On August 28, 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 Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch at the Syriac Catholic Procura in Rome.

His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos and Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, His Beatitude Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Isaac, Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, and Head of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt, His Beatitude Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Perfect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches in the Vatican, His Eminence Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, Archbishop of Vienna, were also present.

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, presided over the Sunday August 28th, 2022, Liturgy at the Church of Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery, Lebanon, on the occasion of the opening of the academic year at the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology. Their Eminences, Metropolitan Silouan Moussi (Mount Lebanon), Metropolitan Ghattas Hazim (Baghdad and Kuwait), and His Grace Bishop Moses al-Khosi assisted His Beatitude in the service, with the participation of the Dean of the Institute of Theology, Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Jack Khalil, and many priests, deacons, and students from the institute, and the institute's choir served the liturgy.

Her excellency, the Greek Ambassador, Katerina Fountoulaki, attended, in addition to Deputy Adib Abdel Masih, President of the University of Balamand, Dr. Elias al-Warrak, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, Dr. Michel Abs, the university's vice presidents, deans, university and institute professors, and numerous believers.

On Saturday 14/27 August 2022, on the Forefeast of the Dormition, the service of the Lamentations of the Theotokos – a unique service of the Church of Jerusalem – was held at the Church of the Dormition in Gethsemane, where the Tomb of the Theotokos lies, after an all-night vigil which was officiated by the Master of Ceremonies of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Archimandrite Bartholomew.

For this service, the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood marched down Via Dolorosa from the Patriarchate Headquarters, and after a short rest at the Hegoumeneion of Gethsemane, the welcoming reception began at the courtyard of the shrine with lit candles and incense offering under the chanting of the Apolytikion of the Dormition. The service was held at the centre of the Church, before the Epitaph of the Mother of God, presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, along with Hagiotaphite Hierarchs and Hieromonks, following the Typikon order with the three stasis of the Lamentations, with the incense offering inside the Tomb and around the Church and the chapels in it.

Led by the Sami people in a special processional, 97 Indigenous delegates to the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly were present in Karlsruhe for the pre-assembly. They symbolically ushered in four elements—Earth, Water, Fire and Wind—through biblical texts and prayer.

The theme of their gathering was “Reconciliation: Restoring Wholeness in Creation.”

They began their pre-assembly work on topics ranging from engagement with the Indigenous peoples in Europe, to reflecting and testifying on the learnings from Pilgrim Team Visits.

Lighting candles to remember where they came from, they also received an orientation to the German context of the assembly, as well as interaction with assembly committee members and pre-assembly delegates.

At the opening of the annual Synod of the Chaldean Church in Baghdad, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq and the World, once again raises the alarm on the risk of Christians disappearing from Iraq as they continue to face hardships and discrimination.

By Lisa Zengarini

The Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq and the World, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, has warned that Christians in Iraq and in the entire region are heading towards disappearance unless there is a "change" in the way of thinking in governmental, social and economic policies.

He made these remarks at the opening of the Synod of the Chaldean Church taking place in the Iraqi capital from 21-27 August.

“Iraqi Christians, and perhaps also Christians of other nations, will soon disappear if there is no change in thinking and of the state system.”

During the recent Cilician Brotherhood gathering, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, announced the following new appointments:

- Rev. Fr. Sdepanos Pashayan, formerly pastor St. Mary Church in Thessaloniki, joins the Information and Communication Department in Antelias and is replaced by V. Rev. Fr. Yeghia Malkhassian.

-Rev. Fr. Avedik Der Garabedian and V. Rev. Fr. Azad Filigian join the supervisory staff of the Armenian Theological Seminary

-Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aprahamian joins the Middle Eastern and Christian-Muslim Dialogue section of the Ecumenical Department.

-Rev. Fr. Yezegiel Selloumian is appointed as pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Zahle…

On Friday, August 6 / 19, 2022, the Despotic feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord was celebrated at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. During this holiday, the Church remembers that our Lord Jesus Christ before His passion took three of the pre-qualified disciples, Peter and James and John, and they went up to Tabor, where He was transfigured before them.

There, He hid His human nature for a little while and revealed to the disciples His divine nature in its brilliance, shining more than the sun and His clothes were now white as snow and was seen with the prophets Moses and Elias, conversing with them about His passion, which would happen in Jerusalem in the near future.

