EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participated in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement.
Addressing the ceremony, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said:
”In these past two decades, Europe has been met with unprecedented challenges. Together, we have managed to meet them head-on. I know how tempting it was, in the most difficult of moments, for each one of us to go at it alone, and yet we resisted. Because we understood that even with all of its frustrations and imperfections, the European Union is still the best guarantee for all our people.
The transformative effect of EU enlargement on the lives of generations of Europeans is without any doubt. It is evident in each and every one of our Member States. From the enforceable rights afforded to its citizens to the opportunities that are offered to young and old alike. From the Single Market that is strengthening our economies to our cohesion policy that realises our commitment to the equality of Europeans. Joining the European Union is not just about transposing legislation. It goes much deeper and far beyond that.
Unity does not mean being homogenous. Europe does not seek to make everyone the same. We are proud of our differences. Proud of our unique traditions, our cultures, our languages and our diversity. We have proven that over the past 20 years.
Rather, Europe is about embracing differences while ensuring equality of opportunity. Everyone must have the same chance, not necessarily the same viewpoint. That is our strength. That is our Europe. And that is why membership is a win-win for all. Europe may have changed each one of its Member States since 2004. But each and every one of those Member States has equally changed Europe.”
The present and former EU leaders were joined by the former European Commissioner for Enlargement Günter Verheugen and representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago:
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus Georgios Iacovou
Former Prime Minister of Hungary Péter Medgyessy
Former President of Latvia Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Antanas Valionis
Former Prime Minister of Malta Lawrence Gonzi
Former Chief Negotiatior for Malta’s European Union Accession Negotiations Richard Cachia Caruana
Former Prime Minister of Slovenia Anton Rop Former Prime Minister of Slovakia Mikuláš Dzurinda
Former Prime Minister of Poland Leszek Miller
Former Minister of Foregn Affairs of Estonia Kristiina Ojuland
Former Chief Negotiatior for the Czech Republic’s European Union Accession Negotiations Pavel Telička
During the ceremony, the guests answered questions from a group of young people from the then-new member states and born on or around 1 May 2004 and present in Strasbourg.
The ceremony ended with Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, performed by the Voix de Stras’ acapella choir.
On 1 May 2004, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia joined the European Union. It was the biggest enlargement in the EU’s history.
European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF). MEPs acknowledged that the “COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine have reduced economic competitiveness and have a negative impact on economic growth in Germany”.
Following years of financial losses, a number of restructuring and downsizing measures and a dedicated recovery plan were launched in 2018. In 2021, Vallourec S.A. in France decided to sell its tube mills in Mülheim an der Ruhr, in the Ruhr area, and to move offshore production to Brazil. The sale failed, leading to the definitive closure of the sites and resulting in the remaining workforce losing their jobs by 1 January 2025.
National co-financing
The support is to facilitate the reintegration of the affected workers into the labour market, acknowledging the structural shifts in the global steel industry and the local impact on employment. The total cost of the proposed measures is €4.97 million, with the EGF covering 60% (€2.98 million) and the remaining funds being provided by German national sources.
Tailor-made support for dismissed workers
The support entails guidance, including counselling and vocational orientation, job search assistance like job scouting and participation in job fairs, as well as training offers. Former workers can also receive funding of up to €22 000 to start their own business. They can receive allowances when they participate in support measures such as training courses, and bonus payments or salary top-ups when they start a new job.
Next steps
The report by Jens Geier (S&D, DE) recommending that Parliament approve the aid was passed by 602 votes, 24 against and 3 abstentions.
Background
The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) is a special EU instrument to express EU solidarity with European workers or the self-employed that were dismissed due to restructuring, and to help them find new jobs. As a general rule, the EGF can be activated when a single company (including its suppliers and downstream producers) lays off over 200 workers, by SMEs in various sectors in the same region or in a particular sector in one or more neighbouring regions. The EGF has an annual budget of €210 million for 2021-2027. It can fund from 60% to 85% of the cost of projects designed to help workers made redundant find another job or set up their own businesses. National or regional authorities implement and manage EGF cases. Each project runs for two years.
The new rules, adopted with 613 votes in favour, 7 against and 11 abstentions and already agreed on by the Parliament and the Council, will establish an EU-wide disability card to make sure that persons with disabilities have equal access to preferential conditions, such as reduced or zero entry fees, priority access and access to reserved parking.
