Filipe d'Avillez Profile picture
Freelancer @acn_int, @PillarCatholic @the_tablet ... Father of 6, board member of Large Families Association. Religion, ecumenism, Benfica. Tweets in PT & Eng
Mar 11, 2023 11 tweets 4 min read
Temos aqui um assunto interessante e importante.
A Ana Nunes de Almeida respondeu hoje a um tweet meu a negar que fosse suposto a lista dos nomes entregues aos bispos ter só padres no activo.
Estranhei, porque a maioria das pessoas têm operado com base nesse pressuposto. Fui investigar e de facto a própria Ana Nunes de Almeida diz numa entrevista ao @observadorpt, de 17 de Fevereiro, que a lista não terá só o nome de padres vivos. Infelizmente este conteúdo é só para assinantes.
Feb 24, 2023 8 tweets 5 min read
1) Latest statements by Metropolitan Epiphanius, of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, on this first anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
All here: actualidadereligiosa.blogspot.com/2022/02/war-in…
Excerpts follow 2) During a meeting with Ukrainian soldiers, this Friday: "We are unbreakable and together we will win. Morally, we have already won and the whole world believed in our victory."
Feb 24, 2023 12 tweets 6 min read
1) On the first anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, I have updated Major Archbishop Shevchuk's statements about the war.
They can all be found here: actualidadereligiosa.blogspot.com/2022/02/war-in…
Excerpts follow 2) Just yesterday, he said: "A year of pain and suffering passes, a year of war crimes that the world must recognize and condemn... On the 365th day of the war, we thank the Lord God that we can continue the fight against the evil of war" in his daily video message, adding...
Feb 17, 2023 14 tweets 7 min read
1) If you haven't read this open letter to ROC bishops by @SergeiChapnin, please do so. I have added it to my list of statements on the war in Ukraine by relevant religious figures. The full thing is here: actualidadereligiosa.blogspot.com/2022/02/war-in…
Excerpts follow: 2) "during the military attack of Russia on Ukraine, I have totally ceased to understand you. I hear you uttering nothing but state propaganda clichés, disguised as pious words of Church message, and dubious theological formulas which lead you and your flock away from the Gospel
Feb 10, 2023 6 tweets 5 min read
1) I updated Metropolitan Epiphanius' latest statements. More than provide quotes, I suggest you visit the link and read in full the important statement from the Holy Synod of the autocephalous UOC about legislation that would affect the UOC-Moscow Patriarchate 2) This is another blow in the war between these competing organisations. The UOC-MP complains of persecution, and the UOC-KP piles on the accusations.
In this case I am not even going to quote, as the statement can, and should, be read in full. But the gist is that
Feb 1, 2023 20 tweets 8 min read
1) A lot of very interesting quotes by Patriarch Kirill over the past two weeks.
Find the relevant ones here: actualidadereligiosa.blogspot.com/2022/02/war-in…
Main excerpts follow 2) On 19/1 he preeched a sermon in which he explained that "crazy people" thought Russia could be defeated, and that is why there is a war and the world is in danger.
Allusions to "dark forces", always mysterious, never named, are a constant. Calling them "crazy people" is new.
Jan 26, 2023 9 tweets 6 min read
1) Today I posted statements by Met. Epiphanius, from over the past two weeks.
These include his speech to Pope Francis, during the visit of the Ukr Council of Churches which is taking place at the moment, and some swings at the Moscow Patriarchate church. 2) In a meeting with top UAF brass, he said: "It is necessary to resolve the issue with collaborators in cassocks once and for all, because the Moscow Patriarchate, no matter what it calls itself here, is the last significant bridgehead of the enemy inside Ukraine."
Jan 25, 2023 8 tweets 5 min read
1) A surprising number of statements over the past couple of weeks by Met. Onuphry, of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate, including direct appeals to Moscow to stop killing Ukrainians. 2) "I appeal to the leadership of the Russian Federation and ask: for Christ's sake, stop shooting at our people (...)
You will have to answer to God for even one drop of blood. Therefore, for Christ's sake, stop shooting at our people, killing them!
Jan 25, 2023 4 tweets 5 min read
1) I have just updated Pope Francis' remarks on Ukraine. These are mostly just his weekly calls for peace and prayer, following the Angelus, but one stuck out.
On 11/1 he mentions Belarus.
"Let us not forget war-torn Ukraine, which is always in our hearts. Let us express our 2) affection, closeness and prayer to these people who are experiencing cruel suffering. Now I will pause in silence before the icon known as Our Lady of the People, venerated in Belarus, to pray for that country and for peace. I invite you to join spiritually to my prayer."
Jan 23, 2023 16 tweets 7 min read
1) After 20 days without posting anything by Major Archbishop Shevchuk, I just put 20 pages online.
The Christmas messages and sermons are on there, but perhaps the most interesting are two long interviews.
All here:
actualidadereligiosa.blogspot.com/2022/02/war-in…
Excerpts follow 2) From the Christmas message:
"Christ came to be born in the body of a tortured, crucified and wounded Ukraine. Perhaps it sounds paradoxical, but our victory in this war will come not by the power of the mighty of this world, but by the newborn Child of God"
Jan 22, 2023 4 tweets 1 min read
Today is St. Vincent's day, Patron Saint of the Patriarchate of Lisbon. Lisbon, therefore, commemorated him today, with specific readings, despite it being a Sunday.
