The New Beginning

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Orthodox Pascha, pt 2

An Ukrainian girl holds a candle as she arrives at an orthodox church in Kiev for a midnight Easter mass April 7, 2007. Orthodox believers as well as Catholics, who number six million in Ukraine, observe Easter at the same time this year, a rare coincidence of the two dates. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj (UKRAINE)

Young conventuals attend an Orthodox Easter mass at the Saint-Nickolas nunnery, some 130km southwest of Moscow, early April 8, 2007. REUTERS/Denis Sinyakov (RUSSIA)

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II conducts Easter service in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, early Sunday, April 8, 2007. Orthodox Easter and Catholic Easter coincide this year. (AP Photo/ Misha Japaridze)

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, leads the Easter Resurrection Service at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George in Istanbul, Turkey, early Sunday, April 8, 2007. Bartholomew I led hundreds of worshippers at a crowded midnight liturgy to celebrate Easter. Many were pilgrims from neighboring Greece. (AP Photo/Serkan Senturk)

A woman holds a candle as she attends Orthodox Easter solemn liturgy in Belgrade St. Sava temple, on Easter, early Sunday, April 8, 2007. Traditionally Orthodox Christians, Serbs observe Easter according to the old, Julian calendar, which this year falls also on April 8 as it does for the majority of Christians elsewhere who follow the new, Gregorian calendar. (AP Photo / Srdjan Ilic)

An Orthodox worshipper holds a candle during the Easter Resurrection Service at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George in Istanbul, Turkey, early Sunday, April 8, 2007. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, led hundreds of worshippers at a crowded midnight liturgy to celebrate Easter. Many were pilgrims from neighboring Greece. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)

Rockets streak through the sky during Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations on the Greek island of Chios April 8, 2007. Thousands of home-made rockets are fired on Easter Sunday every year by locals from two rival churches in the Vrontados area in a centuries-old tradition. The two sides, who have been preparing tens of thousands of rockets for months, launch rockets aimed at the opposing church's bell tower. REUTERS/Vassilis Tryantafylou (GREECE)

Serbian priest lights candles at a start of Orthodox Easter solemn liturgy in Belgrade St. Sava church, on Easter, early Sunday, April 8, 2007. Traditionally Orthodox Christians, Serbs observe Easter according to the old, Julian calendar, which this year falls also on April 8 as it does for the majority of Christians elsewhere who follow the new, Gregorian calender. (AP Photo / Srdjan Ilic)

Serbian priests starts Orthodox Easter solemn liturgy in Belgrade St. Sava church, on Easter, early Sunday, April 8, 2007. Traditionally Orthodox Christians, Serbs observe Easter according to the old, Julian calendar, which this year falls also on April 8 as it does for the majority of Christians elsewhere who follow the new, Gregorian calendar. (AP Photo / Srdjan Ilic)

Orthodox worshippers hold candles during the Easter Resurrection Service at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George in Istanbul, Turkey, early Sunday, April 8, 2007. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, led hundreds of worshippers at a crowded midnight liturgy to celebrate Easter. Many were pilgrims from neighboring Greece. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)

Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I (C) conducts an Easter mass in Aya Yorgi (St. George) church at the Fener Greek Orthodox patriarchate in Istanbul late April 7, 2007. Ethnic Greeks living in the city and visitors attended the mass to celebrate Easter on Saturday night. REUTERS/Osman Orsal (TURKEY)

A Greek Orthodox child lights a candle during an Easter mass led by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul, late April 7, 2007. Ethnic Greeks living in the city and the visitors attended the mass to celebrate Easter on Saturday night. REUTERS/Osman Orsal(TURKEY)

Macedonian Christian Orthodox believers with candles in hands attend an Easter service into St. Trinity church in southeastern Macedonia's town of Radovis, early Sunday, April 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

Macedonian Christian Orthodox believers enter St. Trinity church for an Easter service in southeastern Macedonia's town of Radovis, early Sunday, April 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

Macedonian Christian Orthodox believers with candles in hands participate in an Easter procession in front of St. Trinity church in southeastern Macedonia's town of Radovis, early Sunday, April 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

Orthodox priests walk in a ceremonial procession in a thousand-year-old, golden-domed Monastery of Caves, one of the holiest places of entire eastern Europe, as Orthodox Christians celebrale Easter, in Kiev, Ukraine, early hours Sunday, April 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, right, leads the Easter Resurrection Service at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George in Istanbul, Turkey, early Sunday, April 8, 2007. Bartholomew I led hundreds of worshippers at a crowded midnight liturgy to celebrate Easter. Many were pilgrims from neighboring Greece. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)

