With the increasing needs resulting from the earthquake, the translation of the directives of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, continues with intensive work on the ground, where GOPA-DERD team, at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, present new levels of response, paralleling the momentum of relief efforts that have continued since the first day of the disaster.

In Latakia, GOPA-DERD's team distributed food to the affected families in the city, ready-to-eat meals, and family hygiene kits to those affected in Jableh, in addition to distributing food and family hygiene kits to the affected people in Al-Haffah, in cooperation with ZOA. The livelihoods team also inspected the damaged projects in Al-Haffah, and continued to provide meals to medical staff and patients in Jableh National Hospital.

His Holiness Pope Francis warns against impeding aid from reaching war-torn, earthquake-struck Syria, when addressing monks and priests from Eastern Orthodox Churches.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

"I hope that everything possible will be done for the people, that there will be no reasons or sanctions to hinder the urgent and necessary aid to the population."

His Holiness Pope Francis expressed this to young priests and monks of Eastern Orthodox Churches in the Vatican on Thursday 23 February 2023.

JERUSALEM – On February 22nd, 2023, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, celebrated Ash Wednesday during a Eucharistic Mass held at the Pro-Cathedral of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Each year, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, Prayer, charity, and repentance. Celebrated six weeks and half before Easter, the Mass was concelebrated by Mgr William Shomali, General Vicar, Mgr Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, bishop emeritus, Fr. Piotr Zelasko, Patriarchal Vicar for the Saint James Vicariate, and several priests of the Latin Patriarchate, as well as seminarians, who served at the altar. The assembly was made up of Latin Patriarchate Staff members, CCAO member organizations, and the faithful of Jerusalem.

Balamand, February 23, 2023

The Holy Antiochian Synod, presided by His Beatitude Patriarch John X (Yazigi), Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, held its fifteenth extraordinary session, on February 22 and 23, 2023, in Balamand, Lebanon, in the presence of Their Eminences, the Most Reverend Metropolitans:

Elias (Archdiocese of Beirut and Dependencies); Elias (Archdiocese of Tyre, Sidon and Dependencies); Saba (Archdiocese of Bosra Houran and Jabal Al-Arab); George (Archdiocese of Homs and Dependencies); Silouan (Archdiocese of Jbeil and Batroun and Dependencies); Basilios (Archdiocese of Akkar and Dependencies); Ephrem (Archdiocese of Tripoli, Koura and Dependencies); Ignatius (Archdiocese of France, Western and Southern Europe); Isaac (Archdiocese of Germany and Central Europe); Ghattas (Archdiocese of Baghdad, Kuwait and Dependencies); Silouan (Archdiocese of the British Isles and Ireland); Antonios (Archdiocese of Zahleh, Baalbek and Dependencies); Nicolas (Archdiocese of Hama and Dependencies); Basilios (Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines); Ignatius (Archdiocese of Mexico, Venezuela, Central America and the Caribbean Islands); Athanasius (Archdiocese of Lattakia and Dependencies); Jacques (Archdiocese of Buenos Aires and All Argentina); Ephrem (Archdiocese of Aleppo, Alexandretta, and Dependencies); and Nifon Saikali Metropolitan of Philippopolis and Representative of the Patriarch of Antioch to the Patriarch of Moscow. Also in attendance was His Grace Bishop Gregorios Khoury, Secretary of the Holy Synod.

Balamand, Lebanon, February 23, 2023

The Greek Orthodox Holy Antiochian Synod convened in Balamand elected His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan Saba (Isber), Archdiocese of Bosra Hauran and Jabal al-Arab, and Member of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches, as Metropolitan over the Archdiocese of New York and All North America.

Prior to the beginning of the Exceptional Session of the Holy Synod of Antioch, which was held on Wednesday 22 February 2023, His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, delivered a statement live from Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery in Lebanon. You can listen to it in the video.

On February 20, 2023, His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, arrived in the city of Antioch, the historical capital of the Patriarchate, where the disciples and followers of Our Lord Jesus Christ were first called Christians, on an exceptional and historic visit following the painful and devastating earthquake. Which struck the region leaving behind the great devastation, and thousands of victims and injured.

On this visit, His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences, Mor Philoxinous Youssef Cetin, Patriarchal Vicar in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, Mor Gregorious Melki Urek, Patriarchal Vicar in Adyaman, and affiliate regions, Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Director of the Media Department, and Raban Andrew Bahi.

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, visited Aleppo in a one-day Pontifical visit on Thursday morning, February 16th, 2023. The Catholicos was received at the entrance of the Church of the Holy Mother of God by the Prelate of Aleppo, the Diocesan Council, the heads of the community, and the faithful.

In his Pontifical address during the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I expressed his solidarity with the people and exhorted the community to remain strong in their faith and cling to the Church and to its affiliated structures. Following the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness received the faithful at the atrium of the Church, where he conveyed his speech and gave them his blessings.

On February 19, 2023, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, celebrated the Holy Qurobo, at St. Stephanos Church in Istanbul.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Philoxenus Yusuf Cetin, Patriarchal Vicar in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, assisted His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II during the Holy Qurobo.

As part of the emergency response efforts, and in continuation of work under the directives of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, GOPA-DERD, at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, continues to meet the needs of families affected by the earthquake.

