Greek Reporter’s Post

#luo #hebrew Name 'Otunga' Luo names are royalty, rivers/lakes, tribes, gods, ancient cities and territories, e.g, Otunga is Son of 'Tunga" Tunga River, a river in India Battle of Tunga, or Battle of Lalsot in India in 1787 Alp Er Tunga, a mythical hero in Turkish literature Tunga, Leyte, Philippines Otunga is a variant of Oungan. Oungan (also written as houngan) is the term for a male priest in Haitian Vodou (a female priest is known as a mambo). The term is derived from Gbe languages (Fon, Ewe, Adja, Phla, Gen, Maxi and Gun). The word hounnongan means chief priest. Hounnongan or oungans are also known as makandals The Haiti Kenyan Inspector General Godfrey Otunga is what Haitin revolutionaries knew as the 'White Negro'. The West is trying to fight a spiritual war through deception; hoping to slow western decline; exploiting their colonisation of History, to pursue Supersessionism agendas, also called replacement theology, a doctrine that whiteness has superseded the Luo people, assuming their role as God's covenanted people, thus asserting that the New Covenant through Western hegemony has superseded or replaced the Mosaic covenant. Haitian history, just like Luo history has been suppressed; which is linked to the Jacobites, the heads of Hatian revolutionaries were Luo Jacobites. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” is a verse from the Bible, Hosea 4:6: Hatians and Luos both face oppression; both are being contained, following the directive of the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885; which resolved to hunt down Iberian Peninsular diaspora population, eliminate and erase them from history. The countries represented at the time included Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden-Norway (unified from 1814-1905), Turkey, and the United States of America. The Polish people who were called black in the Haitian constitution and were referred to as the “white negroes of Europe” were Luos of Anatolia and Eastern Europe. The fall of the House of Stuarts created a chain reaction, leading to the overthrow of small European kingdoms of European; a significant number of Polish aristocracy were Hebrew, Luo families banished from Europe. For example; Jalu'o is used mostly in the Polish language and it is of Hebrew origin. Jalu is a derivative of the Dutch, English, German, and Scandinavian name Jacob. "Jaluo" is a singular form of the word "Joluo" or "Jonagi", which are names for the Luo people of Kenya and Tanzania. The word "Jaluo" can also mean "people of Luo". The Luo people are also known as "Ramogi's heirs". [Jacob is Israel] Genesis 35:10-11 God said to him, "Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel. " So he named him Israel. And God said to him, "I am God Almighty ; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body.

My paper, ""Wormholes" to Hell: Death and Decomposition in Early Medieval Mediterranean Christianity" is now posted on Confluence!

**The Origins of Portugal: How the Nation Got Its Name** Have you ever wondered how Portugal, one of the oldest nations in Europe, got its name? Like many country names, Portugal’s name has a rich history rooted in ancient civilizations, geographical significance, and linguistic evolution. Understanding the origins of the name gives us a glimpse into the long and storied past of this small but influential country on the Iberian Peninsula. **Portus Cale: The Roman Roots** To trace the origins of the name "Portugal," we must journey back over two thousand years to the Roman Empire. The Romans, known for their vast conquests, occupied the Iberian Peninsula in the 2nd century BC, establishing settlements and fortifying strategic locations. One of these settlements was called **Portus Cale**, located near the mouth of the Douro River, in what is now northern Portugal. The name **"Portus"** is Latin for "port" or "harbor," a fitting description of the settlement’s location near the river, which provided a crucial access point for trade and military operations. **"Cale"** is believed to refer to the local Celtic or pre-Roman inhabitants of the area or could have been the name of the region itself, though scholars are still divided on its precise meaning. Together, "Portus Cale" signified a harbor of great importance. **From Portus Cale to Portugal** As centuries passed and the Roman Empire fell, the name Portus Cale stuck. After the Germanic and later Moorish invasions, the name evolved through various linguistic changes, gradually shifting from "Portus Cale" to "Portucale." By the 9th and 10th centuries, this region gained prominence under Christian rule, especially during the Reconquista—when Christian kingdoms sought to reclaim lands from the Moors. The region around Portucale became a significant power center, eventually forming the nucleus of what would become the Kingdom of Portugal. In 1139, when Afonso I declared himself King of Portugal after a series of military victories, the nation adopted the name that had long been associated with its northernmost regions—**Portugal**. #The Lasting Legacy of the Name The evolution of the name Portugal reflects the country's long and dynamic history. From its Roman origins to its medieval rise as a kingdom, the name Portugal is more than just a word—it is a symbol of continuity, resilience, and the blending of cultures. As one of Europe’s oldest nation-states, Portugal has made significant contributions to world history, particularly during the Age of Exploration when it became a global maritime power. Today, the name Portugal is known across the globe for its rich culture, history, and influence, but it’s fascinating to think that it all started with a humble port on the banks of the Douro River.

