Orthodox Church and the Aborted Innocents

Lori · Post by **Lori** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:25 pm

Date: 2006-08-22

Siberia Church to Commemorate Aborted Children

IURGA, Russia, AUG. 22, 2006 (Zenit.org).- An Orthodox church is being built in Iurga, in southern Siberia, to celebrate Divine Liturgies regularly for aborted children.

Vatican Radio recently reported on the initiative of a certain Father Konstantin, which recalled the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem martyred by Herod in the time of Jesus.

The new church, expected to be completed next summer, will be consecrated in their memory.

The Orthodox Church considers abortion a form of infanticide and a grave sin, Vatican Radio noted in a report Aug. 11. The Russian government itself has expressed the desire to reduce as much as possible the number of abortions given the "alarming demographic fall."

On the same day, the Italian newspaper Avvenire reported that Father Konstantin's initiative is unprecedented in Russia, and has found support among Orthodox faithful.

The parish priest had the idea when the purported relics of the children murdered by Herod 2,000 years ago were taken from Jerusalem to Iurga.

JeniR · Post by **JeniR** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:19 am

I had no idea that we still have their relics!

Lori · Post by **Lori** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:50 am

You would be surprised at the relics the Church has. It is amazing. The whole time I was in Italy I was able to venerate a multitude of relics including pieces of the True Cross and Crown of Thorns.

JeniR · Post by **JeniR** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:54 am

That is so awesome Lori. I love being Catholic.

Johnna · Post by **Johnna** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 12:04 pm

Wow, that is awesome. I had no idea we had relics of the crown. I did know about the true cross, though. It surely IS amazing. God has left us great gifts.