On July 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 construction site of the Latakia Community Center, Syria.

He inspected the progress in the work as well as the plans and different stages of the project.

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II was accompanied by their Eminences: Mor Boutros Kassis, Archbishop of Aleppo and Environs, Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, Mr. Louay Oussi, and Mr. Maher Kourieh.

On July 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, visited His Excellency Mor Julian Yacoub Mrad, Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Homs, Hama and Nabak, at his headquarters in Homs, Syria.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeerah and Euphrates, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, accompanied His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II during this visit.

On July 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 Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, arrived to Homs, Syria, and presided over the Ramsho Prayer, at the Lady of the Girdle (Zunoro) Cathedral.

Their Eminences: Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeerah and Euphrates, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, attended the Prayer.

On July 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, celebrated the Holy Qurobo at St. Georges Church in Zaydal, Syria.

His Holiness was assisted by their Eminences: Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeerah and Euphrates, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary. His Grace Bishop Mor Iwannis Boulos Al-Souqi was also present.

During the Holy Qurobo, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II bestowed the Pectoral Cross to the Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Gabriel Hazim in appreciation of his years of ministry to the parish in Zaydal.

the “Study Zone” Center in Damascus

On July 12, 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 “Study Zone” Center in Damascus which is under the administration of Hope Center.

The inauguration was attended by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, and Mor Andrawos Bahhi, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education as well as His Excellency Mgr. Hanna Jallouf, Latin Apostolic Vicar in Syria, and representatives from other Churches…

The Armenological Center of the Educational-Armenological Department at the Catholicosate of Cilicia held its 2023-2024 graduation ceremony in Bikfaya, attended by the Cilician Brotherhood, faculty members, students, and graduates. His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, presided over the ceremony and distributed certificates to the graduates.

Mr. Aharon Shekerdemian, Director of the Center, opened the ceremony with heartfelt gratitude to His Holiness for his unwavering support of the Center and extended congratulations to the graduates. Marina Daghlian, representing the students, delivered an inspiring speech.

On Friday, June 29/July 12, 2024, the feast of the glorious and Chiefs of the Apostles Peter and Paul was celebrated by the Patriarchate.

On this feast, the Church especially remembers these two holy Apostles, Peter, brother of Andrew the first-called, following Christ from Tiberias, confessing Him “as the Son of God”, denying Him, being accepted again through repentance, preaching Him, writing two Catholic epistles of the New Testament and martyred in Rome through a cross in AD 66.

The Church also remembers the Apostle Paul as a persecutor of Christ and His Church, as one who was called by a vision and became a chosen vessel, preaching Christ above all things, as is witnessed in the Acts of the Apostles and in his fourteen epistles and having testified during the reign of Nestor in Rome and was beheaded.

Mark 6:7-13

In today's Gospel passage (Mark 6:7-13), we read about a significant transition in the story of Jesus and the disciples.

After Jesus has called his friends to accompany him and instructed them in the way of the Kingdom, he now sends them out, meaning he entrusts them with the Word of peace and reconciliation so that they may begin to bring it to all who longed to hear it, even without knowing it.

We first observe that at this point in the Gospel, the disciples have not come to a particular knowledge and understanding of their master: the last time Jesus addressed them, as we saw two Sundays ago, had been to rebuke them for their lack of faith. Yet, immediately thereafter, Jesus sends them in his name and entrusts them with the same power he had, that of healing people.

I am pleased to welcome every one of you and to thank you for being here to participate in this Synod, in spite of the challenges that our Church is currently facing and the overall complicated social, political and security circumstances, in a hope that this meeting will bring to live Psalm (133/ 1) “How pleasant it is, when brothers dwell together”, especially when our gathering is for the benefit of our Church and our people.

First of all, I thank God for giving me strength, wisdom, and determination that enabled me to go through the crisis of withdrawing Presidential decree (147) of 2013 as well as several malicious complaints. However, most of you may know that I, personally was not the target (as being told by some officials), but the purpose was rather to seize Church properties.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, anointed the body of Saint Bishoy, on Tuesday 9 July 2024, in his Monastery in Wadi Natroun, Egypt, on the occasion of his Feast, which the Coptic Church celebrates this coming Monday (8th of Abib, corresponding to the 15th of July).

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II arrived at the Monastery this afternoon and was received by His Grace Bishop Aghapious, Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery, Bishops and the Monastery’s Monks…

His Holiness Pope Francis has approved a set of norms guiding the Foundation entrusted to the Jesuits and developed by the Apostleship of Prayer that broadcasts "The Pope Video" with his monthly prayer intentions thanks to a network in 89 countries.

Vatican News

His Holiness Pope Francis has approved new statutes guiding the Vatican foundation that oversees the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network. Made public on 8 July, the new statutes recognize the history of the initiative and its mission. The Secretariat for the Economy now holds reponsibility for final approval of budgets and the appointment of a sole auditor, tasks previously entrusted to the Secretariat of State.