EAST-WEST DIVIDE : The Great Schism, also known as the East-West Schism or the Schism of 1054, was the break between the Eastern and Western Churches in the eleventh century. Numerous events led to the splitting of the Church, and the consequences were also hugely significant. The effects of the split can still be felt today, and Christendom was never transformed to such an extent again until the Reformation in the sixteenth century. Before Christianity became state religion, the Romans, regardless of which corner of the Empire they were from, could communicate in Greek. However, after Christianity became state religion, the Western Roman Empire just renounced Greek, and spoke only Latin. On the other hand, the Greek speaking East remained Greek. The Latin West associated Greek language with paganism, thus a language to actively be avoided, while the Greek East associated Latin language with an agressive attack on the Christian koine Greek tradition. #Indonordicassociation(dot)org Indo Nordic Strategic Association, India https://lnkd.in/dgcGzYF9

The mysterious civilization of the Elymians Settled in the westernmost part of Sicily, their origins are still debated. The hypotheses under consideration are: Italic origin or provenance from Phrygia. They were certainly part of those migratory flows that already in the 12th century BC moved towards Sicily and during the 8th century BC were well-established. The myth wants them to be survivors who escaped from Troy and, led by Aeneas, landed in Trapani (where, later, Anchises died). According to some, they could be part of the Ligurians and as proof of this, the similarity between toponyms such as Erice/Lerici, Segesta/Sestri and Entella is assumed. The presence of the Elymians in western Sicily will be well-established, resisting the various conflicts with the Greeks and indeed allying themselves with Syracuse against Athens and then with the Carthaginians. They enjoyed a certain political autonomy even after the conquest of Sicily by the Romans and would have maintained this autonomy by virtue of their “common” Trojan origin. Among the most important cities founded by these people we find Erice which was the religious center, Entella, Segesta which was the political and administrative center and Halyciae (the current Salemi, however abandoned before the other sites). They were therefore able to create a strong identity, an element that allowed them not to have a submissive attitude towards the colonizing peoples and to maintain hegemony over a good part of their territory, expanding the most strategically important and best defended sites, and abandoning those more difficult to control. They were always allies of the Phoenicians and indeed the Phoenician ports became friendly ports for the Elymians and their trade. We know that their language had Hellenic characters but not Greek but rather Anatolian. To date we are practically devoid of information regarding the cults and in general the beliefs of the Elymians. And the fact of not having certainties about the origins makes the field totally hypothetical. It is certain that they were able to mix with other people also thanks to an opening towards native cults or towards other foreign cults. The cult of Venus Ericina certainly has its origins in a much older Elymian cult, always centered on a female figure, probably linked to mother earth. They adhered to the Phoenician use of Tophet, probably because the Elymians also had similar ancient cults. However, there are many hypotheses that they practiced their cults in the open air. Despite the few certainties regarding this ancient civilization, we can assert that the Elymians had a prominent role among the populations "at the origins of Sicily". And together with the Sicans, the Siculi and then with the Greek foundations and the Phoenician-Punic ones, they composed an extraordinary melting pot of civilizations and peoples.

