Damascus, April 7

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, celebrated the Sunday Divine Liturgy of the third week of Lent (Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross) at the Church of the Holy Cross in Qassa'a, Damascus, with the participation of their Graces, Bishops: Romanos (Al-Hannat), Moussa (Al-Khoury), Ioannis (Batach), Arsanios (Dahdal), and Moses (Al-Khosi), along with several priests and deacons. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the procession with the Holy Cross took place, and the faithful received blessings from it. After the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Patriarch John X headed to the Association of St. Gregory the Orthodox for Orphan Care and Elderly Support, inaugurating a new hall in the center with the efforts of those in charge.

On April 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, inaugurated a Spiritual Retreat for the Archbishops of the Archdioceses in Syria and Lebanon, at Mor Aphrem Monastery in Maarat Saydnaya, Syria.

At the beginning of the Retreat, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II welcomed their Eminences, and spoke about the temptations and tribulations that we face in our ministry. He spoke about the need for patience and wisdom to overcome the temptations and be able to lead the Church.

On Sunday, April 7th, 2024, on the Vigil of the Feast of the Annunciation, the celebrations began with the official welcoming of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and his accompanying delegation at St. Anton Center. Then, the traditional procession to the Basilica of the Annunciation took place with the participation of many Bishops, Priests, Seminarists, Scouts, and faithful. Before heading to the Grotto, where Angel Gabriel announced to the Virgin the birth of a Savior… Fr. Ibrahim Sabbagh, the parish priest of Nazareth, gave a welcoming speech. It was followed by a speech from Mgr Rafiq Nahra, Patriarchal Vicar of Israel, and Mgr Youssef Matta, Greek Catholic Bishop, who offered their Easter greetings to all the participants.

Upon arriving, they were received by Fr. Wojciech Bołoz, OFM, Guardian and Rector of the Basilica of the Annunciation and Shrine of the Holy Family in Nazareth, and the Franciscan Friars. Prayers dedicated to this feast were recited in front of the Grotto. Afterward, Card. Pizzaballa presided over the celebration of a Mass in the Basilica. Concelebrating was Mgr. Adolfo Tito Yllana, apostolic nuncio to Israel and Cyprus and apostolic delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine, Mgr Nahra, and Mgr Bolous Marcuzzo, as well as several Bishops and priests; in the presence of many faithful.

Samandag, 7 April 2024

The Rt. Reverend Archimandrite Jack (Khalil), the Patriarchal Delegate to the Faithful of the Parishes of Antioch and the Iskenderun District, Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Institute at the University of Balamand in Lebanon, and President of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), concluded his pastoral visit to the Parishes of Antioch and the Iskenderun district. On the evening of 6 April, he conducted the Sunday Vespers Prayer of the third week of Lent and completed a series of pastoral visits, including a visit to the marvel of the ruins of the Monastery of Saint Simeon Stylites and a stop at the Titus Tunnel and the caves of Beşikli.

On Sunday, March 25 / April 7, 2024, the feast of the Annunciation of Our Lady the Theotokos was celebrated in Nazareth.

On this feast, the whole Church, especially that in Jerusalem, commemorates the fact that the fullness of time has come, God through the Archangel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary in the city of Nazareth that by the Holy Spirit she will incarnate the Only Begotten Son and His Word, our Lord Jesus Christ. In parallel and according to the standard of the fixed calendar, the feast of the veneration of the Holy Cross was celebrated to strengthen us in the struggle of fasting for the reception of Holy Easter.

Beloved brothers and sisters,

may the Lord give you peace!

This year we celebrate the solemnity of the Annunciation a bit late because of the coincidence with Easter. But this is also a providential opportunity to understand what the Lord wants to tell us. In fact, we usually celebrate this solemnity during Lent, while this year it is right on the liturgical day of Easter. We are in the octave. For eight days, that is, we celebrate the same day: Easter, the resurrection of Christ. The mystery of the Incarnation of God, which we celebrate today, has as its final conclusion in the resurrection of Christ. Today, then, we celebrate on the same day the two main events of salvation history, which are linked to each other: the Incarnation and the Resurrection!

On Sunday, March 25 / April 7, 2024, the Feast of the Adoration of the Holy Cross and the Annunciation of the Theotokos was celebrated by the Patriarchate in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

In the context of movable Feasts, the Feast of the Cross was celebrated as a veneration of the Holy Cross for the strengthening of the faithful in the middle of the fasting period of Holy and Great Lent, and the Feast of the Annunciation in the context of immovable Feasts on March 25 as the joyous news from God through the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that from the Holy Spirit she will incarnate the Son and Word of God.

This Feast was celebrated with Great Vespers on Saturday afternoon in the Catholicon of the Church of the Resurrection, presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, with the co-prayer of the High Priests and the co-celebration of the priests. The chanting was delivered by Hierodeacon Simeon and Priest Ioannis Antoniou.

The Feast was also celebrated in the morning with a Divine Liturgy in the Holy and Life-giving Tomb, presided over by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, with the co-celebration of their Eminences the Archbishops, Theodosios of Sebasteia and Demetrios of Lydda, and Archimandrites of the Brotherhood. The service was attended by local believers, in the presence of the Consul Mrs Anna Madika.

On the occasion of the Feast of the Holy Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, 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, and his delegation visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, on Friday, April 5th, 2024. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss topics pertaining to Lebanon, Armenia, and Armenians around the globe.

Through the media, the Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, Acting President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Evangelical Family, addressed the faithful community with a message entitled “Recovering Our Spirit". Based on Matthew 28:5, he invited all, as we celebrate the victory of our Lord over death, to joyfully and faithfully recover our exalted Christian spirit, be filled with expectancy before the Risen Lord, and to serve Him and all people fervently and with humility. 