Both cards will grant card holders, as well as those accompanying them and assistance animals, access to most of the same conditions as national card holders. The new rules will only apply for short stays, with an exception for disability card holders that move to another member state for a mobility programme, such as Erasmus+.
European Disability Card
The European Disability Card will be issued in physical format and, when available, in digital format, and will be issued and renewed free of charge. Depending on the country, costs could be charged for loss and damaging the card.
European Parking Card for persons with disabilities
The European Parking Card for persons with disabilities will be issued in physical form. EU countries are encouraged to also issue the card in a digital format, and may choose to charge a fee for the administrative costs of issuing and renewing the card.
Access to information
The directive demands EU countries and the Commission to raise citizens’ awareness about the cards, including by setting up a central European website. This website will be linked to national websites, containing information on how to obtain, use and renew the cards and information on preferential conditions.
Third-country nationals in the EU
Parliament also endorsed the provisional agreement between Parliament and Council on the extension of the EU Disability and Parking Cards to third-country nationals legally residing in the EU with 607 votes in favour, 8 votes against and 17 abstentions.
This proposal extends both cards to third-country nationals legally residing in the member states, including asylum-seekers and stateless persons, and their personal assistants, regardless of their nationality.
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Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová (Renew, SK), rapporteur, said: “The EU must advocate for equal rights for persons with disabilities within the EU. I am particularly proud that the cards will now cover certain stays longer than three months so that individuals with disabilities will have access to the card when they study abroad. The significance of the European Disability Card extends beyond simply facilitating travel; it embodies the EU’s commitment to ensuring free movement for all Europeans.”
Next steps
The agreed text will now have to be formally adopted by the Council, too, before publication in the Official Journal of the European Union and entry into force.
With the adoption of these proposals, Parliament is responding to citizens’ expectations on anti-discrimination, equality and quality of life, and inclusive labour markets, as expressed in proposals 29 and 14 of the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe.
Danish Crown is a group of food companies engaged in the slaughter, processing and sale of pork and beef. Since 2005, the number of pigs slaughtered in Denmark has decreased by 20%, largely due to the shift that many Danish farmers have made from raising pigs for slaughter to raising piglets for export at a lower cost. As a result, Danish Crown decided to close one of its six slaughterhouses in Denmark, located in Sæby, laying off 390 workers.
National co-financing
The total estimated cost of the support measures is €3.1 million, with 60% (€1.9 million) covered by the EGF and the remaining 40% (€1.2 million) financed by the Danish Business Authority, the municipalities of Frederikshavn, Aalborg, Hjørring and Brønderslev, which were affected by the dismissals, and by Danish Crown.
Tailor-made support for dismissed workers
The EGF support package includes advisory services, job search assistance, and training. The training helps workers to reskill for different industries and services, and increase digital and other skills currently sought after by employers. Another focus will be on language skills, as 41% of the dismissed workers are not fluent in Danish. Workers will receive an allowance while doing training or looking for employment.
Next steps
The report by Janusz Lewandowski (EPP, PL) recommending that Parliament approve the aid was passed by 590 votes, 24 against and 12 abstentions.
Background
The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) is a special EU instrument that benefits European workers or the self-employed that were dismissed due to restructuring, and to help them find new jobs. As a general rule, the EGF can be activated when a single company (including its suppliers and downstream producers) lays off over 200 workers, by SMEs in various sectors in the same region or in a particular sector in one or more neighbouring regions.
The EGF has an annual budget of €210 million for 2021-2027. It can fund from 60% to 85% of the cost of projects designed to help workers made redundant find another job or set up their own businesses. National or regional authorities implement and manage EGF cases. Each project runs for two years.
To eliminate bottlenecks and missing transport links, MEPs backed an update of the EU’s plan to build a network of railways, roads, inland waterways and short sea shipping routes connected through ports and terminals across the EU. Current trans-European transport (TEN-T) projects include many European links, such as, Rail Baltica, connecting Helsinki and Warsaw, the Brenner Base Tunnel, linking Austria and Italy, and the Lisbon–Madrid high-speed rail line.
Major transport infrastructure projects on the core TEN-T network should be completed by the end of 2030, to secure a comprehensive network by the end of 2050. To accelerate project rollout across the network, an intermediary deadline of 2040 is introduced.