In Hama, GOPA-DERD's team met the needs of some shelters in the city by distributing pillows and sterilizers. The team also implemented a range of first-aid psychological support activities for women and children in these centers.

Which Was Destroyed by the Earthquake that Hit the Region

On February 18, 2023, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, visited the St. Peter and St. Paul Cathedral in Adiyaman which was destroyed by the earthquake that hit the city and the region.

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II was accompanied by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Gregorius Malke Urek, Patriarchal Vicar of Adiyaman and Environs, Mor Timotheos Samuel Aktas, Arhcbishop of Turabdin, Mor Philoxenus Yusuf Cetin, Patriarchal Vicar of Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, Mor Philoxenus Saliba Ozmen, Archbishop of Mardin, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director.

In his Message for Lent 2023, His Holiness Pope Francis highlights the relationship between the Lenten journey and the synodal journey, which are both rooted in tradition and open to newness.

By Christopher Wells

Personal and ecclesial “transfiguration” is the goal of the ascetical journey of Lent, and similarly of the synodal process, writes His Holiness Pope Francis in his Message for Lent 2023.

The message, signed on the Solemnity of the Conversion of St Paul and released on Friday, bears the title “Lenten Penance and the Synodal Journey.”

Fourth Day - Antioch - Tokaçlı - Sarılar

With a heart full of sorrow, and with great emotionality, the delegation of the Greek orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East began this Friday February 17, 2023 with a visit to Antioch. The delegation members were accompanied by the reverend, Father Pavlus Orduluoglu, and the president of the City’s organization, Mr. Fadi Hurigil.

The delegation witnessed, with their own eyes, the destruction that occurred as a result of the devastating earthquake, and in particular, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, which was completely destroyed along with all the endowments around it.

Right there,

In front of the church where the historical throne of Saint Peter the Apostle is located,

as well as the spiritual and historical legacy of the great city of God Antioch,

Words faltered to describe the horror of the great affliction.

and with prayer, full all hope;

and with throats, trembling with pain.

On February 17, 2023, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, arrived to Saint Mary Church in Istanbul where he offered a prayer of thanksgiving and prayed the special service for the Virgin Mary.

‏His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II was welcomed by His Eminence Mor Philoxenus Yusuf Cetin, Patriarchal Vicar in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, as well as the Priests, Deacons and faithful of St. Mary Church in Istanbul.

‏His Eminence welcomed His Holiness and the accompanying delegation and thanked His Holiness for his presence among his flock at these difficult times.

On Wednesday, 2nd/15th February 2023, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the feast of the Meeting of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple at the Holy Monastery of Sayda Naya at the Christian Quarter, northeast of the Patriarchate.

On this feast the Church commemorates and honours and celebrates the Meeting of our Lord in the Temple when he was forty days old, still breastfeeding. He was brought by his parents to the Temple of Solomon with the offering of “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons”. There, Saint Simeon the God-receiver having been informed by the Holy Spirit, received the Lord in his arms and recognized Him and exclaimed, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:29-32).

On February 15, 2023, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, expressed his sympathy for those affected by the devastating earthquake in Syria and Turkey, during his Sermon at the weekly Wednesday meeting, which hosted the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” organized by the Council of Churches of Egypt starting Wednesday 15 February 2023. His Holiness called on to pray for those affected in all forms by this disaster. Also for solutions to the war that has been going on for nearly a year, and that God gives wisdom to the leaders.

The weekly Wednesday Sermon of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, which was held at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Abbaseya this evening, hosted the first day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, organized by the Council of Churches of Egypt, under the slogan: “Learn to do good; Seek justice” (Isaiah 1:17)

The first day, February 15, 2023 was attended by representatives of member churches of the Council of Churches of Egypt. The Co-Secretary of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Fr Bishoy Helmy, delivered a speech, followed by a speech by Fr Refaat Fikry, Co-Secretary of the Evangelical Church. Fr Yeshoa Yacoub, Secretary-General of the Council delivered a speech, followed by a recitation of biblical texts and some church hymns were sung.

Until now Rector of Antonine University in Baabda, Lebanon, Father Michel Jalakh previously served as Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches.

By Vatican News

Lebanese Maronite priest Father Michel Jalakh, O.A.M., until now rector of the Antonine University in Baabda, Lebanon, has been appointed by His Holiness Pope Francis as the new Secretary of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches.

Born on 27 August 1966 in Baouchrieh, Father Jalakh made his first religious profession in the Antonian Maronite Order on 15 August 1983, and was ordained a priest on 21st April 1991.

Jusqu'ici recteur de l'Université Antonine de Baabda, au Liban, le Père Michel Jalakh était aussi était secrétaire général du Conseil des Eglises du Moyen-Orient.

Le Père Michel Jalakh, O.A.M., Prêtre Maronite libanais, jusqu'à présent recteur de l'Université Antonine de Baabda, au Liban, a été nommé ce mercredi 15 février par Sa Sainteté le Pape François comme nouveau secrétaire du Dicastère pour les Eglises Orientales.

Né le 27 août 1966 à Baouchrieh (Liban), il a fait sa première profession religieuse dans l'Ordre Antonien Maronite le 15 août 1983 et a été ordonné prêtre le 21 avril 1991.