Jn. 20:19-31

The Liturgy of the Word for the Second Sunday of Easter (Jn. 20:19-31) takes us back to the Upper Room, where the Risen One appears among his own.

Jesus joins his disciples at the place where they have taken refuge and locked themselves away. It is the very evening of the day when Mary of Magdala, with Peter and the beloved disciple, made the discovery of the empty tomb. Also, Mary, having remained at the tomb, met the Lord, and rushed to inform the disciples (Jn. 20:1-18).

I would like to emphasize a few aspects of this encounter, between the Risen One and His own in the Upper Room.

The first is peace.

When the Risen One meets his own, he first gives them peace: "Peace be with you!" (Jn 20:19,21). Eight days later, he will say the same thing (Jn 20:26), when he returns to meet Thomas, who was not present at the first meeting…

During his Wednesday General Audience, His Holiness Pope Francis examines the second cardinal virtue of justice, noting that being righteous leads us toward God, and that justice is fundamental for peaceful coexistence in society.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

"Without justice, there is no peace."

His Holiness Pope Francis made this point during his weekly General Audience on Wednesday in a cloudy St. Peter's Square.

This week, the Pope continued his catechetical series on vices and virtues. After months dedicated to the vices, he recently transitioned to discussing virtue, so far focusing on prudence, then patience, and now, justice.

Samandag, 2nd of April, 2024.

The Rt. Reverend Archimandrite Jack (Khalil), the Patriarchal Delegate to the Faithful of the Parishes of Antioch and the Iskenderun district, Jack Khalil, Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Institute at the University of Balamand in Lebanon and President of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), delivered a speech during his meeting with the youth in Samandag, titled "Antiochian Identity from the Days of the Apostles until the Present Days." The Great Compline Prayer was held in the hall of Our Lady Church in Samandag. During the day, the Rt. Reverend Archimandrite Jack (Khalil) made a series of Pastoral visits to families in the area, conveying to them the love and Prayers 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.

His Holiness Pope Francis releases his Prayer intention for the month of April 2024, and invites everyone to pray for the role of women.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

His Holiness Pope Francis' monthly Prayer intention this April is for "the role of women."

The Pope invited the Church to pray for this intention in this month's The Pope Video, which is entrusted to the entire Catholic Church through the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.

In The Pope Video for April, the Holy Father insists on the steps today’s society needs to take, and asks Christians to join him in prayer “that the dignity and worth of women be recognized in every culture, and for an end to the discrimination they face in various parts of the world.”

Damascus - Syria, March 31, 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 celebrated the Divine Liturgy for the Second Sunday of Lent (Sunday of Saint Gregory Palamas) at Our Lady of Saidnaya Patriarchal Monastery, with the participation of Their Eminences Bishops: Romanos (Al Hannat), Moussa (Al-Khoury), and Moses (Al Khossi), along with several Priests and Deacons.

On March 31, 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, offered congratulatory greetings to His Beatitude Patriarch Joseph Absi, Greek-Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Alexandria, and Jerusalem, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, on the occasion of the Feast of Resurrection at the Greek Catholic Patriarchate Headquarters in Bab Sharqi - Damascus, Syria.

He was accompanied by Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, Mor Andrawos Bahhi, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

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 and conducted the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, March 31st, 2024, to celebrate the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral at the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon.

During his Homily, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I referenced John 16:33, emphasizing Christ’s victory over evil, sin, and death through His resurrection, urging the faithful to draw strength from this triumph in confronting today’s challenges.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

May the Lord give you peace!

We have finally arrived at the long-awaited day. The Easter of the Lord and our Easter! We have also arrived at the Tomb of Christ, like Mary of Magdala, like the Apostles John and Peter, to bow before this mystery of His resurrection, and to welcome this extraordinary gift that is His life in us. Throughout the week, we celebrated beautiful and ancient liturgies, which sought to physically retrace the human experience of Jesus in the same Places. And especially in this same Place where He was buried. And now that all these beautiful liturgies are coming to an end, we ought to ask ourselves what we learnt and how did the many meaningful gestures which have accompanied us during these days impacted us. In this terrible time, marked by so much violence in our Land and throughout the world, are we still able to accept the proclamation of life, love and light that Easter brings?

The Gospel speaks of the night and darkness that are no longer frightening, for they are about to yield to the light of the looming morning. It speaks of a mighty stone, which was overturned and no longer closing anything; of disciples that run; of cloths - signs of death -that no longer bind anyone; of eyes that see; of hearts that believe; and of Scripture that has been revealed to full understanding. It is a Gospel full of momentum and life. It is a word of life that still reaches us today and touches our hearts…

Jdeidat Artouz - Syria, March 30, 2024

Under the blessings and guidance of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Counci of Churches for the Orthodox Family, and as part of the ongoing series of activities aimed at promoting the values of the Christian family, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, held the second workshop titled "The Family: Joy of Life" at the Church of Saint George in Jdeidat Artouz. This workshop was dedicated to the Parishioners of Churches in the Southern rural areas of Damascus. It included a series of seminars and activities focusing on the role of the family, the challenges it faces, and the principles and values upon which it is built. Special emphasis was placed on the importance of communal life within the family unit.

Thirty-four families from Jdeidat, Qatana, Sahnaya, Al-Zabadani, and Bloudan participated in this daylong event. The workshop concluded with a lecture delivered by Dr. Maher Ammari titled "The Family: Awareness, Joy, and Responsibility."

You can find in the video message to the Parishioners of Gaza. from His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Eminence Mgr William Shomali, Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem and Palestine, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, Parish Priest Of Gaza, and Fr. Davide Meli, Chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

On the occasion of Easter 2024, His Eminence Bishop Sani Ibrahim Azar, Head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and The Holy Land (ELCJHL), delivered a message, which you can listen to it in the following video.