Romanian Orthodox nuns carry an icon and lit candles during the Easter religious service at the Ghighiu monastery in Ghighiu village, 60 kilometers (38 miles) north of Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, April 8, 2007. Orthodox worshipers, which form the majority of Romanians, celebrated Easter Sunday on the same day with Roman Catholics. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Bosnian Orthodox believers light candles during Easter morning service at the Saborna church in Sarajevo April 8, 2007. Bosnia's Orthodox and Catholic Christians are celebrating Easter at the same time this year, a rare coincidence of the two dates. REUTERS/Danilo Krstanovic (BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA)

Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko (C) arrives to attend the midnight Orthodox Easter service at the Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev April 8, 2007. Orthodox believers as well as Catholics, who number six million in Ukraine, observe Easter at the same time this year, a rare coincidence of the two dates. REUTERS/Mykola Lazarenko/Pool (UKRAINE)

Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko (C), accompanied by his wife Kateryna (R wearing head scarf), attends the midnight Orthodox Easter service at the Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev April 8, 2007. Orthodox believers as well as Catholics, who number six million in Ukraine, observe Easter at the same time this year, a rare coincidence of the two dates. REUTERS/Mykola Lazarenko/Pool (UKRAINE)

Ukraine's Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich attends a midnight Easter mass in an orthodox church in Donetsk April 8, 2007. Orthodox believers as well as Catholics, who number six million in Ukraine, observe Easter at the same time this year, a rare coincidence of the two dates. REUTERS/Valeriy Belokryl (UKRAINE)

Ethiopian Orthodox worshippers take part in the Holy Fire ceremony at the Ethiopian section in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City, late April 7,2007. REUTERS/Yonathan Weitzman (JERUSALEM)

Orthodox Pascha, pt 1

An Orthodox priest blesses Easter cakes for hundreds supporters of Ukraine's Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich during an Easter service on Independence square in Kiev April 8, 2007. Orthodox believers as well as Catholics, who number six million in Ukraine, observe Easter at the same time this year, a rare coincidence of the two dates. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj (UKRAINE)

An Orthodox priest blesses some hundreds of Easter cakes on a stage erected by supporters of Ukraine's defiant premier on Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, April 8, 2007. Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko on Monday signed an order to dissolve parliament and call early elections, but Premier Viktor Yanukovych and his majority in parliament have refused to obey it, calling it unconstitutional. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader for Orthodox Christians, kisses a baby girl during a morning mass at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, April 8, 2007. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, led hundreds of worshippers to celebrate Easter. Many were pilgrims from neighboring Greece. (AP Photo/Serkan Senturk)

Serbian priests perform Orthodox Easter solemn liturgy in Belgrade's Congragational church, Sunday, April 8, 2007. Traditionally Orthodox Christians, Serbs observe Easter according to the old, Julian calendar, which this year falls also on April 8 as it does for the majority of Christians elsewhere who follow the new, Gregorian calendar. (AP Photo / Srdjan Ilic)

A woman holds candles during an Easter prayer in the central Orthodox Church in Sarajevo April 8, 2007. Bosnia's Orthodox and Catholic Christians are celebrating Easter at the same time this year, a rare coincidence of the two dates. REUTERS/Danilo Krstanovic (BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA)

Orthodox worshippers attend a morning mass at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, April 8, 2007. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, led hundreds of worshippers at a crowded midnight liturgy to celebrate Easter. Many were pilgrims from neighboring Greece. (AP Photo/Serkan Senturk)

Orthodox nuns take part in Easter prayers at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City April 8, 2007. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun (JERUSALEM)

Greek Orthodox bishops take part in the Easter Mass procession outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditionally believed by many Christians to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, April 8, 2007. Christians around the world are marking the solemn period of Easter (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III, center, walks with bishops as he takes part in the Easter Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditionally believed by many Christians to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, April 8, 2007. Christians around the world are marking the solemn period of Easter (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III takes part in the Easter Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditionally believed by many Christians to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, April 8, 2007. Christians around the world are marking the solemn period of Easter (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (R) leads Easter prayers at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem April 8, 2007. REUTERS/Yonathan Weitzman (JERUSALEM)

Greek Orthodox bishops hold candles as they take part in the Easter Mass procession at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditionally believed by many Christians to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, April 8, 2007. Christians around the world are marking the solemn period of Easter (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Orthodox Christian pilgrims rest their heads on a stone as they pray as a traditional part of Easter Sunday in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally believed by many Christians to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, April 8, 2007. Orthodox Christians are marking the solemn period of Easter. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Orthodox monk Father Nikola holds an Easter service at the remote 14th century Zrze monastery, located 140 km (87 miles) northwest from Skopje, April 8, 2007. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski(MACEDONIA)

Orthodox nun Lidia prays during an Easter service at the remote 14th century Zrze monastery, located 140 km (87 miles) northwest from Skopje, April 8, 2007. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski(MACEDONIA)

Orthodox monk Klaenik reads during a service at the remote 14th century Zrze monastery, located 140 km (87 miles) northwest from Skopje, April 8, 2007. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski(MACEDONIA)

Hanbok!

