Magyar Egyház, 1992 (71. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)
1992-01-01 / 1. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 11. oldal of gaining and holding power are methods typical of gangsters. In New Testament times such characters (King Herod, for example) were all ultimately subject to Roman authority and discipline. In our time, it has been more difficult to establish a mechanism by which international criminals may be punished. The United Nations represents the best attempt so far, and it is a very imperfect one. As I write, U.N. authority is being brought to bear against the gangster tactics of Iraq’s Saddam Hussein. But, while Saddam Hussein may be brought to heel, the United Nations will be severely limited as an instrument of justice as long as dictators hold permanent seats, with veto, on the Securiy Council. For now at least, Soviet actions in Lithuania or Georgia, and Chinese actions in Tibet and in Tien-AnMen Square, are immune from United Nations discipline. We need to understand, as Christians, that we have both individual and social responsibilities. As individuals, we are to love our enemies and not seek our own selfish advantage; and we are to retain a realistic humility as to how well we are doing it. As citizens, we are to be law-abidng (and taxpaying) members of society. But we also are to work, as we are able, toward the creation of a more just society, more impartial in the enforcement of its laws, on the local, national and international levels. Rev. Edwin Stern Roebling, New Jersey BARTHOLOMEOUS I. NEW ECUMENICAL PATRIACH OF CONSTANTINAPOLE Bartholomeos I was enthroned November 2 as the new Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople succeeding Dimitrios I who died last month. Bartholomeos I was born 1940 in Turkey, stuided in Turkey, in Geneva, in Munich and in Rome where he received a doctorate. The Patriarch of Constantinople is ‘first among equals’ of the heads of the Eastern Orthodox churches. The patriarchate itself counts about 4.7 million members in Europe, Australia and North and South America. In a newspaper interview the Patriarch declared that “We always try to avoid dealing with political issues because it is not our duty. This belongs to the politicians.” (EPS) INTERNATIONAL ECUMENICAL CONFERENCE ON ISLAM The Islam in Europe Committee of the Conference of European Churches and the Council of European Bishops’ (Roman Catholic) Conference is planning to hold an international ecumenical conference on Islam in Europe. The theme will be how theological faculties and seminaries should integrate Islamic studies into their curricula. The presence of 25 million Muslims in Europe, seven million of them new arrivals from Asia and Africa, calls for an advanced theological training for all pastoral workers. A large number of present Muslims in Europe originate from countries after the breaking up of the colonial empires, others are guest workers in Central Europe who have not returned to their countries of origin. THE DETRUNCATED CHURCH YEAR Looking for the date of Pentecost in 1992 to schedule a church affair I did not find it in my day-to-day small notebook. Nor in any of the elegant big engagement calendars I had received from various clubs and companies. I checked the various informations listed in them: International Currencies, Weights and Measures, U.S./Canadian Airline Distances, Birthstone, Gift and Zodiac Information, Map of U.S. Time Zones, Map of World Time Zones, Temperatures in Selected U.S. Cities, U.S. Embassies and Consulates, International Clothing Sizes. Valuable informations, good to have them handy for travelers. There was in each of these appointment books a list of holidays, cramped into half a page: all the national holidays from the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (traditional and observed) through Independence Day to Veterans Day. Also the popular ones like Groundhog Day, Mother’s, Children’s, and Father’s Day, Grandparents’ Day and others. Listed were religious holidays: Islamic and many Jewish. Now I come to the Christmas holidays. Here they all are: Epiphany, Orthodox Chrismast, Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Orthodox Lent, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, these there also in the Orthodox calendar, All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day. Ascension Day, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday and First Day of Advent were not on the list. These calendars were printed for the general public, not for church people. For the general public Christmas, Lent, Good Friday, Easter have been retained yet for a person who owned such an appointment book but was not a frequent church visitor, Christian holidays ended with Easter; no more holidays until the Christmas season. It should be mentioned that there exist appointment books published by the Presbyterian, Methodist and other denominations which do list the “Christmas Year.” But the availability of such is limited to a few “bible book stores.” The “general public” can buy the kind of appointment books at stationery stores I described above listing a detruncated church year. Hungarian Reformed Churches in America and Canada all observe Pentecost at both English and Hungarian language services. Ascension Day, because it always falls on Thursday is less often celebrated. In many congregations a clever solution is being found, however, by including the examination of the confirmands in the Ascension Day evening service; parents and relatives of the cofirmands make a good attendance. Confirmation is the following Sunday and first communion of the confirmed young people is scheduled for Pentecost Sunday. In any case, let me add the holidays in 1992 missing in the commercial appointment books: Ascension of the Lord — May 28, Pentecost Sunday — June 7, Trinity Sunday — June 14, First Sunday in Advent — November 29. Or better, be in church every Sunday to learn the proper information. A.H.
