New campaign to bring food, medicine to Syrian Christians

July 17, 2019 CNA Daily News News Briefs 0 Print

Rome, Italy, Jul 18, 2019 / 12:23 am (CNA).- The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need has launched a new fundraising campaign to aid Syrian Christians, whose lives continue to be devastated by violence and poverty.

“The war in Syria has still not ended, terrorism has yet to be defeated and our brothers have more need of our aid than ever,” said Alessandro Monteduro, the director of Aid to the Church in Need in Italy.

Much of the region is still reeling from the destruction left behind by the Islamic State, while the ongoing Syrian civil war – now in its ninth year – continues to bring fresh devastation.

The city of Aleppo, once the most populous city Syria and its main economic and industrial center, was reduced to ruins during a bloody siege from 2012 to 2016.

The number of Christians in Aleppo has fallen dramatically, from 180,000 before the civil war to 32,000 in early 2019.

Facing high inflation, corruption, and a sluggish economy, the people of the city are struggling to rebuild.

In addition, the violence has not been completely eradicated from the city. Local priest Fr. Ibrahim Alsabagh, told TV 2000 this week that on the previous day, “several missiles fell in different parts of the city of Aleppo and this has many people quite worried again.”

Aid to the Church in Need will focus one of its new projects on obtaining food to distribute to the poorest Christian families in Aleppo, as well as access to cooking gas and fuel for electrical generators.

The second project will be carried out in Damascus, focusing on purchasing medicine, much of it very expensive, for sick Christians. This project is a personal request of the Greek Melkite Patriarch Youssef Absu, who indicated that without this aid, many sick Christians will be left without help.

Since the beginning of the civil war in 2011 until 2018, Aid to the Church in Need has donated around 30.4 million euros ($34.12 million) to the local Churches in Syria. Among other initiatives, this money has helped begin the process of reconstruction of homes and churches for Christians families in areas that are more stable.

 

This article was originally published by our sister agency, ACI Prensa. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

 

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Historic St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy, will host Pope Francis this weekend

April 25, 2024 Catholic News Agency 1
St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy. / Credit: Canva

CNA Staff, Apr 25, 2024 / 04:00 am (CNA).

This weekend, on Sunday, April 28, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass in St. Mark’s Square during a one-day trip to Venice, Italy. Afterward, he will privately venerate the relics of St. Mark the Evangelist inside the basilica. This papal visit to the iconic basilica puts a spotlight on the famous church dedicated to St. Mark and on its significance to the famous “floating city.” 

St. Mark’s Basilica, also known as the “Church of Gold,” is a Byzantine cathedral in St. Mark’s Square. Founded in 828 A.D. after the remains of St. Mark were transported from Alexandria, Egypt, the basilica has undergone several transformations.

St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy. Credit: Canva
St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy. Credit: Canva

After being built as a permanent church in 832, the basilica was burned down in a rebellion in 976. St. Mark’s was rebuilt in 978 but it was a construction project started in 1063 that formed the basis of the current form of the church.

On Oct. 8, 1094, St. Mark’s Basilica was consecrated and dedicated to the apostle and saint credited by many to be the writer of the Gospel of Mark. 

It wasn’t until 1807, on orders from Napoleon, that the city church became the residence of the patriarch of Venice and declared a city cathedral. 

The basilica’s architecture, which combines Byzantine, Gothic, and Romanesque styles, features a central dome, spandrels, and four pillars supporting the immense vaults. Inside, St. Mark’s is adorned with beautiful gold mosaics, marble flooring, and luxurious decor. The presbytery, which is reserved for clergy, houses the high altar, which holds the relics of St. Mark. 

The sacristy, which was crafted in 1486 by Giorgio Spavento, has impressive inlaid cabinets illustrating scenes from the life of St. Mark and a vault with mosaics depicting Old Testament prophets. 

There are also several side altars and chapels paying homage to various saints such as the Madonna del Mascoli and St. Isidore. The Chapel of St. Isidore also holds the saint’s relics, which were brought to Venice from the Island of Chios in 1125. 

St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy. Credit: Canva
St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy. Credit: Canva

St. Mark’s Museum was built during the 19th century. It hosts a diverse collection of artifacts and artwork, mostly acquired from Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. One of the most notable highlights are the Horses of St. Mark — four bronze horses that once were a part of the basilica’s facade — as well as Byzantine and Gothic manuscripts, artifacts, and liturgical objects. 

St. Mark’s Basilica welcomes more than 3 million visitors a year and is truly the center of public and religious life in Venice. 

The Holy See Press Office has released the Holy Father’s schedule for this trip to Venice, which includes meetings with inmates at the women’s prison, a tour of the Vatican art exhibit on display there, a meeting with the featured artists, and a speech to young people.

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