Pope Benedict XVI follows a lay person from Chile carrying a wooden cross during the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) torchlight procession on Good Friday at the ancient Colosseum in Rome, Friday, April 6, 2007. The evening Via Crucis procession at the ancient Colosseum amphitheater is a Rome tradition that draws a large crowd of faithful, including many of the pilgrims who flock to the Italian capital for Holy Week ceremonies before Easter Sunday. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

What is the ethnicity of the Asian woman to the right? I am curious, especially since I do not recognize the costume... Mongolian? Manchurian?

Coptic Easter

Coptic Orthodox clergymen carry palm fronds as they walk past the Edicule at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site traditionally believed to be the place of Jesus' crucifixion, in Jerusalem's Old City, Saturday, March 31, 2007. Christians will begin to mark the solemn period of Easter with Palm Sunday. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)

An Egyptian Christian worshipper passes by a mural at the Coptic Hanging Church, so called because of its location on top of the southern tower gate of the old Roman Fortress of Babylon, in the old Cairo area of Cairo, Egypt on Easter eve Saturday, April 7, 2007. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

A Coptic Orthodox priest raises his hand to Egyptian Christian worshippers at the Coptic Hanging Church, so called because of its location on top of the southern tower gate of the old Roman Fortress of Babylon, in the old Cairo area of Cairo, Egypt on Easter eve Saturday, April 7, 2007. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

A Coptic Orthodox priest and Egyptian Christian worshippers take part in a ceremony at the Coptic Hanging Church, so called because of its location on top of the southern tower gate of the old Roman Fortress of Babylon, in the old Cairo area of Cairo, Egypt on Easter eve Saturday, April 7, 2007. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

An Egyptian Coptic Orthodox worshipper attends a ceremony at the Coptic Hanging Church, so called because of its location on top of the southern tower gate of the old Roman Fortress of Babylon, in the old Cairo area of Cairo, Egypt on Easter eve Saturday, April 7, 2007. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III attends a church service for Coptic Easter in Cairo April 7, 2007. REUTERS/Tara Todras-Whitehill (EGYPT)

Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III performs a ritual during a church service for Coptic Easter in Cairo April 7, 2007. REUTERS/Tara Todras-Whitehill (EGYPT)

Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III (L) gives a blessing during a church service for Coptic Easter in Cairo April 8 2007. REUTERS/Tara Todras-Whitehill (EGYPT)

Photos: Easter Vigil, Rome

Pope Benedict XVI holds a candle during the Easter Vigil ceremony in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, April 7, 2007. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) AP via Yahoo! News - Apr 07 1:59 PM

Pope Benedict XVI, center, holds a candle during the Easter Vigil ceremony in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, April 7, 2007. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Benedict XVI conducts the Easter Vigil service in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 7, 2007. REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito (VATICAN)

Pope Benedict XVI baptises Shen (C), son of Zhaug Xi Agata (R) from China, during the Easter Vigil service in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 7, 2007. REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito (VATICAN)

Shen, son of Zhaug Xi Agata (R), from China cries after he was baptised by Pope Benedict XVI during the Easter Vigil service in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 7, 2007. REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito (VATICAN)

Jackie Chan Launches Chinese TV Show

Jackie Chan Launches Chinese TV Show
Saturday April 7 9:23 AM ET

Jackie Chan on Saturday launched a Chinese TV competition aimed at scouting out new action movie talent, saying more than 100,000 people have already signed up for a shot at kung fu stardom.

"A lot of actors are good at fighting but (their style) is not beautiful," the Chinese star and stunt man, who turned 53 Saturday, said in Beijing.

"If you can incorporate dance with an ability to perform kung fu, that would be better," Chan told an audience that included a selected 20 of the show's contestants and some Chinese celebrities.

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The TV show, whose English title is "The Disciple" is jointly produced by Chan and Beijing TV Station, known as BTV.

The show will run from March to October, with 10 winners appearing in a movie to be produced by Chan, organizers said. The movie will be released before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Chan said.

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On the Net:

"The Disciple" official Web site:

http://long.btv.com.cn/