Faster trains and safer parking for truck drivers
MEPs ensured that railways in the core TEN-T network will be electrified, running at speeds of 100 km/h for freight and crossing internal EU borders in less than 25 minutes on average by the end of 2030. A minimum 160 km/h speed should become the norm on passenger trains as of the end of 2040.
Major European airports (processing more than 12 million annual passengers) will be connected to the trans-European railway network. To guarantee better rest conditions for professional truck drivers, safe and secure parking places at least each 150 km will have to be set-up along major EU roads.
End cooperation with Russia; focus on Ukraine
Under new rules, transport infrastructure projects with Russia and Belarus will be halted, reinforcing instead links with Ukraine and Moldova.
Regarding the involvement of companies from third countries in major TEN-T projects, member states will have to inform the European Commission of measures adopted to mitigate any security risk.
Military mobility
MEPs convinced EU governments to take into account military needs (weight or size of military transport) when constructing or upgrading infrastructure that overlaps with military transport networks, to ensure the seamless transfer of troops and equipment. Within one year after the entry into force of the rules, the Commission will have to conduct a study on short-notice large-scale movements across the EU, to facilitate military mobility planning.
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EP rapporteur Barbara Thaler (EPP. AT) said: “The regulation will enable rail transport to compete with road transport, if it is implemented as foreseen. It is now the Commission’s responsibility to ensure that member states fulfil their duties and to put the necessary pressure on them if they don’t act accordingly.”
Rapporteur Dominique Riquet (Renew, FR) added: “New rules will strengthen the performance, accessibility, security and resilience of our infrastructure, which is a key element of our sovereignty. It will also help to encourage Europeans to travel and make our economy more competitive.”
Next steps
The new rules on the guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network were adopted by 565 votes in favour, 37 votes against and 29 abstentions. Once Council has approved them, they will enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal.
By adopting this legislation, Parliament is responding to citizens’ expectations concerning high quality, modern, green, and safe infrastructure, ensuring connectivity, including of rural and island regions, in particular through affordable public transport as expressed in proposal four of the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe.
MEP Maxette Pirbakas, the only woman in the European Parliament who is black, of Indian origin and from a farming background, has denounced a discriminatory attack on her. Here is her statement:
“I have read the article about me published today in Mediapart. Even more than the method, which consists of writing horrors about me without even giving me the opportunity to respond, I am outraged by the general tone of the article, which is nothing less than a full-scale attack.
I note that Mr Rouget was also careful not to try to contact my lawyer, who he knows perfectly well is Frédéric Jean-Marie. But the aim of the article was not to establish the facts, but to destabilise me, if not smear me.
Mr Rouget wrote his article under the dictation of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, from which he draws most of his information (exclusively incriminating). This extra-judicial offensive is motivated by the frustration of the public prosecutor who, not having my email address, was unable to summon me before the European elections on 9 June. By becoming the armed wing of such a low-level judicial operation, Mr Rouget is not honouring his profession. As for the Public Prosecutor’s Office, such a low blow is clearly an attack on democratic rules.
I strongly reject the accusations made in the article, which are a mixture of personal vengeance on the part of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, unfounded accusations that I will have no difficulty in debunking, and gossip from disillusioned former friends and family.
I authorise my lawyer, Mr Jean-Marie, to answer questions from journalists, if they deign to ask them. If Mr Rouget and Médiapart refuse to get in touch with him, they will be signing their forfeit.
Finally, I’d like to point out that the article is quite right to describe me as a political UFO. I am a woman. I am black. I come from a farming background, I have dirt under my shoes. I’m not an heiress. I don’t belong to any elite. I didn’t lie down or huckster to get elected. I got where I am by dint of hard work and selfless service to my compatriots. The people of overseas France know this. The farmers and fishermen of the French overseas departments know it. I am free, proud and I hold my head high.
The recommendation from the Industry, Research, Energy, and International Trade committees was adopted with 560 votes to 43, with 27 abstentions. Parliament’s consent is required so that the Council can now adopt the decision by qualified majority.
The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), established in 1994 to govern trade and investment in the energy sector, has become controversial. The European Parliament has also voiced the need for the EU to exit in a resolution adopted in 2022.
