The Colloquium of European Parishes has received the icon "Six patrons of Europe" that symbolizes the mission of Christians
The Colloquium has received an icon that symbolizes the mission of Christians who are not afraid of taking responsibility for the salvation of Europe and its future.
The icon "Six patrons of Europe" was painted by artist Ivanka Dymyd.
The central figure of the icon, Archangel Michael, represents the Church: living, active and dynamic. Around him, there are martyrs for the faith of modern Europe: Edith Stein in striped clothes who died in the Auschwitz furnace, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Bridget of Sweden, St. Benedict, St. Cyril and Methodius who are Slavic spiritual teachers.
110 European citizens, priests and laymen came to the 30th Colloquium of European Parishes (CEP) in Lviv, Ukraine on July 27- August 1 to find the answer to the question "How to be active Christians in modern Europe" in discussions.
The organizer of the forum in Ukraine is the Foundation of St Volodymyr supported by the charity Foundation "Renovabis."
Colloquium discussions were on the following issues:
1. Pope Francis and His vision of the modern Church (the Roman hierarch is elected, for he is the Church leader who most valiantly proposes concrete steps for practical Christian life in the current secular environment);
2. The parable of the prodigal son (one of the most famous parables found in Luke 15:11-32). The plot of this parable symbolically illustrates the relationship between man and God. The emphasis should be made on the person of elder brother, who plays the role of a "righteous Christian, which prevents the uncircumcised from feeling free in the Church»);
3. The dignity of every human being. Who will help us to be Christians in modern Europe? (One of the main challenges for modern Christians is to come out of their temples to meet all people without condemning anyone, offering Christ's love to everyone.)
The movement of Christian parishes under the name of the Colloquium of European Parishes (CEP) was initiated in 1961. Every two years, Catholic representatives from different countries of Europe gather at the Congress in which bishops, priests, theologians and active laity take part to discuss the question: how to be good Christians in the modern world, how to transfer faith to the next generations, how to search for new forms of evangelization, how to revive parishes? This movement began in the RCC in 1963, in recent decades it was joined by Greek Catholics of Ukraine, Romania and Hungary. It now includes 35 countries.
