FOUND: Medieval Dinosaurs!

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Curious carvings on a church in the mountainous north of the Republic of Georgia look like…dinosaurs?

CHR Comment: Blogger Gemma Tarlach discovered these wonderful carvings on the belfry façade of the Church of Tsminda Sameba (Holy Trinity). The carvings date from the fifteenth century and likely represent salamanders. But they do look remarkably like sauropod dinosaurs. The second link below takes you to an article about the church.

Source: FOUND: Medieval Dinosaurs! – Dead Things : Dead Things

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gergeti_Trinity_Church

The History and Witness of the Church

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The Book of Acts opens with two events of great salvation-historical importance: the going up of Jesus from earth into heaven (the Ascension), and the coming down of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples (Pentecost). Both events are commemorated by Christians in this season of the year. Jesus’s resurrection from the dead inaugurated God’s new beginning, which the New Testament calls “the last days.” . . . .

CHR Comment: Timothy George offers an Easter/Pentecost reflection on the Church’s witness to what is history and what is myth, citing the testimony of Barth, Eusebius, Calvin, and Bonhoeffer. His somber reflection on the state of the Church of England gives way to hope in the power of the Gospel.

Source: The One Really Interesting Story | Timothy George | First Things

End of Christian Rule in Constantinople

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In Turkey, secularists and Islamists alike revere Mehmet II, but both sides paint him in their own image.

CHR Comment: May 29th is commemorated in Turkey as the day when Mehmet II conquered Constantinople in 1453. He ended the Christian Byzantine Empire—the last remnant of the ancient Roman Empire. He likewise converted the grandest church in Christendom, Hagia Sophia of Constantinople, into a mosque. He is a controversial figure these days as different Muslim groups try to interpret his legacy and plan their future.

Source: In 1453, this Ottoman sultan ended Christian rule in Constantinople. But was he a good Muslim? – The Washington Post

Evangelicals and Foster Care

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The next wave of the evangelical adoption movement will rely on the church’s support.

CHR Comment: The article describes the increasing involvement of Evangelical churches in foster care and adoption, which they view as ministry to orphaned children. Kelly Rosati suggests that foster care may become a standard ministry in churches such as men’s ministry, women’s ministry, or youth ministry is today.

Source: How to Address America’s Foster Care Crisis? It Takes a Village | Her.meneutics | ChristianityToday.com

Muslim Mob in Egypt Attacks Christians

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An armed Muslim mob stripped an elderly Christian woman and paraded her naked on the streets amid rumors.

CHR Comment: The article illustrates relationship taboos in Egypt without indicating what exactly the laws of the nation are. The 70-year old woman in the story did not have an affair. The accusation was against her son, an Orthodox Coptic Christian, and a Muslim woman. The mob attacked a dozen homes and chanted slogans against Christians as infidels. A number of persons from the mob have been arrested.

Source: Muslim Mob in Egypt Attacks Christians, Parades Naked Woman – NBC News

Putin Visits Mt. Athos Monastic Community

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On his first trip to a European Union country this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday sharply criticized western policy toward Moscow, describing a newly expanded U.S. missile defense system as a threat to his country’s security — and vowing to retaliate.

CHR Comment: The end of the article briefly mentions Putin’s visit to the monastery along with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, illustrating the church-state diplomacy current in Russia.

The second link below is to a BBC article/video, “No Women Allowed: Sacred sites where even Female Animals Are Banned,” which describes the restrictions of various religious sites such as Mt. Athos.

Source: Putin blasts West on first trip to EU country this year – The Washington Post

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-36405038

El Ghriba Synagogue, Christians, and Muslims

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Israel recommended avoiding all travel to Tunisia before the festival of Lag b’Omer.

CHR Comment: The article briefly mentions that Jews, Christians, and Muslims have lived alongside one another peacefully in this Tunisian city. Jews lived there c. 2,000 years. Christians would have arrived in the first or second century. The Muslim conquests passed through at the end of the seventh century. Since the creation of the modern state of Israel in 1948, the number of Jews living in Djerba has dwindled to c. 1,100.

Source: Pilgrims flock to one of the Arab world’s last Jewish communities

Catholics and Muslims Alike Pray at Shrine to Mary

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The Blessed Virgin has become a “symbol of unity” in Lebanon.

CHR Comment: The Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon draws both Catholics and Muslims who honor Mary in different ways. The article points out how often Mary is mentioned in the Quran, which has a significant focus on Mary. This is likely due to the rising importance of Mary as a saint and example in early Christianity, which in turn influenced Mohammed as he wrote the Quran.

Source: Why Catholics And Muslims Alike Come To Pray At This Shrine To Mary

Desmond Tutu’s Daughter Deposed from Priesthood

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Ordained in Virginia, Mpho Tutu-Van Furth’s situation reflects the split over LBGT rights in the Anglican Communion.

CHR Comment: The circumstances of the wedding are especially odd given that Van Furth is apparently an atheist and lives in Holland rather than South Africa. One wonders whether the arrangement is more political than a lifelong bond, given that the issue of same-sex marriage is to be discussed by South African Anglicans in the next year. Mpho Tut-Van Furth cannot currently serve in South Africa but can in the United States, illustrating differences across the Anglican communion.

Source: Desmond Tutu’s daughter married a woman, and was forced out of the South African clergy – The Washington Post

Christian Artists and Religious Beliefs

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Two Christian artists have filed a pre-enforcement lawsuit against Phoenix City in Arizona, asking the court to declare its anti-discrimination law as unconstitutional and violative of their religious beliefs on marriage.

CHR Comment: Yet another type of business affected by the changes to marriage laws and the existing non-discrimination laws.

Source: Christian artists act pre-emptively to protect their religious beliefs by asking court to nix state’s anti-discrimination law | Christian News on Christian Today