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Rapporteur for the Trade Committee Anna Cavazzini (Greens/EFA, DE) said: “Today’s vote is a major step in the right direction. The EU is finally withdrawing from the climate-hostile Energy Charter Treaty. In view of the climate crisis, the EU must become a climate-neutral continent as quickly as possible. Finally the fossil dinosaur treaty is no longer standing in the way of consistent climate protection, as we no longer have to fear corporate lawsuits demanding billions of euro in compensation brought before private arbitration tribunals.”
Rapporteur for the Industry, Research and Energy Committee Marc Botenga (The Left, BE), said: “The Energy Charter Treaty allows fossil fuel multinationals to sue states and the European Union if climate policies affect their profits. In the midst of a climate crisis, this is a contradiction, in addition to being very costly for taxpayers. Alongside civil society, a significant movement has been built to exit from this treaty and I am happy to see this is bearing fruit today. It is now necessary to speed up the rate of public investments in renewables.”
Background
The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), a multilateral agreement focused on the energy sector, was established in 1994 to facilitate international cooperation and provide a framework for investment protection, trade, and dispute resolution within the energy field. However, it has remained largely unchanged since the 1990s, becoming outdated and one of the most litigated investment treaties globally. The Commission proposed a coordinated withdrawal by the European Union and its member states, as it considers the Treaty to be no longer compatible with the EU’s climate goals under the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement, predominantly due to concerns over continued fossil fuel investments.
Chapter 21. 1-4. The widow’s two lepts. 5-38. Prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Coming of Christ.
Luke 21:1. And when he lifted up his eyes, he saw the rich putting their contributions into the treasury;
The story of the widow who dropped two shekels into the temple treasury is an almost exact repetition of the story of the evangelist Mark (see the interpretation of Mark 12:41-44).
“raised his eyes”. Until then, the Lord had been talking to His disciples. Now He looks around at the people entering the temple and sees the widow.
“contribute” – more precisely “to the gifts” (εἰς τὰ δῶρα), i.e. the rich added of themselves to the gifts that were in the treasury.
Luke 21:2. he also saw a poor widow who was putting in two leptas there,
Luke 21:3. and said: I tell you the truth, this poor widow let go more than all;
Luke 21:4. for all these out of their surplus gave offerings to God, and she out of her idleness gave out all her sustenance that she had.
Luke 21:5. And when some spoke of the temple as being adorned with fine stones and offerings, He said:
The introduction to the discourse on the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world is presented according to the Gospel of Mark with abbreviations (see the interpretation of Mark 13:1-4).
“some”. In all probability Christ’s disciples are meant here (cf. verse 7 and Mark 13:1).
“nice stones”. (cf. Mark 13:1).
“offerings” (ἀναθήμασι). These are various donations to the temple made on famous occasions, such as the golden vine given by Herod the Great (Josephus. “The Jewish War”, VI, 5, 2).
Luke 21:6. days will come when of what you see here, not one stone will be left upon another that will not be thrown down.
Luke 21:7. And they asked Him, saying, Master, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things take place?
“when will that be”. Evidently the questioners have in mind only the destruction of Jerusalem, but since this fact in their ideas was closely connected with the destruction of the world, they ask nothing about the latter (cf. Mark 13:4).
Luke 21:8. And He said: beware, lest you be deceived; for many shall come in my name, saying that I am he, and that the time is at hand. Do not go, therefore, after them.
Here the Lord speaks of the foreshadowing of the coming Messianic time, the time of the opening of the glorious kingdom of the Messiah.
Luke 21:9. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be afraid, for this must happen first; but it won’t be the end right away.
Luke 21:10. Then he said to them: nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
“Then he said to them,” i.e. after the preliminary admonition he began to describe the impending disasters.
Luke 21:11. in places there will be great earthquakes and famine and pestilence, and there will be terrors and great omens from heaven.
“in places”, i.e. now there, now in another place.
“from the sky”. This definition applies to both the preceding expressions “appearances” and “signs”. More details are given in the interpretations of Mark 13:6-8; Matt. 24:4-7.
Luke 21:12. And before all this, they will lay hands on you and drive you out, handing you over to synagogues and prisons and bringing you before kings and rulers, for My name’s sake;
Evangelist Luke describes the calamities that will befall Christ’s disciples before that time, generally in accordance with Mark (Mark 13:9-13).