Vincent was a deacon in Roman Spain, and was martyred in Valencia. According to legend, when the Moors threatened To destroy his tomb Christians put him on a ship to get it to safety. The ship ran aground in Sagres, currently Portugal, and was later put to sea again. That time it was watched over by two ravens and made its way up the coast, which is currently known as the Vicentine coast.
Jan 16, 2023 16 tweets 7 min read
1) I've been catching up on updating statements from figures and organisations in Ukraine besides the main churches, and today published several recent statements by the Latin rite Catholic bishops.
All here: actualidadereligiosa.blogspot.com/2022/02/war-in…
Excerpts follow 2) At the end of Sep. the bishops called on all Latin rite Catholics to pray the rosary during the month and fast on bread and water on Fridays, for peace "because prayer is the power of peace directed to victory over the darkness of war"
Jan 13, 2023 20 tweets 7 min read
1) I hadn't updated statements by Patriarch Bartholomew, of Constantinople, since September. There is some great stuff here. All statements on the blog: actualidadereligiosa.blogspot.com/2022/02/war-in…
Excerpts follow 2) I'll start with what seems the most significant, a speech on the role of religion in foreign policy in Eastern Europe, made in Abu Dhabi, in December.
In it, the Patriarch does not hold back on his criticism of Moscow, and especially of the ROC as a tool of Kremlin policy.
Jan 10, 2023 29 tweets 9 min read
1) Patriarch Kirill, of Moscow, generally seems to avoid bringing up Ukraine in his sermons and messages, but over this Christmas season he just couldn't get enough!
All the relevant passages here:
actualidadereligiosa.blogspot.com/2022/02/war-in…
Excerpts follow. 2) In his message on New Years he expresses hope that 2023 will being an end to war and that "common sense will prevail and that people with different political views and beliefs will be able to find a common basis for a peaceful and just life."
That's it for common sense though.
Jan 9, 2023 21 tweets 7 min read
1) In his most recent statements the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (autocephalous) has gone back to slamming the other Ukrainian Orthodox Church (former Moscow Patriarchate).
Excerpts follow, full excerpts and statments here:
actualidadereligiosa.blogspot.com/2022/02/war-in… 2) His Christmas message was, naturally, very focused on the war.
"We did not want this war, as a people we sought to live peacefully, having understanding with all our neighbors, but the enemy cunningly and treacherously broke the peace and attacked our land, shedding blood,
Jan 9, 2023 10 tweets 6 min read
1) A few more statements by Pope Francis about the situation in Ukraine.
All here: actualidadereligiosa.blogspot.com/2022/02/war-in…
Excerpts follow 2) On New Year's Day: "The war in Ukraine is reaping innocent victims and spreading insecurity, not only among those directly affected, but in a widespread and indiscriminate way for everyone, also for those who, even thousands of kilometres away, suffer its collateral effects."
Jan 3, 2023 25 tweets 9 min read
1) A busload of new statements by the primate of the UGCC just posted to the blog.
actualidadereligiosa.blogspot.com/2022/02/war-in…
Excerpts follow 2) In his video address on 15/12 he said: "God, help us all to understand that in order to defend the freedom of our Motherland, we ourselves must be free people."
And labelled #Bakhmut the Stalingrad of the III Millenium
Dec 30, 2022 23 tweets 8 min read
1) I have updated the statements by Patriarch Kirill. Nothing special in his sermons, but he made a report to the ROC Synod, which is chockfull of very interesting things, so brace yourselves!
Remember, the full texts of the statements are on the blog
actualidadereligiosa.blogspot.com/2022/02/war-in… 2) A very large part of the report is dedicated to the situation in Ukraine. The Patriarch recalls that this problem began in 2014, not in February, and that Russia had no choice but to step in to the Donbass, to act as a peacekeeper.
Dec 30, 2022 5 tweets 5 min read
1) In a few minutes I will be posting a thread on Patriarch Kirill's most recent statements about the war, and there is a lot to go through, but first I thought I'd point out this curiosity.
This year the Patriarch sent Pope Francis a message on Christmas. He also sent one to 2) heads of other non-Orthodox churches.
I thought the message to Pope Francis was unusually short, and reckoned this could because of recent tensions between the two, following their video-conference conversation, which did not end well.
Dec 27, 2022 25 tweets 8 min read
1) Just updated the statements by Met. Onuphry, of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which used to be loyal to Moscow.
actualidadereligiosa.blogspot.com/2022/02/war-in…
As usual, nothing in his sermons about the war, but the Synod just published two very important documents, excerpts follow. 2) Firstly, the conclusions of the Synod meeting, which again denounce the invasion and pledge loyalty to Ukraine, but also complain of persecution.
"On February 24, 2022, the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine began, which brought death and destruction
Dec 15, 2022 23 tweets 8 min read
1) I have updated the statements by head of the UGCC, Svitoslav Shevchuk. These include a very important pastoral note on patriotism, worth reading in full, as well as an explanation of how he asked Pope Francis to write a letter to the Ukrainian people.
actualidadereligiosa.blogspot.com/2022/02/war-in… 2) In an interview on 2/12, he said that in his meeting with Pope Francis he had explained why Ukrainians sometimes took offense with his words.
"And I told the Pope that it reminded me of certain romantic ideas about Germany before the Second World War: when someone heard