by Martinulus » Sat Mar 16, 2013 4:27 pm
Justus III tours Comares-Gongmando; meets Kyo community leaders
Comares/Gongmando, Elbian - Upon the invitation of Gukmindang General Secretary Han Haneul, Arch-Patriarch Justus III made some adjustments to his schedule in order to spend more time in the Kyo heartland's capital of Comares/Gongmando. The extra time will be spent on a tour of the city with Han and Kyo community leaders and meetings with Kyo and Sindo leaders. The focus of the visit is widely seen as a goodwill exercise in which the pontiff attempts to reassure the Kyo community, which has been shaken by Hosian evangelisation, that the Church is no threat to their culture. At his arrival, the head of the Selucian Church invited the leaders of the Kyo community to attend a service in Comares' Cathedral of Our Lady Mother. The service was reworked on the initiative of several Kyo Hosians and their clergy in order to reflect the way Kyo Hosians incorporate their traditional culture into their Hosian practice. Although the Arch-Patriarch will still be the main celebrant at Holy Revelation, he will concelebrate with Bishop Thomas Ban, the newly-consecrated Kyo Bishop of Comares-Gongmando.
"I am glad we can take this opportunity to show His Holiness how our cultural heritage informs our Hosianism," said Ban, before the arrival of the Papa. "And I hope many of our Sindo and Daenist Kyo brothers and sisters will agree to attend this service with us." A spokesman for Justus III said earlier this week that the Papa was "deeply grateful" to the Bishopric of Comares-Gongmando for their suggestions as to Kyo-Hosian relations, and to Bishop Ban especially.
Touring the highlights of Gongmando with Mr Han, Justus III chose to go by foot around the city, taking only minimal bodyguards with him to express his "... presence as a guest in this ancient city." He was deeply impressed by the rich cultural heritage of the area, and in his meeting with Kyo, Sindo and Daenist community leaders, he told them how this reminded him of his native Hulstria and Gao-Soto, and that the interplay and interwovenness of cultural traditions was very clear. "The inner peace of Daenism and Sindo is something we share with them, as is the message of love, peace and charity." On his way out, when confronted by protesting parents of young Kyo Hosians, Justus III dismissed the advice of his security officials, approached them and spoke to them, afterwards giving them his blessing. "There is a tension here between the traditional Kyo culture and Hosianism which is based on a lack of understanding," he told the press afterwards, reminding them of his earlier statements in his time as Patriarch of the East about interfaith dialogue. Afterwards, the Arch-Patriarch met with Kyo Hosians, and where there was trouble with their families, he offered his help in resolving it.
In his homily at Holy Revelation that night, Justus III reflected on the tensions between Hosians and Kyo and said they were a product of a lack of understanding on both sides.
"Today, speaking to the parents worried about the path of their children, or the new Hosian faithful who are being shunned by their contemporaries, I have learned a lesson that I think we must all learn: all true faith exists to bring peace and charity, and to guide us through life. Growing up in Hulstria and Gao-Soto, I witnessed that first-hand with some of my brothers at seminary, who come from Daenist or Kamist families. But the Annunciation resonated with them not in spite of the beliefs they were raised with, but because of them, and that is what I see here. There is so much we share, and so much we don't realise we share. So let us, when we get to the Pax before Holy Revelation, give eachother the kiss of peace, across the boundaries of faith. And let us leave here with this message: to know and respect another's faith is more important than to try and sway him away from it. Those who have chosen to follow Hosios feel His presence in their hearts; it is much the same with all of us.
Hearing the voice of the Lord in your heart and following it is not something we can impose or press upon people, and if we did it that aggressively, we would be prideful of our own capabilities and underestimate the mystery that is faith. Just like Sindoists or Daenists, we spread our message that it may be heard, and if it resonates, we are ready to receive those who want to follow it. And that mission confers upon all men and women the duty to respect and love those who choose a different path.
I call you brothers and sisters, Hosian or no - because the commandment of love is not bounded by faith. Let us, in this service, share in that brotherly love and respect for eachother, that together we may find inner peace in our faith, and peace among eachother in our love and respect. I thank you for your welcome and pray that I have reassured those of you that felt uncomfortable at my presence."
Hosianisch-Demokratisches Verbund - Hulstria and Gao-Soto
Notable previous parties:
Folkepartiet (People's Party) - Kazulia