PALESTINE - Every summer, the Parishes of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem from all over the Holy Land organize summer camps for the youth. This year, during the month of July, lpj.org visited those in Palestine in order to meet the ones who, every single year, participate, benefit and contribute to them. An essential part of the life of the parishes, these camps are not only a means for the youth to spend time with friends; they also allow them to grow in faith and happiness, and to interact in a Christian environment.

On July 25, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, celebrated the Funeral Service of the late Archbishop Mor Gabriel Dahho, at St. Peter and St. Paul Cathedral in Mor Aphrem Monastery, Maarat Saydnaya, Syria.

He was assisted by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Theophilos George Saliba, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, Mor Justinos Boulos Safar, Patriarchal Vicar in Zahleh and Beqaa, Mor Dionysius John Kawak, Patriarchal Vicar in the Archdiocese of Eastern USA, Mor Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf, Archbishop of Mosul, Kirkuk, Kurdistan and Environs, Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeera and Euphrates, Mor Anthimos Jack Yakoub, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education, Mor Boutros Kassis, Patriarchal Assistant and Patriarchal Delegate for the Archdiocese of Aleppo and Environs, Mor Yacoub Babawi, Patriarchal Vicar for Monks Affairs and the Administration of Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary in Maarat Saydnaya, Mor Severus Roger Akhrass, Patriarchal Vicar for Syriac Studies, Mor Cyril Babi, Patriarchal Vicar for the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Damascus, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director.

HOLY LAND – On July 23rd, 1847, His Holiness Pope Pius IX restored the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem with the apostolic letter Nulla Celebrior, which was followed a few months later by the episcopal ordination of Fr. Valerga and his appointment as Patriarch of Jerusalem. 175 years and eight Patriarchs later, the Latin Patriarchate continues its mission of service to the Christian religious and lay communities of the Holy Land.

What happened in Suqaylabiyah this morning is a cheap and reprehensible terrorist act

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, condemned the terrorist act that took place on Sunday 24 July 2022 morning in Suqaylabiyah, attributed to armed terrorist groups, which targeted the gathering that took place during the inauguration of the Agia Sophia Church. The Patriarch's words were expressed in a phone call between His Beatitude and His Eminence Nicolas Baalbaki, Metropolitan of Hama and dependencies. His Beatitude affirmed that the children of Suqaylabiyah are paying the price of their faith with blood and that the terrorist attack is cheap, reprehensible, and deplorable. His Beatitude expressed His deepest condolences, as well as those of the Antiochian Orthodox Church, for the martyr who died today, and wished the wounded a speedy recovery, as well as condolences to the children of Suqaylabiyah.

On Thursday, 8/21 July 2022, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the Holy Great Martyr Prokopios’ commemoration at his chapel at the Monastery of Saint Modestos on Abu Tor hill, opposite the hill of Holy Zion.

On this day, the Church commemorates what is preserved from the Holy Martyr Prokopios in his Synaxarion. He was born in Caesarea of Palestine, a soldier by profession and was miraculously called just like the Apostle Paul to Christ, to Whom he came and confessed, and for His sake, he suffered a martyr’s death.

On July 24, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, celebrated the Holy Qurobo, at the end of the Suryoyo Youth General Gathering, with the presence of the youth who participated in SYGG, at St. Mary Church in Atchaneh - Lebanon.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Anthimos Jack Yakoub, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education, and Mor Chrysostomos Mikhael Shemoun, Patriarchal Vicar and Administrator of the Patriarchal Benevolent Institutions in Atchaneh, assisted His Holiness in the Qurobo.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh, Archbishop of Beirut, Mor Dionysius John Kawak, Patriarchal Vicar in the Archdiocese of Eastern USA, Mor Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf, Archbishop of Mosul, Kirkuk, Kurdistan and Environs, Mor Severus Roger Akhrass, Patriarchal Vicar for Syriac Studies and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, were also presented.

On July 20, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, officially inaugurated the 6th Suryoyo Youth Global Gathering in Lebanon at the Patriarchal Residence in Atchaneh - Lebanon.

The opening was attended by their Eminences: Mor Anthimos Jack Yakoub, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education, Mor Theophilos George Saliba, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, Mor Justinos Boulos Safar, Patriarchal Vicar in Zahleh and Beqaa, Mor Dionysius John Kawak, Patriarchal Vicar in the Archdiocese of Eastern USA, Mor Chrysostomos Mikhael Shemoun, Patriarchal Vicar and Administrator of the Patriarchal Benevolent Institutions in Atchaneh, Mor Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf, Archbishop of Mosul, Kirkuk, Kurdistan and Environs, Mor Severus Roger Akhrass, Patriarchal Vicar for Syriac Studies, Mor Cyril Babi, Patriarchal Vicar for the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Damascus, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director.

