Given that nearly nine years have passed since the kidnapping of Metropolitan Paul Yazigi without knowing anything about his fate, the Holy Antiochian Synod that is held in Balamand, took a decision to transfer Metropolitan Paul Yazigi to be the bishop of the honorary diocese of Diyarbakir.

On Monday, October 4, 2021, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem was convened, chaired by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III.

His Beatitude discussed with the members of the Synod a number of issues related to ecclesiastical and pastoral administrative affairs that fall into the service of the Patriarchate, its monasteries, churches, clergy and the people.

Your Eminence Christoph Cardinal Shonborn, Archbishop of Vienna,

Your Beatitude Patriarch Joseph Absi,

Your Eminence Mario Cardinal Zenari,

Your Eminence, Graces, Excellencies, Distinguished guests,

With great pleasure and immense joy, I welcome you, Your Eminence, together with your entourage to the seat of our Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and to Damascus, the city of St Paul the Apostle and ancient capital of our beloved country Syria. The most ancient capital continuously inhabited in the entire world.

In his weekly General Audience, His Holiness Pope Francis continues his reflection on St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, exploring the concept Christian freedom and how Christ, the Truth, achieved it in His supreme act of love on the Cross.

By Robin Gomes

Christian freedom is the gift of God based on the truth of Jesus, who revealed the depth of God’s love in His supreme sacrifice on the Cross. This freedom is the way to happiness, His Holiness Pope Francis said in his General Audience of 6 October at the Vatican's Paul VI Hall.

On Sunday 20 September/3 October 2021, the first Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, this feast was celebrated again at the Holy Monastery of the Cross, near the Jewish Knesset, in West Jerusalem.

The order of the Church of Jerusalem celebrates the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in this Monastery one week after the actual feast date, due to the old ecclesiastical tradition that Lot planted there the three-composed wood of palm, cypress and cedar branches…

His Holiness Pope Francis has chosen the single word, “Listen!” as the theme for the 56th World Communications Day, which will be celebrated in 2022. Announcing next year’s theme, the Holy See says, “Pope Francis is asking the world to listen again.”

By Holy See Press Office

This is the theme that the Holy Father Francis has chosen for the 56th World Communications Day, to be celebrated in 2022:

Listen!

The beginning of the new school year started on Tuesday 15/28 September 2021 at the Patriarchal Seminary School on the hill of Holy Zion, Jerusalem.

For this reason, there was the Service of the Sanctification of the water at the Church of the Holy Trinity in the School by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos.

The Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan has the pleasure to send out the text of the final statement issued at the conclusion of the "Journalists Against Hate" Conference which convened in Amman, Jordan, on September 27-28, 2021. The conference was organized by the Muslim Council of Elders and the CCSM. It was read out by Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Elders Dr. Sultan Al-Rumaithi and CCSM Director Fr. Dr. Rif'at Bader.

Deputizing for HRH Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, the Crown Prince, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Nayef Al Fayez launched, on Monday 27 September 2021, the phase one of a project to rehabilitate the Christian pilgrimage route in Mount Nebo in the Madaba governorate, September, southwest Amman.

On September 26, 2021, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II visited the SOKU Conference Center in Orebro, Sweden.

His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Dioscorus Benjamin Atas, Patriarchal Vicar in Sweden, Mor Polycarpus Augin Aydin, Patriarchal Vicar in Holland, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director.

JERUSALEM - On Wednesday, September 22, 2021, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem organized a training day for its employees entitled “Safeguarding in Catholic Institutions”, in coordination with the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, which was held at the Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem.

Mr. Rafiq Said, Safeguarding Coordinator at the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries, presented this training day which came as part of the courses organized by the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries in 50 Catholic institutions in the Holy Land…

On Monday, 14/27 September 2021, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Sacred and Life-giving Cross.

On this feast, the Church commemorates that after the consecration of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre the gathered crowd asked to see and venerated the Precious Cross and for this reason, the Archbishop of Jerusalem Saint Makarios and Saint Helen exalted the Cross to be seen by everyone.

On September 21, 2021, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II inaugurated a Sayfo Monument in Norrkoping, Sweden.

‎‏His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Julius Abdelahad Shabo, Archbishop of Sweden and Scandinavia, Mor Dioscoros Benjamin Atas, Patriarchal Vicar in Sweden, Mor Dionysius Issa Gurbuz, Patriarchal Vicar in Switzerland and Austria, Mor Philoxenus Mattias Nayis, Patriarchal Vicar in Germany, Mor Polycarpus Augin Aydin, Patriarchal Vicar in Holland, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director.

On Sunday 6/19 September 2021, for pastoral reasons the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos was celebrated earlier at the Holy Church of the Nativity of Theotokos in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem.

On this feast, the Church glorifies God because He granted Mary to the former baren Joachim and Anna, from whom our Lord Jesus Christ was born in the flesh. The Church joyfully chants “Joachim and Anna were freed from the corruption of death O immaculate one by thy Holy Nativity…the barren woman giveth birth to the Theotokos and nourisher of our life” (Kontakion).

HOLY LAND – On Sunday, September 12, 2021, the General Secretariat of The Youth of Jesus’ Homeland – Palestine (YJHP), and the General Secretariat of the Youth Group in Jordan concluded their summer activities and camps for the year 2021.

In Palestine, the YJHP concluded all its summer activities with an activity day for the Secondary Group entitled “60 minutes”. The day started with a gathering in the Church of Christ the Redeemer in Taybeh, followed by an activity to break down barriers between parishioners. Later, Mrs. Yara Zayed gave a lecture about time management for young people.

On September 19, 2021, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II celebrated the Holy Qurobo at St. Aphrem Cathedral in Sweden.

His Holiness was assisted by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Dioscorus Benjamin Atas, Patriarchal Vicar in Sweden, Mor Dionysius Issa Gurbuz, Patriarchal Vicar in Switzerland and Austria, Mor Philoxenus Mattias Nayis, Patriarchal Vicar in Germany, Mor Julius Hanna Aydin, Director of Foreign Relations in Germany, Mor Polycarpus Augin Aydin, Patriarchal Vicar in Holland, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director.

Chargé d'Affairs of the Vatican's Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva says access to safe drinking water is a basic human right.

By Lisa Zengarini

“Water is not a commodity; it is a universal symbol and source of life and health. It is therefore necessary to ensure drinking water and hygienic services for all”, the Holy See says.

On September 15, 2021 an important event took place at the Terra Sancta Theater, Jabal Luwaibdeh, Amman. It is the launching of a new website by Franciscan Sisters/ Missionaries of Mary titled," John the Baptist Center for Christian Catechism". The site, financed by the Pontifical Mission in Jordan, can be checked on this link: www.jcjo.org.

More than at any other time, the world, which is marked by increasing tensions, polarizations and crises of diverse nature and scope, is in dire need of healing. Healing is achieved through dialogue, mutual understanding and acceptance, and common commitment to ethical values and human rights. Religion may play a pivotal role in building ethically healthy, socio-economically equitable, and ecologically sustainable societies.

and the beginning of the academic year at Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary

On September 14, 2021, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II celebrated the Holy Qurobo on the occasion of the Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross and the beginning of the academic year at Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary in Maarat Saydnaya, Syria, at the altar of the Martyrs of Sayfo in Mor Aphrem Monastery in Maarat Saydnaya.