Although there are different versions of the story of St. Barbara, Christians in the Middle East and Central Europe still celebrate the early Christian martyr each Dec. 4.

At a time when churches, mosques and hotel restaurants are being bombed by persons claiming to do it in the name of religion, it is hard to continue to trust in anyone mixing religion with patriotism.

But while such a mix is being challenged by secularism and the idea of civil state, we are reminded of a person who exemplified what faith can do in terms of defending the weak, standing by the lonely and protesting injustice.

1. The sorrow, sadness as well as pride concomitant with Christmas this year is immense. Yet, calling off celebrations does not imply at all the cancellation of Christmas prayers, which serve as an optimum opportunity to discuss the gist of the feast. Furthermore, prayers serve peace and tranquility in our beloved country and in the hearts of children and families who ask: What to do? We say to them repeatedly: We have to take care of ourselves and our homeland, but we must not be afraid. We all know that terrorism has no religion. It is rather heartless and inhuman.

Accounts of peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims. Archbishop Ilario Antoniazzi and journalist Hatem Bourial talk about the good relations between the two faith communities and about shared projects

Today, December 28, the Church commemorates the massacre of the children of Bethlehem ordered by Herod, who wanted to get rid of the newborn Jesus. These children can be compared to many young people in today’s world, who are afflicted by wars and abuse that adults are responsible for. Pope Francis dedicated much of his Christmas Eve message to them, while the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has declared 2017 “Year of Protection of the Sacredness of Childhood”

After the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square on the Feast of Saint Stephen, Pope Francis expressed his condolences to the Russian people and the families of victims of the Christmas day plane crash that took the lives of 92 people near Sochi.

Pope Francis on Monday,December 26, called for prayerful and concrete solidarity with Christians throughout the world suffering because of the faith.

In his Christmas message,Pope Francis sent out appeals for Syria, the Holy Land, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Nigeria, South Sudan, Congo, Ukraine, Venezuela, Colombia, Myanmar and Korea. He also spared a thought for victims of terrorism and those affected by earthquakes.

As the conflict situation in Syria continues to deteriorate and the battle to retake the once predominantly Christian Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State (ISIS) enters its second month, what hope is there for Christians in those countries in 2017?

In this, her seventh year behind bars, the Christian woman who was sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan has only words of peace and forgiveness for her persecutors.

Inhabitants of all religions and backgrounds are celebrating the laying down of arms by the rebels. Vatican Insider reports the accounts on two priests who are preparing to celebrate their first peaceful Christmas.