His Holiness Pope Francis calls for a "covenant" between people and the environment God gave us, in his Message for the World Day of Prayer for Creation to be observed by the Church on September 1st. In the text published on Thursday, the Pope calls for decisive actions at the upcoming COP27 on Climate Change and COP15 on Biodiversity, and appeals for the adoption of four key principles.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

His Holiness Pope Francis has lamented that St. Francis' Canticle of Creation praising the environment, is turning into an "anguished cry" and plea for help as the environment deteriorates.

GALILEE – To mark the sixth anniversary of the death of the Neocatechumenal Way co-foundress, Carmen Hernandez, young Catholics from the United States and Galilee had a meeting at the Domus Galileaea center, where Jesus is said to have given the Sermon on the Mount.

About 8,000 US and Galilean Catholic youth gathered, on Tuesday, July 19th, at the Domus Galileaea International Center, to attend a meeting organized by the Neocatechumenal Way. The event included chants, processions, prayers, readings and speeches, including one from His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, who had been invited to come and speak about the Beatitudes.

The visit aimed at strengthening the bonds of unity among WCC member churches and listening to the concerns of its constituency amidst all the difficult living conditions they are passing through. The delegation raised the needs and expectations of the population of Syria, as well as other concerns of the Middle East region, where other similar visits took place, at the WCC 11th Assembly, to be held 31 August-8 September 2022 in Karlsruhe, Germany.

The delegation started its visit in the city of Damascus, with a visit to His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, in the Patriarchal residence, where discussions centered around the situation of the church and its mission and witness amidst the crisis that the region is passing through, especially in Lebanon and Syria, and the need to support Christians so they can stay in their homeland and be agents of transformation in their societies. Attendees also stressed the necessity of ongoing coordination with local churches in order to overcome the challenges that might have impacts on the Christian presence in the region.

On July 17th, on the occasion of the feast of Saint Charbel, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over a festive Mass in the Maronite Church of Bethlehem, at the invitation of the Maronite priest, Fr. Yacoub Eid. This church, and the convent next to it, were inaugurated by a group of Lebanese priests in 1983, in the name of Mar Charbel - a Maronite hermit from Lebanon who was beatified in 1965 and canonized in 1977 by Pope Paul VI.

"During his life, Mar Charbel did not do anything," said the Patriarch during his homily. "He did not build schools or hospitals; like the Mary of the Gospel (Luke 10:38-42), he only sat in front of God. Yet after many years, what he did concretely touched the lives of many people," he added, referring to the many miracles performed by the saint after his death. Today, following the renovation of the church and convent after the Second Intifada, the relics of Mar Charbel are sheltered inside the church, and a short exhibition outside recounts the miraculous cures performed through his intercession.

His Holiness Pope Francis says SIGNIS “can play an important role” in meeting the challenge of “toxicity, hate speech, and fake news” in the media.

By Christopher Wells

Although modern means of communication can be “a powerful means of fostering communion and dialogue within our human family,” they can also become “places of toxicity, hate speech, and fake news,” warns Pope Francis, in a message to the lay communications network SIGNIS, which is holding its annual World Congress in Seoul in August.

“It is appropriate,” the Pope says, “that, in these days marked by new outbreaks of violence and aggression in our world, you have chosen as the theme of your World Congress ‘Peace in the Digital World.”

On July 17, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, celebrated the Holy Qurobo at St. Aphrem Cathedral in Aleppo.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Boutros Kassis, Patriarchal Assistant and Patriarchal Delegate to the Archdiocese of Aleppo, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, assisted His Holiness during the Holy Qurobo.

In his sermon, His Holiness expressed his joy to meet the faithful of the Archdiocese of Aleppo and prayed for the abducted Archbishop Mor Gregorius Youhanna Ibrahim. He also was happy to see the institutions of the Archdiocese flourishing and offering services despite the harsh circumstances. He pointed out that the ministry required is great and he appreciated the role of the Patriarchal Delegate along with the priests and lay people who are active in offering help to the people according to their capacities. Commenting on the gospel reading, His Holiness emphasized that leadership in Christianity means service without seeking worldly power or glory. He assured that our role model is the Lord Jesus Christ Who became man through His humility and sacrifice.

