The Burning Cross

Burning Cross

Background

The first of the Crusades began in 1095 AD and ended in 1099 AD; the Second Crusade began in 1147 AD and ended in 1154 AD. All major crusades almost eight in number were finished by 1299 AD and by the end of 16^th century, the concept of crusades was almost altogether nonexistent. Pakistan came into existence in 1947, amidst strong polarization between Hindus and Muslims. This religious polarization resulted in emergence of strong religious groups. In order to maintain their existence after partition of India, these strong religious groups diverted their activities towards sectarianism, inter-religion and communal violence. Fuel to the fire was added by anti Pakistan forces that were already in search of suitable opportunities to weaken this country. Involvement of Pakistan in war against Russia in Afghanistan provided latest weapons hands of these extremists and they developed into a strong and organized fighting force. Under influence of these influential extremist groups, several laws were enacted without considering its impact on religious minorities and weak sects. Now the genie is out of the bottle and folk on the road are paying the price.

Burning Church

Situation

Christian Minority is not the only victim; people are being killed in cold blood every day. However, minorities in Pakistan are in deep sense insecurity because of laws, which threaten their life and property.  People in majority perhaps do not understand the constant fear and threat under which minorities are living. For example, if anyone today wrongly blames my family or me under these laws, from the next moment:-

• My complete family is under severe threat to be killed immediately by someone who believes that my blood is his ticket to paradise.
• If still alive, I am likely to be taken into custody by law enforcing agency and I would be severely tortured due to severe hatred for me without considering that I may be innocent.
•  If I am acquitted in trial, I have to go in hiding and live life under constant fear until death.

Some persons like Governor Salman Taseer gathered courage to speak against this injustice but were unfortunately killed by paradise seekers. No major or minor political party has now been left with courage to even murmur against all this injustice, all they do is fire fighting when incident like Joseph Colony, Gojra, Shantinagar etc happens.

Future Outlook

No relief is foreseen in near future, however, it is time for minorities in Pakistan to unite and prepare a line of action so that our next generation shall not live under constant fear and threat. Few points are as follows:-

• Create a united minority political group that shall have focused approach on major minority problems.
• Minorities shall only support a political party in election, which clearly mentions resolution of key problems in their manifesto.
• All minorities and threatened groups shall form a coalition and support each other when any one of them is threatened
•  Socially boycott minority parliamentarians if they do not actively fight for minority rights inside and outside parliament
• Shall create a media center that shall focus on injustice being committed on minority communities

Note; if you want to help those in trouble please contact us at rogerstahir@yahoo.com

FGA Church an Joseph Colony Burnt by Mob

Joseph Colony is a residential area, where mostly poor Christians reside. These people were living in slum type houses, where they had little or no access to clean water and  sanitation. Most of the Christians were living below the official poverty  line. The christian community was peace loving,  poor and busy in earning income for the days meal, so that there family do not sleep without evening meal. Most of the houses here were devoid of important accessories like refrigerator, color TV etc. People here were God fearing, Law abiding and were waiting for a miracle to change there life for better.

Story

This episode of burning Joseph Colony, where about 150 Christian families were residing, started at 1pm and ended in the evening on March 9, 2013.

Burning Households of Christians of Joseph Colony

As the story goes,  Shahid Imran alleged that Christian Boy Savan used to utter blasphemous remarks against the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), he said that on Thursday he again uttered blasphemous remarks. In the evening, he shared it with his friend Shafiq, who picked up a knife and went straight to Savan’s house. Reaching there, Shafiq hurled abuses by shouting and challenging Savan to come out. Savan’s family members told Shafiq that would hand over Savan to him whenever they find him. At 12pm Friday, Shafiq gathered some other boys and reached Savan’s house. Meanwhile, Muslims of the adjoining localities also reached there to join him against the accused. The situation went out of control when people reached the spot after offering prayer. The scared Christians left their houses and fled, immediately all houses were abandoned. The charged mob started throwing bricks and some of them even tried to burn the entire locality.