From the General Secretariat of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Sunday, June 24/July 7, 2024, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of the Nativity of the Holy Forerunner and Baptist John in the Holy Monastery named after him, located in today’s suburb of Ein Karem, which is also his birthplace.

During this Feast, the whole Church, especially the one in Jerusalem, remembers that the Holy Forerunner is the fruit of childless parents, Zacharias and Elizabeth, according to the testimony of the Evangelist Luke. Elizabeth hid her pregnancy for five months until Mariam visited her in the hill country, having gone in haste from Nazareth. Zacharias’ speechlessness was resolved when he wrote John’s name on a tablet (Luk. 1, 5-25).

From July 1st until July 5th, 2024, the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land held its annual retreat at the Seminary of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Galilee, drawing a large attendance of bishops and priests.

This year's retreat was led by Fr. Amjad Sabbara, a Franciscan priest of the parish of Jerusalem, who emphasized four foundational principles for cultivating a fulfilling priesthood: Firstly, the consistent study and understanding of the Holy Scriptures; Secondly, the pivotal role of spiritual guidance in the priestly life; Thirdly, the importance of fostering healthy relationships with others; and lastly, the transformative power of daily meditation, crucial for maintaining a steadfast commitment to authentic priestly ministry.

July 6, 2024

His Holiness Pope Francis sent a message of encouragement to the youth participating in the annual summer conference of the Latin Church in Egypt, which is being at St. Mark's House, Burj Al Arab, Alexandria, Egypt, under the slogan “My Prayer Is My Paddle,” from the fourth to the eighth of this July.

The Holy Father encouraged the young men and women to delve deeper into the meaning of Prayer in their lives, and called on them to be apostles of the Gospel and witnesses of joy and hope. The Supreme Pontiff also granted his apostolic blessing to His Eminence Bishop Claudio Lurati, Bishop of the Latin Apostolic Vicariate of Alexandria, and all participants in the conference.

His Holiness Pope Francis releases his Prayer intention for the month of July, and invites Christians to pray that the Church might show God’s closeness to people enduring illness.

By Devin Watkins

“Let us pray that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick grant the Lord’s strength to those who receive it and to their loved ones, and that it may become for everyone an ever more visible sign of compassion and hope.”

His Holiness Pope Francis offered that invitation to Christians around the world in The Pope Video, which accompanies his monthly Prayer intention.

The Pope is inviting the Church to pray for the pastoral care of the sick during the month of July 2024.

In the video, he recalled that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is not only for people at death’s doorstep…

Under the Patronage and Presence of His Beatitude Patriarch John X

Damascus, June 29, 2024

Under the high auspices and in the presence of 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, and in the context of the Feast of the See of Antioch, a concert was held at the Opera House in Damascus, which included the "Spiritual Cithara" Choir led by Archimandrite Meletios Shattahi and the Orpheus Orchestra led by Professor Andre Maalouli.

“We stress the greatness of what was entrusted to us and the huge historical responsibility that was assigned to the Church of Antioch as being the first to be named after Christ”

Damascus, June 29, 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, stressed the greatness of what was entrusted and the historical responsibility that was assigned to Christians in the East, who were first called by the name of Christ.

The Patriarch's words came during his celebration of the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, founders of the See of Antioch. This year's celebration took place among a remarkable popular and ecclesiastical participation from various dioceses of the Antiochian See.

June 28 and 29, 2024

Delegated by 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, Bishop Constantine (Kayyal), Abbot of the Patriarchal Monastery of Saint Elias Shouwaya and Rev. Archimandrite Efthymios Fakas celebrated the Vespers service and Aggripnia in the Church of the Apostle Paul (House of Saint Paul) in Tarsus. For the first time, the Church of Antioch celebrates this prayer in the home of the Apostle Paul.

On the morning of the Feast, His Grace celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Cave of the Apostle Peter in Antioch, and a group of parish priests from the Alexandretta and Antioch Districts assisted him in the service, in the presence of the heads of associations and a crowd of believers.

On Sunday, June 30th, 2024, the 29th anniversary of the election and consecration of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, was celebrated with special Prayers during the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias - Lebanon.

Traditionally, this occasion is celebrated with thanksgiving Prayers, hymn recitations, and Bible readings. The Cilician Brotherhood ascended the Holy Alter to ask God for a healthy and prosperous service in the mission of the Armenian Church, praying for abundant blessings upon His Holiness and the Holy See so that the glory of the Holy Trinity remains ever-present.

From Secretariat-General of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Sunday, June 17/30, 2024, was celebrated by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem as All Saints’ Sunday, following the book of Pentecost.

This Feast was celebrated in the All Saints chapel, inside the Holy Church of the Holy Monastery of Panagia Sayda Naya.