On July 17, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, visited His Excellency Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo Mor Dionysius Antoine Shahda, at the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Aleppo to offer condolences for the passing away of his two brothers.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Boutros Kassis, Patriarchal Assistant and Patriarchal Delegate to the Archdiocese of Aleppo, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, accompanied His Holiness along with the priests of the Archdiocese and the vice presidents of the Councils.

His Holiness prayed the service of the departed for the everlasting rest for the souls of the brothers of His Excellency.

On July 16, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, met the priests, members of the parish councils and institutions of the Archdiocese of Aleppo, at the Headquarters of the Archdiocese of Aleppo.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Boutros Kassis, Patriarchal Assistant and Patriarchal Delegate to the Archdiocese of Aleppo, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, attended the meeting.

They discussed the situation of the archdiocese in the absence of His Eminence Mor Gregorios Youhanna Ibrahim. They spoke about the ministry in Aleppo and the needs of the Archdiocese as well as the challenges they are facing, appreciating the support they are receiving from the Patriarchate.

His Holiness gave them his blessings and instructions in what is good for the Archdiocese. He also prayed for the return of the two abducted archbishops of Aleppo.

On Saturday July 16, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, visited the project of the restoration of industrial workshops and units in Ramouseh.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Boutros Kassis, Patriarchal Assistant and Patriarchal Delegate to the Archdiocese of Aleppo, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, and the clergy of the Archdiocese accompanied His Holiness as well as the deputy presidents of the councils, the engineer supervising the project and representatives of SOS Chretiens d’Orient.

During the visit, His Holiness inspected some of the restored shops and the work done while listening to an explanation of the different stages of the work and the challenges that they faced to complete the project. This project was sponsored by SOS Chretiens d’Orient.

On Saturday July 16, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II visited the site of the Syrian French Hospital in Aleppo, which belongs to the Archdiocese.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Boutros Kassis, Patriarchal Assistant and Patriarchal Delegate to the Archdiocese of Aleppo, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, and the clergy of the Archdiocese accompanied His Holiness as well as the deputy presidents of the councils and the engineer supervising the project.

During the visit, His Holiness inspected the premises which are being restored to prepare the hospital to serve the patients. This project is supported by Hungary Helps.

On Saturday July 16, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, visited the Mercy Old Age Home in Aleppo, which belongs to the Archdiocese.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Boutros Kassis, Patriarchal Assistant and Patriarchal Delegate to the Archdiocese of Aleppo, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, and the clergy of the Archdiocese accompanied His Holiness as well as the deputy presidents of the councils and the project’s engineer.

During the visit, His Holiness inspected the rooms and facilities of the Old Age Home. This project is supported by Church in Action (Holland) through the Middle East Council of Churches.

After being received by representatives of the three churches managing the Church of Nativity, being our Patriarchate of Jerusalem, The Custody of the Holy Land and the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate, at the entrance to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, President Joseph Biden was accompanied on a short tour to the site of the birth of Christ, where he was awaited by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Custos Father Patton and the Armenian Orthodox Patriarch Norahan Manugian, who took the President of the United States on a tour and exchanged discussion with him in the presence of a number of Palestinian officials.

Patriarch Theophilos III stressed the need for an active American intervention to protect the Christian heritage and presence in the Holy Land, especially in the city of Jerusalem, which is witnessing unprecedented attacks by Israeli radical groups, that conduct their offenses without accountability in order to create an environment that repels Christians from their own city of Jerusalem. His Beatitude also noted attacks on churches, clergy and Christians faithful by members of these groups and their attempts to seize the properties of Jaffa Gate in a case that illustrates the horror and ugliness of the battle waged by these groups against the authentic Christian presence in Jerusalem. He also spoke of restricting freedom of worship against Muslims and Christians, preventing believers from reaching their places of worship freely, giving the example of Israeli police practices this year on the Saturday of Holy Fire in which they prevented worshippers from reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

On Saturday, 9th of July 2022, His Beatitude Youssef Al-Absi, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, concluded his visit to Germany by meeting the Melkite Youth in Germany.

The meeting included an open discussion, during which His Beatitude discussed with the Christian youth in Germany their current situation and the challenges they face in their lives.

Firstly, the youth greeted His Beatitude with the accompanying delegation:

His Eminence Yasser Ayash- Archbishop and Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem,

The Most Reverend Archimandrite Chihade Abboud- the Patriarchal Commissioner at the Holy See,

and The Reverend Father Rami Wakim- the Director of the Patriarchal Bureau.

The meeting took place in Marienthal Monastery in the German state, Rhineland-Palatinate. While the scout band of St. Joseph- Giessen played joyful music, His Beatitude received a bouquet of flowers to welcome his gracious visit.