On Sunday 6/19 September 2021, for pastoral reasons the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos was celebrated earlier at the Holy Church of the Nativity of Theotokos in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem.

On this feast, the Church glorifies God because He granted Mary to the former baren Joachim and Anna, from whom our Lord Jesus Christ was born in the flesh. The Church joyfully chants “Joachim and Anna were freed from the corruption of death O immaculate one by thy Holy Nativity…the barren woman giveth birth to the Theotokos and nourisher of our life” (Kontakion).

HOLY LAND – On Sunday, September 12, 2021, the General Secretariat of The Youth of Jesus’ Homeland – Palestine (YJHP), and the General Secretariat of the Youth Group in Jordan concluded their summer activities and camps for the year 2021.

In Palestine, the YJHP concluded all its summer activities with an activity day for the Secondary Group entitled “60 minutes”. The day started with a gathering in the Church of Christ the Redeemer in Taybeh, followed by an activity to break down barriers between parishioners. Later, Mrs. Yara Zayed gave a lecture about time management for young people.

On September 19, 2021, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II celebrated the Holy Qurobo at St. Aphrem Cathedral in Sweden.

His Holiness was assisted by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Dioscorus Benjamin Atas, Patriarchal Vicar in Sweden, Mor Dionysius Issa Gurbuz, Patriarchal Vicar in Switzerland and Austria, Mor Philoxenus Mattias Nayis, Patriarchal Vicar in Germany, Mor Julius Hanna Aydin, Director of Foreign Relations in Germany, Mor Polycarpus Augin Aydin, Patriarchal Vicar in Holland, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director.

Chargé d'Affairs of the Vatican's Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva says access to safe drinking water is a basic human right.

By Lisa Zengarini

“Water is not a commodity; it is a universal symbol and source of life and health. It is therefore necessary to ensure drinking water and hygienic services for all”, the Holy See says.

On September 15, 2021 an important event took place at the Terra Sancta Theater, Jabal Luwaibdeh, Amman. It is the launching of a new website by Franciscan Sisters/ Missionaries of Mary titled," John the Baptist Center for Christian Catechism". The site, financed by the Pontifical Mission in Jordan, can be checked on this link: www.jcjo.org.

More than at any other time, the world, which is marked by increasing tensions, polarizations and crises of diverse nature and scope, is in dire need of healing. Healing is achieved through dialogue, mutual understanding and acceptance, and common commitment to ethical values and human rights. Religion may play a pivotal role in building ethically healthy, socio-economically equitable, and ecologically sustainable societies.

and the beginning of the academic year at Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary

On September 14, 2021, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II celebrated the Holy Qurobo on the occasion of the Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross and the beginning of the academic year at Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary in Maarat Saydnaya, Syria, at the altar of the Martyrs of Sayfo in Mor Aphrem Monastery in Maarat Saydnaya.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. One God. Amen. May His grace and mercy rest upon us, from now and forevermore. Amen.
I would like to congratulate you on the upcoming Feast of Nayrouz, also known as the Feast of the Martyrs. It is the oldest feast and is the celebration of the beginning of the ecclesiastical Coptic year, which began in the year 284 A.D. during the rule of the Roman Emperor Nicledianos.

His Holiness Pope Francis celebrates the concluding Mass for the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest, Hungary, as a ‘Statio Orbis,’ a liturgy manifesting the unity of the whole Church around the table of the Lord.

By Christopher Wells

Jesus’ question to His disciples in Sunday’s Gospel — “Who do you say that I am?” — is addressed to each one of us personally, His Holiness Pope Francis said in his homily at the concluding Mass for the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress.

On September 11, 2021, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II received His Eminence Cardinal Mario Zenari, Apostolic Nuncio in Damascus, at the Patriarchate Headquarters in Bab Touma – Damascus, Syria.

The meeting was attended by his Eminence Archbishop Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director.

On Saturday 29 August/ 11 September 2021, the Patriarchate commemorated the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist at the Holy Monastery dedicated to him on the south-west side of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the heart of the Christian quarter.

On this feast the Church recalls the Gospel narratives (Mark chapter 6, Matthew chapter 14) in joyful mourning; in them, Herod the Tetrarch could not bear Saint John’s reprimands for living together with Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, so he imprisoned the Saint.

CYPRUS - From September 3- 8, 2021, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa made his first pastoral visit as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem to the Latin Community in the four parishes of Cyprus, namely Larnaca, Nicosia, Paphos and Limassol. A visit to Kyrenia was also on the program.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. One God. Amen. May His grace and mercy rest upon us, from now and forevermore. Amen.
Sermon Highlights:
~ Various titles given to Psalm 37
~ 3 traits of the successes of wickedness
~ Comparing grass to trees, an analogy for contemplation

At noon on Tuesday, 7th of September 2021, H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, accompanied by the Director of the Patriarchate’s Finance Department, His Eminence Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, and Geronda Chief Secretary, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, visited the Holy Monastery of Prophet Elijah, located between Jerusalem and Bethlehem near the place of the “Seat of the Virgin Mary”.

The General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops presents the base text and “vademecum” – or handbook – to guide the journey of the Synod on Synodality.

By Salvatore Cernuzio

Listening without prejudice; speaking out with courage and parrhesia; dialoguing with the Church, with society, and with the other Christian confessions.

On Sunday 23 August / 5 September 2021 the Dormition Icon of the Theotokos was returned to the Metochion of Gethsemane in a Procession from the Shrine of Theotokos’ Tomb, with the completion of nine days after the Feast of Dormition.

For this feast, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at Gethsemane by the Master of Ceremonies Archimandrite Bartholomew and the Ministering Priests of the Shrine.

For more than a year, we have all experienced the devastating effects of a global pandemic—all of us, whether poor or wealthy, weak or strong. Some were more protected or vulnerable than others, but the rapidly-spreading infection meant that we have depended on each other in our efforts to stay safe. We realised that, in facing this worldwide calamity, no one is safe until everyone is safe, that our actions really do affect one another, and that what we do today affects what happens tomorrow.

His Holiness Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for the month of September, and invites us to pray that everyone might make choices which promote a simple and sustainable lifestyle.

By Devin Watkins

As the Church begins the annual Season of Creation on 1 September, His Holiness Pope Francis is inviting everyone to pray for “an environmentally sustainable lifestyle”.

Syria’s first seminary has opened in Damascus by the Syrian Catholic Mergita Church, Dean Rajin (Father Youssef Lajin) mentioned the academy’s “open to everyone” and “service” purpose. He said that the Holy See’s nuncio to Syria is also deeply pleased with their pioneering work, saying that this seminary is a new thing in Syria. 90 per cent of Syria’s population is Muslim, and a very small number of Christians are constantly exodus.

On Saturday, 15/28 August 2021, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Gethsemane at the Holy Church with the Tomb of the Mother of God.

On this feast, the Church reminds the faithful of our faith that the Theotokos conceived from the Holy Spirit and bore in the flesh our Lord Jesus Christ, she died and was buried in Gethsemane, but was translated by the hands of her Son in the heavens and her immaculate body was preserved.