“before all these,” i.e. these calamities will befall you even before the destruction of Jerusalem.
Luke 21:13. and this shall be for you as a witness.
“it will be for your testimony”, i.e. through this you will be able to show your loyalty to Me.
Luke 21:14. So take heart not to think beforehand what to answer,
Luke 21:15. for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to contradict, nor resist.
“mouth”, i.e. the ability to speak eloquently and persuasively. This is what the apostles received when the Holy Spirit was sent upon them (see Acts 6:10).
Luke 21:16. You will also be betrayed by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death;
Luke 21:17. and ye shall be hated of all, for my name’s sake;
Luke 21:18. but not a hair of your head shall perish;
“and not a hair of your head shall perish.” According to the usual interpretation (see, for example, the Interpretation of the Gospel by Bishop Mikhail Luzin) here it is said that God will protect the disciples, preserve their lives, necessary for the preaching of the Gospel. But such an explanation does not accord with the expression in verse 16: “some of you shall put to death.” The more likely view is that this is talking about the spiritual preservation of the disciples – “none of the above will harm you in the work of your salvation”. The meaning of verse 19 corresponds to this interpretation, where it is undoubtedly said that through patience in suffering Christ’s disciples will be preserved for eternal true life (Mark 13:13). Finally, we could understand this place in such a way that even if the apostles suffered miseries and torments, it would be only where it was permitted by God (cf. Matt. 10:30).
Luke 21:19. by your patience save your souls.
Luke 21:20. And when you see Jerusalem besieged by armies, then know that its desolation is near;
About the destruction of Jerusalem Evangelist Luke speaks, in general, according to Mark (Mark 13:14 ff.), but there are some peculiarities.
“Jerusalem surrounded by troops”. Some (in our country, Bishop Michael Luzin) suggest that the evangelist Luke here explains what the “abomination of desolation” that Mark (and Matthew) speaks of is. But such an interpretation has no basis. Surrounding a city with troops is not yet “deserting” it…
Luke 21:21. then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let those who are in the city go out of it; and let those who are in the surrounding area not enter it,
“who are in Judea.” This applies to the disciples of Christ, as is evident from verse 20 (“see” – “know”). Therefore, an opportunity to escape from the city will still exist even though the city will be surrounded (verse 20).
Luke 21:22. for these days are of vengeance, that all that is written may be fulfilled.
“to fulfill all that is written”. Implied here are the numerous prophecies about the destruction of Jerusalem, including Daniel’s prophecy of the 70 weeks (Dan. 9:26-27).
Luke 21:23. And woe to those who are not empty and to nursing mothers in those days; for great trouble shall be upon the earth, and wrath upon that people;
Luke 21:24. and they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be carried away captive among all the nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are ended.
“under the blade of the sword”. More precisely, “from the mouth of the sword” (στόματι μαχαίρας). The sword is represented as a biting beast (cf. Gen. 34:26; Deut. 13:15). According to Josephus, about one million Jews died during the siege and capture of Jerusalem.
“will be taken into captivity”. Ninety-seven thousand people were taken captive – most of them in Egypt and other provinces.
“Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles”. Here the city is represented as a person whom the Gentiles will treat with extreme contempt (cf. Is. 10:6; Rev. 11:2).
“until the times of the Gentiles are ended,” i.e. until the period of time appointed for the Gentiles to fulfill God’s judgment on the Jewish people had expired (St. John Chrysostom). These “times” (καιροί) must end with the second coming of Christ (cf. verses 25-27), which must occur while the hearers of this speech are still alive (verse 28: “lift up your heads”). Therefore, it cannot be a question of a long period of time, and hence a prophecy of the fall of paganism under Constantine the Great, much less of the conversion of “the whole number of the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:25) to Christ. It is clear that under the coming of Christ here should be understood not His coming before the end of the world, but His coming in the Holy Spirit, or else the speech about the second coming should be considered as spoken in the spirit of the Old Testament prophecies (see the interpretation to Matt. 24).
Luke 21:25. And there will be omens in the sun and the moon and in the stars, and on the earth sadness among the peoples from perplexity and from the noise and excitement of the sea;
The second coming will be preceded by special signs spoken of by the evangelist Luke, coming closer to the Gospel of Mark (see Mark 13:24-31).
“omens on the sun”. Cf. Mark 13:24.
