On June 15, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, received their Excellencies: Archbishop Magar Ashkarian, Armenian Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo, Archbishop Antoine Audo, Chaldean Archbishop of Syria, Archbishop George Masri, Greek Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo, Rev. Ibrahim Nseir, Evangelical Arab Church in Aleppo, as well as other representatives of Christian Churches in Aleppo, at the Archdiocesan Center in Aleppo.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Boutros Kassis, Archbishop of Aleppo and Environs, Mor Chrysostomos Mikhael Shemoun, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeerah and Euphrates, Mor Yacoub Babawi, Patriarchal Vicar for Monks Affairs and the Administration of Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary in Maarat Saydnaya, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, were also present.

On June 15, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, visited the restored parts of the old city of Aleppo.

On June 14, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, participated in the Celebrations of the Centennial of the Edification of Mor Aphrem Cathedral in Aleppo and the Edessan Migration to Aleppo. The event was held at the Theater of the Syndicate of Artists, in Jamiliyye in Aleppo.

On June 14, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, inaugurated Mor Aphrem Development Center of the Universal Syriac Scouts at the Archdiocesan Center in Aleppo.

On June 14, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, inaugurated the “Archbishop Youhanna Ibrahim Library” at the Archdiocesan Center in Aleppo.

On June 14, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, inaugurated the new studios for Suboro TV at the Archdiocesan Center in Aleppo. The inaugurated studio is equipped with new devices and updated technology and will broadcast religious and cultural programs as well as cover other events and activities.

On June 13, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and MECC Honorary President, celebrated the Holy Qurobo of the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ to heaven, at St. Georges Patriarchal Cathedral in Damascus.

His Eminence Archbishops Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, assisted His Holiness in the Holy Qurobo, in the presence of His Eminence Archbishop Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

Last Sunday’s Gospel passage ended with Jesus’ gaze resting on those around him (Mark 3:34). It is a gaze capable of seeing beyond what is apparent: Jesus looks at the people listening to him, and sees in them brothers, sisters, and mothers.

He looks at people and sees a relationship, he sees the bond that unites them in depth.

This bond is the ripened fruit of faith: Faith is not just believing in revealed truths, but entering into a life-changing relationship, and accessing a new identity that can no longer think of itself outside of a relationship with the Lord and with one's brothers and sisters.

Today's Gospel (Mk. 4:26-34) is a passage with two parables, both inspired by the agricultural setting, by which the Lord speaks of the Kingdom, namely, the relationship we previously talked about. Because the Kingdom of Heaven is a relationship of love that unites people into one life, the life of God.

On Wednesday, June 12th, 2024, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, met with His Holiness Pope Francis in the Vatican.

During the meeting, they discussed several important topics proposed by the Catholicos:

a) The necessity to broaden and transform the ecumenical relations into a partnership.

b) The goal of establishing a common date for the celebration of the Holy Resurrection by all Churches…

On Wednesday June 12 2024, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, called His Eminence the Grand Imam, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar Mosque, to congratulate him on the blessed Eid Al-Adha. During the phone call, His Holiness expressed his good wishes to His Eminence the Grand Imam and to all Muslim brethren for happiness, goodness, and peace in all parts of the world.

On June 11th, 2024, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, delivered a lecture on “Religion in the Geopolitics of the Middle East” at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in the Vatican.

The event was organized by the said Institute, Pontifical Gregorian University, and the Lebanese Embassy.

The lecture was attended by His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Catholic Family, His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Sarkissian—Prelate of UAE and Qatar—university scholars, ambassadors, and Vatican department heads.

From Secretariat-General of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Monday, May 28 / June 10, 2024, His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and all Palestine and Jordan, with the conservator of icons and books Mr. Stavros Andreou and his collaborators from Russia, visited the area of ​​the house of blessed Patriarch Diodoros, which is being prepared for the creation of an Ecclesiastical Museum.

Confirmation class of 2024 which was taught by Reverend Wilbert Van Saane, Professor at the Evangelical Theology School in Beirut and Reverend Rima Nasrallah, Professor in Practical Theology at Near East School of Theology for several months.

