Christian leaders of different denominations join His Holiness Pope Francis on Friday evening in the Vatican’s Protomartyrs Square to celebrate an ecumenical vigil together with thousands of believers from around the world, marking the anniversary of the Second Vatican Council and the start of a new Ecumenical era.

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay condemned attacks by [Israeli] forces on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. 

On 11 October, [Israeli] forces fired at a watchtower used by UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, injuring two. Peacemakers in the area have reported [Israeli] fire in their positions over the past three days.

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, accompanied by his Pontifical entourage, arrived in Whitinsville.

Their inaugural visit was to the Armenian Heritage Monument located in the cemetery, where they honored the survivors of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, who fled the atrocities perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire and were subsequently welcomed by the Whitinsville community. His Holiness Catholicos Aram I presided over a special ceremony at this site, attended by community representatives alongside members from Whitinsville and Boston. He addressed the faithful, emphasizing a steadfast commitment to preserving the heritage and memory of those who perished during the Armenian Genocide while also expressing gratitude towards the people of the United States for their generous reception of the survivors, allowing them the opportunity to rebuild their lives, churches, and community. “This memorial serves as an invitation to remember the past and to express our gratitude to the United States,” he articulated…

On October 10, 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 Stockholm.

His Holiness was received at the airport by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Dioscoros Benjamin Atas, Patriarchal Vicar in Sweden, Mor Youhanon Lahdo, Archbishop of Sweden and Scandinavia, Mor Theophilose Kuriakose, Patriarchal Vicar in Europe, as well as the Presidents and members of the Archdiocesan councils in Sweden.

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II was accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

Continuing his pontifical visit to the Armenian communities under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Church in the USA, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, and his entourage arrived in Worcester on Tuesday, October 9th, 2024. At the Sourp Yerrortutyun (Holy Trinity) Church, His Holiness was warmly welcomed by the church community, led by the parish priest, V. Rev. Fr. Ardag Arabian.

As per tradition, the “Hrashapar” ceremony was conducted upon His Holiness’ entrance to the church, attended by a large number of faithful, as well as representatives from other churches, including the Archbishop of the Catholic Church in Worcester, Most Rev. Robert Joseph McManus.

Mk 10:17-30

Today's Gospel passage (Mk 10:17-30) recounts an encounter of a person who ran to Jesus, as he was setting out, and sought to dialogue with him.

Let us consider the outcome of this encounter: “...his face fell, and he went away sad,” (Mk 10:22):

The outcome, then, is sadness.

But why does the encounter between Jesus and this fellow end like this?

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, accompanied by his entourage, journeyed from Providence to Springfield, where the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church is located in the Indian Orchard region. Among those accompanying His Holiness were the Prelate of the Eastern Armenian Prelacy, His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian; the Prelate of the Western Armenian Prelacy, His Eminence Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian; and Aram Sarafian, the Chair of the Diocesan Executive Committee.

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches,’s pontifical visit to Providence included an ecumenical prayer gathering with the Orthodox churches of the state. As such, on Monday, October 7, His Holiness presided over the ceremony, which was held at Sts. Vartanants Armenian Church.

His Beatitude JOHN X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Orthodox Family, called for an emergency and extraordinary session of the Holy Synod of Antioch. The meeting, presided by His Beatitude, was held on October 8, 2024, at the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology-Balamand, in the presence of Their Eminences, the Metropolitans: Elias Aude (Beirut); Elias Kfoury (Tyre and Sidon); Silouan Moussi (Mount Lebanon); Basilios Mansour (Akkar); Ephrem Kyriakos (Tripoli and Koura); Silouan Oner (Britain); Antonios El Soury (Zahle and Baalbek) Athanasios Fahd (Lattakia); Jacques El-Khoury (Argentina); Efraim Malouli (Aleppo and Alexandretta); Niphon Saykali (Philippopolis); Gregorios Khoury (Homs); and Antonios Saad (Hauran). The Synod Fathers discussed the current situation in the region...

Ephesians 2:14-17 

Dear brothers and sisters,  may the Lord give you peace! 

We are gathered here at the end of a day of prayer, fasting and penance, at the end of one of the most difficult and painful years of recent times. 

This year we have cried out our horror at the crimes committed, starting with the events of October 7 exactly one year ago, in southern [Israel], which have left a deep wound in [Israelis] to this day.  

We raised our voice against the following turmoil of aggression, destruction, starving, suffering and death...

On Monday, October 7, 2024, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, led an Hour of Prayer for Peace at the Pro-Cathedral of the Latin Patriarchate, in response to the Pope's call for the entire Catholic Church to observe a day of prayer, fasting, and repentance for global peace, with a special focus on the Holy Land.

