! Think and join us!
We would especially like to address our ruling Bishop, Metropolitan Eulogius of Sumy and Akhtyr:
Your Eminence, dear Bishop Eulogius!
We would like to inform you that we, the undersigned clergy of the Sumy Diocese, condemning the criminal and brutal war started by the Russian Federation against Ukraine and the Ukrainian people and its real support by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, henceforth stop mentioning the name of the Moscow Patriarch. worship services.
At the same time, we remain faithful to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and express our love and full support for our Primate, His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Onufriy. We also express our love and support for our suffering people, our valiant soldiers, our Ukraine. “
The laconic message on the social network of the famous Ukrainian bishop Jonah (Cherepanov), abbot of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Kyiv, also received a strong response today. Ep. Jonah is the vicar of the Kiev diocese, known for his missionary work among Ukrainian youth, heads the Synod’s Department for Youth Work of the UOC (MP), and is very popular in Russia:
“For my friends from Russia.
Yes, we have a war. Russia invaded Ukraine. Civilians are dying, children are being killed, our temples are being burned. We did not wait for any “liberators”, nor did we call them. The people are unanimous and united in their attitude to this terrible aggression. I don’t know what else to say. “That’s the truth.”
No Ukrainian bishop or priest has supported the Russian invasion, and all official church statements speak unequivocally of war and brutal aggression against the Ukrainian Christian people.
Why do some scientists want to “dark” the Sun, while others sound the alarm
An open letter was published from 46 scientists and experts in which they said that the idea of ”darkening” the Sun to combat climate change is very dangerous, as it could damage crops and cause the Amazon to dry out. Hi-Tech is investigating how the idea to reduce solar radiation came about and what risks this may entail.
Spraying an aerosol that reflects light, or creating special reflectors that block some of the solar radiation, is not science fiction, but real projects in the field of solar geoengineering.
How do scientists want to manage solar radiation?
Adherents of the idea of solar geoengineering propose to reflect part of the solar energy back into space in order to reduce the temperature of the Earth and prevent climate change. The idea is that the temperature of our planet is rising due to an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases that absorb energy.
In April 2019, the book Climate Engineering and the Law was published in the United States, edited by renowned climate regulation expert Michael Gerrard. In it, he noted that there are “passive” techniques for influencing the climate, such as capturing carbon dioxide. Such approaches are relatively safe, as they will not have global consequences. But projects in the field of solar geoengineering and other global ideas need to be specifically regulated, he noted.
There are three methods by which they want to “darken” the Sun
• Increase the reflectivity of clouds or the Earth’s surface to reflect more heat into space.
• Create cosmic reflectors that will block some of the light before it reaches Earth.
• Spray stratospheric aerosol to reflect sunlight before it hits the Earth.
Adherents of the idea of solar geoengineering propose to reflect part of the solar energy back into space in order to reduce the temperature of the Earth and prevent climate change. The idea is that the temperature of our planet is rising due to an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases that absorb energy.
Is solar geoengineering safe or dangerous?
• Short-term consequences:
So far, there is no definitive answer to this question. If you change the reflectivity of the atmosphere, then, according to scientists, there is a risk of global climate imbalance. This means that in one part of the planet the situation will get better, but in another it will worsen radically, for example, the distribution of monsoons will change or drought will worsen in Africa and Asia. If this happens, then about 2 million people could be left without food and water.
• Long term effects:
It is also unknown how, over time, the climate will react to the consequences of solar geoengineering. In the event that the distribution of the reflective aerosol stops, a “termination shock” can occur. The researchers found that if this happens, then the global temperature can increase dramatically, and this will lead to massive death of ecosystems.
In addition, solar geoengineering will not help us solve the problem of global warming, but, at best, put it on pause, since the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will not change.
Are there real examples and projects on solar geoengineering?
• Cloud brightening:
Yes, one of the most popular projects with the United States is the “lightening” of sea clouds. The bottom line is that the brightest white clouds reflect more sunlight back into space. Therefore, the researchers proposed seeding the clouds with sea salt and other substances. Special technologies are being developed to spray and send seawater particles into the sky.
• Project of Bill Gates with a balloon and an aerosol can:
An experiment aimed at combating global warming will be conducted by specialists from Harvard University. To use for this they are going to a balloon and an aerosol can. Microsoft founder Bill Gates will financially support the project.
The researchers plan to launch meteorological balloons that release small particles of calcium carbonate into the stratosphere. These fragments, the authors suggest, will reflect the sun’s rays, sending them back into space. All this should reduce the average temperature of water and air. Based on the results of each stage, it is proposed to carry out special checks by appointed independent commissions in order to make sure that the technology does not harm the atmosphere.
All this should reduce the average temperature of water and air. Based on the results of each stage, it is proposed to carry out special checks by appointed independent commissions in order to make sure that the technology does not harm the atmosphere.
Why doesn’t everyone support solar geoenergy?