Analysis

Pakistan is a country, where terrorists, extremists and religious hawks are having a free hand to do whatsoever they like. Law enforcing agencies and government intelligence organizations has completely failed. What to talk of minorities, majority itself is not safe.  Bomb Blasts, target killing, organized crime, gang actions, dacoits, and street crimes are the order of the day. Majority Shiites Muslims are already having tough time in hands of extremist groups; minorities are living under shadow of constant fear. A motivated blame on you by someone and you, your family, your community, your property and even your neighborhood is at a great risk. It is time for people of Pakistan to change their thinking, promote moderate thinking, shun extremism, and select good government. We have to amend all those laws, which threaten a community and make good laws that promote love, peace, mutual respect and harmony.

NOTE: If you are interested to join us in order to rebuild this devastated community, contact rogerstahir@yahoo.com

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Modern Churches – The San Josemaría Escrivá Church, Mexico

The San Josemaría Escrivá Church, Mexico

Contemporary Churches -  The San Josemaría Escrivá Church, Mexico

The San Josemaría Escrivá Church is a astonishing illustration of Modern Church Architecture. The plot of land has an irregular shape with an area of 5,200 Square Meter. It offers contemporary materials, forms and technologies, while holding on to the fundamental principles of Christian Architecture. Positioned on the west side of Mexico City, this is San Josemaría Escrivá Church designed by Javier Sordo Madaleno Bringas Architects. The building is dedicated to Josémaria Escrivá Balaguer. Despite its contemporary appearance, the building is loaded with religious symbolism. The architects began developing the architectural concept with geometrical strokes and enrolling in the repetition of the 7 golden rectangle, (two curves referring to the Christian Fish symbol) and then raised these curves with straight lines to a diagonal in the rectangle forming the cross of light. Three connected buildings, the first one, compose the project of this community center and the largest, 752.37 Square Meter, is the Catholic Temple, that holds 400 seating capacity, The interior height of the temple, is 17m and 25m from outside.

The San Josemaría Escrivá Church

The second building is the residencies for the priests that serve the church and the third and last building is a residency for the staff. The narrow windows allow the light to invade the interior space in a controlled manner, so that it appears to cut through the darkness. Moreover, the main crucifix is positioned in a way that Jesus appears to be the cornerstone stabilizing the whole construct. Finally, the building points to the sky signifying a spiritual elevation.

Modern Churches – Three Saints Orthodox Church, Ansonia, Connecticut, USA

Three Saints Orthodox Church, Ansonia, Connecticut

Contemporary Churches – Three Saints Orthodox Church

Three Saints Orthodox Church is situated in Ansonia, Connecticut, in the Lower Naugatuck Valley, approximately 10 miles outside of New Haven. Three Saints Orthodox Church beginnings could be traced to the end of the last century with immigrants fleeing the Slavic nations (Northern Europe to Southern and Central Europe) to escape religious, cultural, and political persecution that was overbearing in their countries and to improve their economic status. In 1890, a small group of people from Ansonia, mostly from Austria, Hungary and Galicia, formed a group in order to observe their religious teaching. In 1899, purchased a tract of land on Howard Ave and Crescent St and erected a new church edifice. Men of the parish labored on the church property after their day’s work built the Church. The Church was formally dedicated in October 1900. In 1903, fellowship deeded the Church properties for the sum of one dollar to the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Three Saints Congregation.  This was the beginning of the Three Saints Orthodox Church. On January 25, 1954, tragedy struck.  A flash fire completely gutted the interior of our House of Worship. After a fire gutted the interior of the church in 1954, a new church was constructed on Howard Avenue. Three Saints Orthodox Church was completed in 1955. On November 20, 1955, the first Divine Liturgy was held in new Church, the church was dedicated in 1956.

