Every second Saturday of the month, Divine Liturgy in English of Sunday - Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family, Duke Street, London W1K 5BQ.
4pm Divine Liturgy. Next: 13th November 2021

Very sadly, the Divine Liturgy in English at 9-30 am on Sundays at the Holy Family Cathedral, Lower Church, have had to be put on hold. Until the practicalities we cannot use the Lower Church space. Hopefully this will be resolved very soon. Please keep checking in here for details.

Owing to public health guidance, masks should still be worn indoors and distance maintained. Sanitisers are available. Holy Communion is distributed in both kinds from the mixed and common chalice, by means of a separate Communion spoon for each individual communicant.

To purchase The Divine Liturgy: an Anthology for Worship (in English), order from the Sheptytsky Institute here, or the St Basil's Bookstore here.

To purchase the Divine Praises, the Divine Office of the Byzantine-Slav rite (in English), order from the Eparchy of Parma here.

The new catechism in English, Christ our Pascha, is available from the Eparchy of the Holy Family and the Society. Please email johnchrysostom@btinternet.com for details.

Tuesday 26 November 2013

Syrian Rebels Used Civilians as Human Shields, Bombed Churches, Says Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch revealed that Syrian rebel forces have committed war crimes including the killing of civilians and the targeting of churches, during their attack on the Christian village of Sadad in late October.

According to the testimonies of villagers, the rebel fighters refused to allow them to leave their homes in areas with active fighting, while others said that the fighters used civilians as human shields.

Residents confirmed that opposition fighters also stole the possessions of some residents - looted and vandalized property in at least three local historical churches.

"Opposition fighters came into Sadad claiming they would not harm civilians, but they did just that," Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at HRW, said in a statement. "There is no excuse for indiscriminate or targeted attacks against civilians or civilian sites."

Opposition fighters should never execute or directly target civilians or anyone in their custody or target civilian sites, including religious sites, HRW said. HRW identified the names of 46 people from Sadad killed in the village during the weeklong operation. Residents told HRW that 41 of the dead were civilians, including 14 women and two children.

Read full report here:
Syrian Rebels Used Civilians as Human Shields, Bombed Churches, Says Human Rights Watch

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