Geoengineering is already being controlled at the global level: in 2010, the ban on geoengineering projects was adopted by the parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and since then it has been updated every two years. True, this is not a treaty or a protocol, but only a decision – a document of a lower level.
However, there are still many loopholes in international law that could potentially be exploited. Therefore, opponents of geoengineering are turning to the world scientific community. At the end of January 2022, a group of 46 scientists and management experts created an open letter explaining why, in their opinion, such technologies are extremely dangerous.
The authors noted that the risks of solar geoengineering are not yet well understood and may never be fully known. The impact of solar geoengineering will vary by region, and there is uncertainty about the impact on weather patterns, agriculture, and the provision of basic food and water needs.
It is not yet known whether geoengineering will become a salvation in the future, but it is definitely not worth resorting to such measures just because humanity has no other choice. Geoengineering methods require more independent and well-controlled research so that researchers can better weigh the benefits of their application against the risks that humanity takes on by interfering with the Earth’s climate.
Scientists have established the cause of the disappearance of mammoths in Siberia
An extensive study based on soil DNA has shown that climate change was not the cause of the extinction of woolly mammoths in Siberia. The article was published in the journal Nature.
The animal and its ancestors lived on Earth for more than five million years, having gone through more than one ice age during this time. For several thousand years, they lived next to the first people who hunted them, used their meat for food, and built dwellings from bones and tusks, made harpoons, arrowheads and works of art. Even the oldest known musical instrument, the 30,000-year-old flute, is made of mammoth bone. Therefore, one of the hypotheses of the extinction of mammoths suggests that they were exterminated by people.
The results of a project carried out by scientists from ten countries led by Eske Villerslev, professor at St. John’s College, Cambridge University and director of the Center for Geogenetics of the Lundbeck Foundation at the University of Copenhagen, prove that this is not the case.
For twenty years, the authors collected soil samples in the Arctic, in places where the remains of mammoths were found, and painstakingly extracted DNA from them for analysis of plant and animal remains, including urine, feces and skin cells. The use of advanced sequencing technologies allowed them to recreate the habitats of extinct animals from these samples.
“Scientists have been arguing for a hundred years about why mammoths became extinct. People have been accused of the fact that animals that have experienced climate change for millions of years, next to the people who hunted them, did not live long,” – quoted in a press release from the College St. John’s words by Professor Villerslev.
The researchers proved that the problem was not so much climate change as its speed. The huge animals were unable to adapt quickly enough when the landscape changed dramatically, forests and swamps took the place of pastures, and food began to be scarce.
The authors combined detailed maps based on DNA analysis with a map of the distribution of populations of woolly mammoths and showed that over time, the size of animals and their genetic diversity was reduced, making survival even more difficult.
“When the climate became more humid and the glaciers began to melt, this led to the formation of lakes, rivers and marshes. The ecosystem changed, the biomass of vegetation was reduced, and it could no longer support mammoth herds. We showed that climate change, especially rainfall, directly affects replacing vegetation. According to our models, people did not influence them at all. Moreover, there were many animals around that were easier to hunt than a giant woolly mammoth, “explains Willerslev.
Within the framework of the project, scientists for the first time sequenced the DNA of 1,500 Arctic plants of the Pleistocene epoch and proved that the “mammoth” tundra steppe was a unique ecosystem, unlike anything that exists today. The study covers 50 thousand years of evolutionary history of this ecosystem and shows how its change caused the disappearance of not only the woolly mammoth, but the entire megafauna of the region.
President of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) Rev. Christian Krieger has urged Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to raise his voice clearly against Russian aggression in Ukraine and contribute toward efforts to end the war and realise peace.
“Religious and political leaders around the world, as well as the faithful of different churches are waiting for you to recognise the aggression, call on the political leadership of your country to end the war and return to the path of diplomatic dialogue and international order,” reads CEC president’s letter to Patriarch Kirill, issued on 4 March 2022. “We call on you to affirm the value of all human lives, including the lives of Ukrainian citizens who are under attack.”
Krieger went on to say that like millions of Christians around the world, he is appalled by the aggression of the Russian armed forces against Ukraine, civilians and thousands of people fleeing the country. “At the same time, I am disheartened by your daunting silence on the unprovoked war that your country declared against another country, which is home to millions of Christians, including Orthodox Christians that belong to your flock,” he added.
“As churches, our horizon is beyond national interests. I firmly believe that the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ carries a message of peace for all humankind that calls for a deep respect for the dignity of every human being. This message is rooted in the mercy of the Triune God and the forgiveness God offers by the gift of Himself to anyone who comes to him. This message calls Christians, churches and church leaders like us, to be artisans of peace and reconciliation,” he said.
“I pray that you raise your voice to put an end to the war. I pray for the victims of this war and all those who are working to realise peace,” concluded Krieger.
Having reported the above, CEC is also the target of criticism, as some of their churches and members also attack minority religious movements or at least just even keep them totally aside from any interfaith or dialogue, therefore, some human rights activists say it would help CEC spreading their message of FoRB, to actually start a campaign to accept in the dialogue other non-traditional movements.