“sadness among the nations from perplexity”. More precisely: the sadness of the nations in a hopeless state of spirit before the noise of the sea and the waves (the noise of the sea and its agitation is precisely what people will stand before in a hopeless state of spirit, συνοχὴ ἐθνῶν ἐν ἀπορίᾳ).
Luke 21:26. then men will resign themselves from fear and from expectation of what is about to fall upon the universe, because the powers of heaven will also be shaken,
“resign from fear”. As the imagery grows stronger, we are to see here not mere impotence, but the outright letting out of the last breath of men. Hence the more accurate translation: “they will die of fear” (ἀποψυχόντων ἀνθρώπων ἀπὸ φόβου).
“the powers of heaven will be shaken”. This will be the cause of the extraordinary agitation of the sea and of other disturbances in the world.
Luke 21:27. and then they will see the Son of Man coming on clouds with power and great glory.
Luke 21:28. And when these things begin to come to pass, then stand up and lift up your heads, for your deliverance is drawing near.
“your deliverance” is the same as “revenge on the elect” (Luke 18:7). The judgment of the wicked and the glorification of those who suffer for the name of Christ will begin.
Luke 21:29. And he told them a parable: look at the fig tree and all the trees:
As the fig tree, when its leaves blossom, indicates the coming of summer, so the appearance of these signs and the transformation of the universe is a sign that “summer” is coming, i.e. The kingdom of God, which to the righteous comes as summer after winter and storm. At the same time, for sinners then comes the winter and the storm. For they consider the present age to be summer, and the age to come is a storm to them. (Blessed Theophylact).
Luke 21:30. when they already drive, and you see this, you yourself know that it is almost summer.
Luke 21:31. Therefore, when you see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is near.
Luke 21:32. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things are fulfilled.
Luke 21:33. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
Luke 21:34. Therefore, take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be vexed with overeating, drunkenness, and cares of life, and that day overtake you suddenly;
The admonitional character at the end of this speech is seen in both Matthew and Mark, but in Mark and Matthew the exhortation is much simpler and shorter (cf. Mark 13:33ff.; Matt. 24:42).
“overeating” – more precisely: “hangover” as a result of last night’s intoxication (κραιπάλῃ), as opposed to drunkenness (μέθῃ).
“that day”, i.e. the day of the Second Coming and judgment.
“to catch up with you”. This day is personified as catching people unexpectedly.
Luke 21:35. for he shall come as a snare upon all that dwell upon the whole face of the earth;
That day will come suddenly, and as it will be a day of reward for all faithful servants, so it will be a day of punishment for all who fall short of their calling and are not prepared for the great day.
“like a snare” (παγὶς) – the net that hunters throw over animals or birds (cf. Is. 24:17).
Luke 21:36. and therefore watch at all times and pray, that you may escape all that is to come, and stand before the Son of Man.
“at any time”. This expression is more properly connected with the word “pray” (δεόμενοι), because the Lord also spoke above about constant prayer (Luke 18:1-7).
“so that you may” is the purpose and with it the content of the prayer. According to the best codices it reads here: to have power, to be able (κατισχύσατε, not καταξιωθῆτε).
“avoided all that”, i.e. to pass safely through all the dangers that will befall you, and to save your life, i. their position as God’s elect (cf. verse 19 and Luke 18:7).
“to stand up through the Son of Man” (cf. Mark 13:27). The elect will be placed (σταθῆναι) before Christ by the angels and form a chosen retinue around Him (cf. 1 Thess. 4:17). This is not about judging those chosen by God.
Luke 21:37. During the day He taught in the temple, and when He went out, He spent the nights on the Mount of Olives.
Here is an overview of Christ’s activity during the last period of His life. During the day, the Lord continues to speak in the temple as a teacher, not afraid of enemies, but at night he withdraws to the Mount of Olives (cf. Mark 11:19).
Luke 21:38. And all the people came to Him in the temple to listen to Him.
Source in Russian: Explanatory Bible, or Commentaries on all the books of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments: In 7 volumes / Ed. prof. A. P. Lopukhin. – Ed. 4th. – Moscow: Dar, 2009, 1232 pp.
