"We pray fervently to the Lord God to strengthen and comfort you"

Damascus, December 9, 2024

The Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine, His Beatitude Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III addressed a fraternal letter to His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East of the Greek Orthodox and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Orthodox Family. His Beatitude Theophilos expressed support and solidarity with the Antiochian Church during the current events in Syria. His Beatitude also asserted that the Church of Jerusalem stands by the Syrian people and the Antiochian Patriarchate, praying to the Lord God "to strengthen and comfort you."

Damascus, December 9, 2024

Social media and newly created pages are circulating many news, especially regarding the ecclesiastical situation in Syria.

We call our children to draw news from its official source - the page of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East.

Damascus, December 9, 2024

"God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved."

Syria has always been, and continues to be, a country honored by God as the cradle of His divine messages and the land that embraced the footsteps of His messengers and prophets, despite the many historical eras it has endured. Today, it stands at a new crossroads in its history, looking towards a bright future aspired by every Syrian—a future that reflects Syria's identity as a land of civilization and the cradle of history.

This phase requires wisdom, solidarity, and concerted efforts. Above all, it demands trust in God and reliance on Him, seeking His mercy and the wisdom of His providence to remain steadfast in the love of the homeland and the preservation of its people's dignity.

‏On December 8, 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 presided over the Holy Regional Synod in India.

On December 8, 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 Cathedral in Malecuriz Dayro in Kerala.

The feast of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine the All-wise was celebrated in the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem on Sunday, November 25 / December 8, 2024.

From the General Secretariat of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Saturday, November 24 / December 7, 2024, His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem, visited the Holy Monastery of the Cross, accompanied by the Elder Chief-Secretary His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem Mr Dimitrios Angelosopoulos, the professor Mr Phaedon Kydoniatis and Archimandrite Bartholomew.

On December 4, 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 presided over the meeting of their Eminences the Archbishops of the Syriac Orthodox Archdioceses in Europe along with representatives of the councils, at Mor Jacob of Serough Monastery in Warburg - Germany.

Lk 1: 26-38

The evangelist Luke frames the Annunciation episode with a series of elements that provide valuable keys to illuminate the whole scene.

The first element we focus on is the reference to the pregnancy of cousin Elizabeth and all that was told immediately before the Annunciation to Mary.

Indeed, our text begins with a temporal clarification: we are in the sixth month (Lk 1:26), and it is precisely the sixth month since the conception of John the Baptist. The angel Gabriel's address to Mary then ends with an explicit reference to Elizabeth and her pregnancy (Lk 1:36-37). On the basis of these words, Mary agrees to the Lord's proposal so that the angel can depart from her (Lk 1:38).

On December 3, 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, met the newly elected presidents and members of Archdiocesan Council of the Patriarchal Vicariate of Germany, at Mor Jacob of Serough Monastery in Warburg.

His Eminence Archbishop Mor Philoxenus Mattias Nayis, Patriarchal Vicar of Germany, was also present at the meeting.

From the General Secretariat of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Monday, November 19 / December 2, 2024, His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem, planted in the outer precinct of the Holy Cross Monastery the first olive tree out of the hundred planted in this Holy Monastery in the presence of the Elder Chief-Secretary His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, the Hegoumen of the Monastery Archimandrite Christodoulos, Archdeacon Mark and the overseer of the estate of the Monastery of the Cross.

From November 27 to December 2, 2024, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, visited the United Kingdom to mark the 70th anniversary of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher’s Lieutenancy in England and Wales.

The visit began on November 28 with a special parliamentary reception at the Palace of Westminster, organized by the Catholic Bishops' Conference. There, Cardinal Pizzaballa met Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, Members of Parliament, civil servants, and representatives of charities working in the Holy Land. Reflecting on the ongoing struggles in the region, he emphasized the importance of faith and hope. “Hope is a daughter of faith,” he said, urging action in the face of adversity. He acknowledged the devastation caused by war but expressed optimism for grassroots-driven change: “The status quo in our lands is over. We cannot go back to the previous situation.”