His Beatitude Former Patriarch Michel Sabbah and Msgr. William Shomali, General Vicar, Msgr. Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Msgr. Carlos Malfa, Fr. Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land, attended the prayer vigil, as well as several priests, religious sisters, seminarists, and official figures as well as the faithful of the diocese.

On Monday, September 24 / October 7, 2024, the Patriarchate celebrated the memory of the Holy First Martyr and Apostle Thecla.

On this feast, the Church commemorates Saint Thecla who came from the Iconion of Asia Minor and was taught the Christian faith by the Apostle Paul, whom she later followed in his tour. Because of her faith in Christ, she was subjected to many tortures, which she endured as an athlete of Christ and survived. She lived in her homeland, working miracles and evangelizing Christ until the age of ninety when a stone burst open and received her.

Saint John of Damascus composed a canon in her honor in the book of Minaion.

On Sunday, October 6, 2024, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saints Vartanants in Providence, assisted by HE Arch. Anoushavan Tanielian and HE Arch. Kegham Khatcherian.

In his sermon, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I emphasized the significance of Christ’s words, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), urging believers to appreciate life as a divine gift and to live according to God’s commandments.

On Sunday, October 6th, 2024, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over the inauguration ceremony for the newly renovated floor of the Faculty of Philosophy and Theology at the Seminary of Beit Jala, and marking the beginning of the new academic year.

At the invitation of Fr. Bernard Bougie, the rector of the seminary, the ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Msgr. William Shomali, General Vicar, Msgr. Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo , and Msgr. Youssef Matta Archbishop of Acre, Haifa, Nazareth and all of Galilee for Greek Melkite Catholics. The event was also attended by several Patriarchate priests, Mr. Hani Hayek, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Mr. Issa Kassis, Mayor of Beit Jala, and many faithful, including a number of employees of the Latin Patriarchate, the staff of the Seminary, and all those who contributed to the renovation of the Faculty of Philosophy and Theology floor. 

Following the events in Lebanon, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, appealed to the international community and issued the following call for action:

Daily massacres continue to be committed by the [Israel] against innocent Lebanese civilians resulting in the forced displacement of more than 1.5 million Lebanese citizen from their towns and villages due to the destruction of their homes and means of survival. A new reality is emerging where misery is prevailing and many suffer in the midst of unrest and chaos. While we express our deep sorrow for the suffering endured by the Lebanese people, we strongly condemn this aggression. We offer our condolences for the families of the martyrs and pray for the recovery of the wounded, and for peace in Lebanon.

The new reality imposed by this unjust war on our country demands that we all show solidarity to help and protect those who were forced to leave their homes. It requires dedicated efforts to restore security and stability to Lebanon. The Lebanese people need to unite and stand together to avert dangers, achieve a unified Lebanon for all its people, and reach constitutional milestones, mainly the election of a new president without any delay and without any foreign interference...

His Holiness Pope Francis leads the recitation of a Rosary for peace at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, and prays that violence and hatred may be extinguished from human hearts.

By Devin Watkins

“Transform the hearts of those who fuel hatred, silence the din of weapons that generate death, extinguish the violence that brews in the heart of humanity, and inspire projects for peace in the actions of those who govern nations.”

His Holiness Pope Francis made that supplication for peace on Sunday evening as he prayed the Rosary at the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

He was joined by participants in the Synod on Synodality taking place in the Vatican this month.

His Holiness Pope Francis says that “in this dramatic hour of our history, while the winds of war and the fires of violence continue to devastate entire peoples and nations,” the Christian community is reminded of its call to "put itself at the service of humanity".

By Joseph Tulloch

His Holiness Pope Francis has called for a day of prayer and fasting for on October 7, the one-year anniversary of the outbreak of the [Israel]-Hamas war.

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed profound concern over escalating violence in Lebanon and Gaza, and reaffirmed the WCC’s commitment to justice, peace, and the dignity of all peoples. 

On October 4th, 2024, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, accompanied by his pontifical delegation, arrived in Providence, Rhode Island, where the parish father and local community representatives warmly received him. Later in the same evening, guided by police, His Holiness visited Saints Vartanants Church, where many parishioners eagerly awaited his arrival.

The Greek Orthodox Holy Synod of Jerusalem was convened on Thursday, October 3, at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and was chaired by His Beatitude the Patriarch of the Holy City, Theophilos III, in the presence of the members of the Holy Synod.

His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III discussed with the members of the Holy Synod several issues related to the administrative, ecclesiastical and pastoral affairs of the Patriarchate that serve the Patriarchate, its monasteries, churches, clergy and people. His Beatitude and the Fathers of the Holy Synod also discussed the painful events and difficult times that we are going through in the Holy Land and the region, offering prayers and imploring divine mercy for the peace of the world…