+ It is hard not to fall in love with Utrecht, one of the Netherlands' oldest urban centers, and for centuries its religious heart. ================================ (in the center of mainland Netherlands, also known as Holland; "Netherlands” means low-lying country; the name Holland (from Houtland, or “Wooded Land”) was originally given to one of the medieval cores of what became the modern state and is still used for 2 of its provinces. The Netherlands’ southern and eastern region consists mostly of plains and a few high ridges; its western and northern region includes polders on the site of the Zuiderzee and the common delta of the Rhine, Meuse, and Schelde rivers. + Featured here is the city of Utrecht, the site of successive Roman, Frisian, and Frankish fortresses, it became an episcopal see in 696 under St. Willibrord. It was most prosperous during the 11th and 12th centuries, when it was an important commercial center. In 1527 it was transferred to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and became part of the Habsburg dominions. It was ruled by Spain until the 1570s, Occupied by the French (1795–1813), it was the residence of Louis Bonaparte, king of Holland. + Celtic and Germanic tribes inhabited the region at the time of the Roman conquest;a Germanic invasion (406–407) ended Roman control. The Merovingian dynasty followed the Romans but was supplanted in the 7th century by the Carolingian dynasty, which converted the area to Christianity. After Charlemagne’s death in 814, the area became part of the medieval kingdom of Lotharingia. Beginning in the 12th century, much land was reclaimed from the sea; The dukes of Burgundy gained control in the late 14th century. By the early 16th century the Low Countries were ruled by the Spanish Habsburgs. The Dutch had taken the lead in fishing and shipbuilding, which laid the foundation for Holland’s remarkable 17th-century prosperity. In 1581 the northern provinces declared independence from Spain, and in 1648, Spain recognized Dutch independence. The 17th century was the golden age of Dutch civilization. . The region was conquered by the French during the French revolutionary wars and became the Kingdom of Holland under Napoleon. + The Netherlands remained neutral in WWI and declared neutrality in WWII. It joined NATO in 1949 and was a founding member of the European Economic Community and is now embedded in the EU. Until it was overtaken by Amsterdam in the Dutch Golden age, Utrecht was the most important city in the Netherlands. Most prominent of the historic buildings is the Gothic Cathedral of Saint Martin, the construction of which lasted for almost 200 years, beginning in 1254. Now a university city, the medieval core radiates out from the Domtoren, ringed by a loop of canals, Utrecht's old city center has many structures, some dating to the Middle Ages. Utrecht was the most important city in the Netherlands until the Dutch Golden Age, when it was surpassed by Amsterdam as the country's cultural center.

Gods and Monsters of the Winter Solstice Explore the fascinating interplay between gods and monsters during the Winter Solstice. Discover ancient myths, seasonal symbolism, and their deeper spiritual meanings https://lnkd.in/eGgbzavj

Jun 2 - “Christ of the Desert” © icon by Br. Robert Lentz, OFM #christ #trinitystores Get your Saint of the Day - LIKE our FB Page - https://lnkd.in/eqQsKwX Out of the deserts of the Middle East comes an ancient Christian tradition. Although it has been overshadowed by the Greek and Latin traditions, it is their equal in dignity and theological importance. It is a Semetic tradition, belonging to those churches that use Syriac as their liturgical language. Syriac is a dialect of Aramaic, the language spoken by Christ himself. This icon celebrates the richness of Syriac Christianity. The inscriptions in the upper corners read "Jesus Christ," and at the bottom, "Christ of the Desert." The Syriac language has ties to the earth that are deep and rich. It is more inclusive than most European languages. The theological experience of Syriac Christians is different because they have encountered the Gospel in such a language. Theirs is an unhellenized expression -- one that is neither Europeanized nor Westernized. Semitic as it is, the Syriac tradition knows no dichotomy between the mind and heart. The heart is the center of the human person -- center of intellect as well as feelings. The body and all of creation longs to be reunited with God. A constant theme in Syriac literature is homesickness for Paradise, a desire to restore Paradise on earth. Christians pray facing east because Paradise was in the east. This longing was expressed in monastic terms in ancient times, but its implications today reach far beyond monastery walls. With earthy roots, this longing for Paradise involves concrete responses in the realms of politics, ecology, and economics. https://lnkd.in/e4pGUnf

This series of brand-new reflections, entitled History of the Medieval Church, delve into one of the most complex and fascinating periods in European history. From the rise of ecclesiastical power to the establishment of monastic and university institutions, the Church played a central role in the cultural, political, and spiritual development of the Middle Ages. The reflections focus on key themes such as the symbiosis between Church and State, the Crusades, heretical movements, and internal reforms, highlighting the profound impact the medieval Church had on the society of the time and on contemporary society. Part I Shaping a New Era: The Transition from Antiquity to the Middle Ages