 Church Timings

Saturday Evening	4:00 PM	Evening Vespers and Confessions.
Sunday Morning	9:00 AM	Divine Liturgy followed by Fellowship Hour (Year-Round) and Church School (September–June).
Sunday Morning	8:45 AM	Hours.
Eves of Great Feasts	6:30 PM	Vespers and Matins Service.  If Feast Day falls on Monday, Vespers is served following the Sunday Divine Liturgy at 11:00 AM.
Mornings of Great Feasts	9:00 AM	Divine Liturgy

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Modern Churches – St. Basil’s Church on Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California

St. Basil’s Church, Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California

Contemporary Churches – St. Basil’s Church on Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California

In 1919, there was a requirement for a new parish among Catholics west of Hoover Street. Bishop John Cantwell designed St. Basil Parish on November 26, 1919. Albert C. Martin was invited to draw up plans for the church and, on May 12, 1920. the pastor signed a contract with the builder, Edward C. English, to complete the church in 75 working days. The formal dedication of the newly constructed St. Basil Church took place on Sunday, November 21, 1920, with Bishop Cantwell presiding. The church was badly damaged by a fire In October 1943 and it was subsequently rebuilt.

In August 1965, Msgr. Gross announced preliminary plans to build a new 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m²) complex at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Kingsley Drive.  The Albert C. Martin Architectural Company designed this new vision and The Pozzo Construction Company constructed the new St. Basil Church. The church remained under construction from 1967 to 1969. The St. Basil’s Parish Church, as we know it today, was opened on June 26, 1969. In 1969 and 1970, the church was the site of pickets and demonstrations by Chicano Movement protesters who objected to the archdiocese’s expenditure of substantial funds on construction of the new church rather than on the poor and social justice programs.

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Modern Churches – Stykkisholmur Church, Iceland

Church of Stykkisholmur, Iceland

Contemporary Churches – The Modern Church of Stykkisholmur

Stykkisholmur Town is often called the capital of Snaefellsnes. The locals are the country’s shell fishermen, the correlated industry is vital to the town’s source of revenue. The Modern Church of Stykkisholmur is a concrete architectural venture with seats for 300 people. It was consecrated in 1980 and is being used as a concert hall also.

Interior – Stykkisholmur Church

The Church in Stykkisholmur is to a certain extent exceptional architecture and beauty, reminds of modern sculptures, and attracts many visitors. The church is enormously beautiful from both inside and outside. Stykkisholmur has a very extraordinary and very attractive design. The clean, modern design depicts ‘purity’.

Modern Stykkisholmur Church, Iceland

The Stykkisholmur Church has got the most beautiful altarpiece of St. Mary and Jesus. The Stykkisholmur Church Stands rather high and is very prominent from land and sea. It is  stunning to view this church from a distance. It stands on a promontory overlooking the town of Stykkishólmur in western Iceland, on the northern edge of Snæfellsnes peninsula. The entrance lies between two sweeping arms leading up to the bell tower.

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Modern Churches – The Jubilee Church, formally known as Chiesa di Dio Padre Misericordioso

The Jubilee Church, Tor Tre Teste, Rome

Contemporary Churches -  The Jubilee Church, Tor Tre Teste, Rome

The Jubilee Church, formally known as Chiesa di Dio Padre Misericordioso (Church of God the Merciful Father), is a church and community center in Tor Tre Teste in Rome. The Parisch Church of Dio Padre Misericordioso built as part of the Vicarage project “50 Churches for Rome 2000” was designed as a mark and symbol of the Grand Jubilee of 2000. It takes on the idea of a ship, a ship which ploughs the seas of the Third millennium. The project began in 1995; Meier was awarded the commission in 1996, and was American architect Richard Meier’s first church. Construction began in 1998 and was inaugurated in 2003. The covered area27, 000ft², building constructed in white concrete and glass.  The Jubilee Church site is divided into four main parts: first, the precinct, including the church and community center; second, the northeast terrace; third, the northwest recreation court; fourth, the west parking area.

Interior – The Jubilee Church, Rome

The most distinctive feature of the The Jubilee Church is the three curved shell walls, or ‘sails’ that soar to a height of nearly 90ft above the building. The Jubilee Church features concrete, stucco, travertine, and glass. Three dramatic concrete shells arc in graduated heights from 56 to 90 feet that bring to mind gliding white sails. Glass ceilings and skylights in the church span the entire length of the building filling the space with natural light. The main nave seats 240, and a day chapel seats 24.

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