By His Beatitude Patriarch John X

The video presents a Christmas Reflection 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.

It was originally published on theFacebook Page of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East.

In his traditional greetings to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the occasion of the feast of Saint Andrew, His Holiness Pope Francis calls for ongoing efforts and prayers for “the gift of unity” among Christians, remarking that their fraternity and witness can also serve as a model for today’s world "plagued by war and violence”.

By Lisa Zengarini

Following a long-standing tradition, on the occasion of today’s Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, patron saint of Constantinople, His Holiness Pope Francis has sent a delegation to Istanbul to convey his greetings and the assurance of his “fraternal affection” to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I.

On Saturday, November 30th, 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, engaged throughout the day in diligent monitoring of the distressing situation resulting from the attacks perpetrated by armed groups in Aleppo. Maintaining constant communication with the Prelate of Aleppo, HE Arch. Magar Ashkarian, and community leaders, His Holiness conveyed his profound appreciation for their steadfast efforts to safeguard the welfare of the Armenian community with the highest level of responsibility.

On Friday, November 29/16, 2024, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the commemoration of the Holy Hieromartyr Philoumenos of the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood at Jacob’s Well in Nablus of Samaria.

On this feast, the Church of Jerusalem remembers that the Holy Hieromartyr Philoumenos came from Cyprus and joined the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood at a young age. He served in various ministries with devotion. During his last appointment as a Hegoumen at Jacob’s well he was attacked brutally on the day of the feast of the Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, November 29/16, 1979, while he was praying in the chapel next to the well. That attack took away his earthly life and gave him the inheritance of eternal life.

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem, with a Synodical Decision proceeded in his canonization in the chorea of the Hieromartyrs in 2009.

On Wednesday 27 November 2024, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, welcomed Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), and his accompanying delegation at the Papal Residence in Cairo.

Rev. Dr. Pillay expressed his happiness at visiting Egypt for the first time, praising the participation of several Coptic Orthodox Bishops in the WCC’s Central Committee and other committees, commending their notable activity and exceptional contributions.

He also thanked the Coptic Orthodox Church for its role in preserving the Christian faith through the ages and for offering profound spirituality and teachings that continue to inspire and benefit Christians worldwide.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Executive Committee concluded its meeting in Cyprus with inspiration and practical plans for a way forward with hope, even in a challenging world. 

The governing body met in Paralimni, Cyprus, from 21-26 November to focus on planning for 2025, including the budget and implementation of WCC strategies. The thematic focus of the gathering was on peace-building in the context of occupation, war, and conflicts.

“At our meeting in Cyprus, I felt the heartbeat of the World Council of Churches,” said WCC moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm. “The members of our executive committee come from all continents of the world.”

Many of them, he added, come from countries where violent conflicts, occupation, or other forms of injustice dominate everyday life and weigh heavily on people's lives. “They brought all these backgrounds into our consultations,” he said.

Video - A Book for the Occasion of the 150th Jubilee of the Chaldean Church in Lebanon

A report that sheds light on the book “The Chaldeans in Lebanon,” which was published on the occasion of the 150th Jubilee of the Chaldean Church in Lebanon. The report includes an interview with His Eminence Bishop Michel Kassarji, Head of the Chaldean Community in Lebanon.

Lk 21:25-28, 34-36

The time before the return of the Lord is described as a time of great upheaval: The evangelist Luke describes them to us in today's passage (Lk 21:25-28, 34-36) as natural phenomena affecting the moon, the sun, the stars and the sea (Lk 21:25), to say that even the most stable things will be shaken and upset.

There are times in life when even the foundations of existence lose their ability to offer certainty, and the reference points that seemed absolutely certain are lost. The most natural reaction in the face of these upheavals is fear: “distress among nations”, it says in v. 25, while Luke speaks a little later of a big fear “People will faint from fear” - Lk 21:26).