The course towards the militarisation of theological schools was taken after the meeting of the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, held on April 16
“The fight against democracy is sacred for us, like the fight against the antichrist” – these words belong to Metropolitan Kirill (Pokrovsky), who heads the patriarchal department for interaction with the armed forces. A few days before Passover, the feast of God’s self-sacrificing love, he sent a circular letter to all theological schools in Russia ordering the inclusion of the subject “Preparation for the Ministry of Chaplains in the Combat Zone” in the curricula of the next school year. Due to the “importance and relevance of the program for 2024-2025, the special course should be held accelerated among all 3rd and 4th year bachelors”. The new program should instill “military values” in the youth.
The course towards the militarization of theological schools was taken after the meeting of the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, held on April 16 in the “Christ the Savior” church. Of the four reports that were heard at the meeting, three were by Metropolitan Kirill, who followed the regime’s directives exactly: “We are opposed by the full power of NATO, using all possible military, technical, personnel, informational and tactical resources of the alliance.” But the scariest thing is that we are not fighting against people, but real inhumans, godless. The ungodly bacchanalia, directed and financed overseas, is now being done at the hands of the Ukrainian authorities.”
And also: “Democracy is based on anti-biblical values, therefore the fight against it for us, for all representatives of the Russian world, is as sacred as the fight against the antichrist. And today, the only power that can enter this struggle and win is Russia.”
The new curriculum has not yet been published, but, according to insiders, it will be based on the book by Chief Military Chaplain Dimitrii Vasilenkov, From Death to Life… At War. Password Donbas”.
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology presented the results of a study that investigated “wizard” trials. Scholars have found that similar trials in Norway did not end until the 18th century, and hundreds of the accused were executed. According to a university release, “witch hunts” were widespread in Norway in the 16th and 17th centuries. According to the data provided, about 750 people during that time were accused of witchcraft and about 300 of them were sentenced to death. Many of these unfortunates were burned at the stake. The researchers also note that among the executed “wizards” there is a significant number of Saami. For example, out of 91 people sentenced to death in Finnmark during the above period, 18 were Saami. Material for the study of scientists became the surviving court records of those times. Their study allowed to reveal some details of the processes.
Thus, historian Ellen Alm’s team has established from court records that three Sámi were accused of witchcraft: Finn-Kristin, Ann Aslaxdatter and Henrik Meraker. The last of them was eventually sentenced to death. “Since many Saami had Norwegian-sounding names, there may have been even more,” the researchers note.
Historians have identified several potential reasons why the terrible persecution of witchcraft was finally ended in the 18th century. During the “witch” trials of the 16th and 17th centuries, the use of torture to extract confessions was illegal, and convicted “criminals” were prohibited from testifying. This meant that a convicted “witch” could not reveal the names of other “witches”. “But not infrequently in witchcraft cases, the law has often turned a blind eye,” says co-author Anne-Sophie Schötner Skaar. – Torture was used and convicted “witches” were forced to name their “accomplices”. The letter of the law has been interpreted very differently and this has led to many “witch” trials. “But at the end of the 17th century, judicial practice began to change. Some judges became stricter, demanded the necessary evidence and no longer tolerated the use of torture.”
Towards the end of the 17th century, more and more judges began to follow the law, which made it difficult to bring witchcraft cases to court. “How can you prove a supposed crime if it is no longer acceptable to force someone to confess?” – this is the question asked by modern researchers, noting that when the persecution of witchcraft ceased, another mechanism of control and combating appeared. the Saami religion: missionaries appeared on the scene. “It seems that the missionaries took over from the judicial system to ‘deal’ with the Saami religion and its practice,” says Schötner-Skaar. There is good evidence for this in eighteenth-century missionary accounts.
“Some of these missionary accounts are terrible to read. We find descriptions of Saami engaged in “devil sorcery”. The missionary accounts show that the Saami religion was still interpreted by some as witchcraft and the work of the devil, although the judicial system no longer seemed interested in pursuing this,” she says.
The priest Johan Randulf, author of the Neroi Manuscript, wrote that “the Southern Saami have many different gods, but they all belong to the devil: ‘I know that he, together with all the others [Saami gods], is the devil himself’ – this is how the priest describes one of the Southern Saami gods, and also describes yoik, the traditional Saami singing style, as “Satan’s song”.
Photo: A document from the 18th century contains information Margareta Mortendatter Trefault, accused of witchcraft / Digital Archives