The Confirmation was bestowed upon: Alexia and Eddy Rudy Sleiman, Laura and Christina Anise Nassif, Gaya Charlie Bassous, Elvire Mary Francois Mbayid, Peter Wilbert Van Saane, Antony Joseph Badran, and Alice Anise Khoury.

From Secretariat-General of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Monday, May 21 / June 3, 2024, the feast of Saints Constantine and Helen was celebrated in the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

On this holiday, the Church commemorates the work of the great glorious king and equal to the apostles Saint Constantine, the recognition of Christianity as a free religion within the Roman state by the decree of the Milanese, in AD 312 and of Saint Helen, who visited the Holy Land in the year AD 326 and erected the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem and other shrines.

Through the work of these two saints, the new era of Rum Orthodox tradition in the Holy Land was inaugurated. 

Mk. 2:23-3:6

Today we resume the journey of the Sundays of Ordinary Time and it immediately helps us to focus on the essentials of our relationship with the Lord.

Today's passage (Mk. 2:23-3:6), in fact, is composed of two distinct moments, taking place in two different places: the first is among the wheat fields where Jesus is walking with his disciples, while a group of Pharisees stand by and watch. The second is inside the synagogue: with him are no longer the disciples, but a man with a paralyzed hand and, again, a group of Pharisees.

There are several elements that make unity between the two passages.

In his message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, His Holiness Pope Francis invites us to see migrations as a sign of the times and as a symbol of the Church’s pilgrimage throughout history.

By Linda Bordoni

“See in the migrants of our time, as in those of every age, a living image of God’s people on their way to the eternal homeland,” writes Pope Francis in his 2024 Message for the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

The World Day, celebrated annually on 24 September, is a call to believers to show support and closeness to the millions of men, women and children who are forced to leave their homes. The current global estimate is that there were around 281 million international migrants in the world in 2020, which equates to 3.6 per cent of the global population, and that number continues to rise.

His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, conducted a pastoral visit to Taybeh from June 1st, 2024, until June 3rd, 2024, during which he spent a fruitful time with the parish, by providing spiritual and pastoral guidance to the priests, sisters, and faithful, as well as visiting the various destinations of the village.

In front of the Church of Christ the Redeemer in Taybeh, Fr. Bashar Fawadleh, the parish priest of Taybeh, accompanied by former Patriarch Michel Sabbah, several priests, members of the municipality, security services, and the parishioners, welcomed His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and his delegation. The official reception included prayers, hymns, and activities presented by school students, and the youth. The Taybeh Scouts presented a symbolic gift to His Beatitude, symbolizing the ancient Palestinian Christian presence in Taybeh. And during the welcoming, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, expressed his solidarity with the people of Taybeh in these difficult times, stressing that the darkness of the world cannot extinguish the light of Christ that shines in and among them, and noted that he came to listen to their needs and get to know the nature of their lives up close, as this is his first extended pastoral visit to the parish.

Held on the Occasion of the Feast of the Entry of Jesus Christ and the Holy Family into the Land of Egypt in “Oum Al Dounya” Celebration

You can find a report about the press conference of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, which was held within “Oum Al Dounya” (“Mother of the World”) celebration on the occasion of the Feast of the Entry of Jesus Christ and the Holy Family into the Land of Egypt, which is one of the Lord’s Feasts in the Coptic Church that is celebrated on 1 June.

On the occasion of Feast of the Entry of Jesus Christ Into the Land of Egypt, which is celebrated on 1 June, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, addressed a congratulatory message that you can watch and listen to via the video.

And Confirms: “We will stay here and will not fear troubles”

Latakia, May 30, 2024

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Gr

Latakia, May 30, 2024

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Orthodox Family, has concluded his pastoral visit to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Latakia and its dependencies, at the invitation of its Shepherd, His Eminence Metropolitan Athanasios (Fahed). The visit included many important stops at educational, intellectual, cultural, national, and church regeneration that were chronicled in the records of the Antiochian Church. The visit also gave the faithful people a new spiritual momentum and an incentive for steadfastness and resilience.

On the final day, His Beatitude met with the Millet Council, the priests, church associations and institutions, the Department of Ecumenical Relations and Development in the Patriarchate - Latakia Branch, and official figures.

They all expressed their happiness with this visit, which marked a renaissance for the Church and society at various levels.