On Sunday, August 21st, 2022, a requiem service was held at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, Lebanon, and St. Mary Monastery in Bikfaya, Lebanon, as well as in all Prelacy Churches of the Holy See of Cilicia, under the auspices of The Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, for the repose of the souls of the victims of the Surmalu shopping center explosion, in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, on August 14th.

Damascus, August 16th, 2022

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, sent a letter of condolence to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, following the fire that ripped through the Giza Church.
His Beatitude Patriarch John X wrote: My letter coincides with the season of dormition of the Most Holy Virgin Mary. Hence, we ask for her omnipresent divine tenderness.

On August 15, 2022, on the occasion of the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, 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 Lady of the Girdle (Zunoro) Cathedral in Homs.

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II was assisted by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeera and Euphrates and Armenian Orthodox Archbishop of Damascus Armash Nalbandian.

On August 14, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, arrived to the Lady of the Girdle (Zunoro) Cathedral – Homs, for inauguration Shrine of belt (Zunoro) of the Virgin Mary.

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II was received by His Eminence the Archbishop Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, the clergy of the archdiocese as well as the Syriac Scouts of the Archdiocese.

His Holiness Pope Francis concludes his catechesis on the value and meaning of old age at the weekly General Audience, and recalls that serene faith and trust in Christ’s promise at that time of life can offer fruitful witness to the Gospel.

By Devin Watkins

At the Wednesday General Audience, held in the Paul VI Hall due to the heat, His Holiness Pope Francis picked up the theme of the value of old age for the last time.
He reflected on Jesus’ words of farewell to His disciples at the Last Supper, as recounted in the Gospel of John (14:1-3).

On Tuesday, July 27/ August 9, 2022, the Patriarchate celebrated the commemoration of the Holy glorious great martyr Panteleimon the healer, at the Holy Monastery dedicated to him on the south-west of the Patriarchate, near Jaffa Gate.

On this day the Church commemorates the life and martyrdom of Saint Panteleimon according to his synaxarion. The Saint was the son of the idolater Eustorgios and a Christian mother named Euvouli, who taught him the Holy Scriptures. Saint Panteleimon studied medicine and was named Panteleon initially, but Elder Ermolaos baptised him Panteleimon.

The Lambeth Conference, a gathering of the bishops of the World Anglican Communion, convened from July 26th to August 7th, 2022, at the invitation of Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. H.G. Bishop Magar Ashkarian participated in the conference on behalf of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia.

The conference takes place once every ten years. This year’s theme was “God’s Church for God’s World: walking, listening and witnessing together.” More than 1450 bishops gathered together to pray together, study the Bible, hear the struggles and joys that each bishop’s experience in their local contexts and address the issues facing the world.

His Holiness Pope Francis sends a video message to participants in a conference in Mexico, and urges “digital evangelizers” to reach out to people in digital spaces who have not yet encountered Christ.

By Devin Watkins

“The Lord knocks on the door to enter within us, but how many times He also knocks on the door inside for us to let Him out!”

His Holiness Pope Francis offered that consideration in a video message sent to young people taking part in the “Hechos 29”, or “Acts 29” event.

The international conference took place on 5-6 August in Monterrey, Mexico, and brought together “digital evangelizers”—Christians seeking to evangelize online and on social media—to encourage them to be active members of the Church in the digital space.

On August 7, 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 Mor Gabriel Church in Ajaltoun, Lebanon, on the occasion of the Feast of Transfiguration and the Feast of Mor Gabriel.

He was assisted by their Eminences: Mor Theophilos George Saliba, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, Mor Severus Roger Akhrass, Patriarchal Vicar for Syriac Studies. Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Justinos Boulos Safar, Patriarchal Vicar in Zahleh and Beqaa, Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh, Archbishop of Beirut, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, also attended the Holy Qurobo.

His Holiness Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for the month of August, urging special prayers for small businesses.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

As August kicks off, His Holiness Pope Francis is calling on Catholics to pray for small and medium-sized businesses, so that "in the midst of economic and social crisis, they find ways to continue operating, and serving their communities.”

The Pope released his monthly prayer intention in a video prepared by the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network.

For the final day of the March of the Franciscans, which takes place every year during summer, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over a Mass on top of Mount Tabor, Palestine, and met with the youth who participated in the event.

Eight days. It’s how long the 31st march of the Franciscans lasted this year, from July 27th to August 3rd. Starting in Rameh, the participants walked from Eilaboun to Nazareth, to finally reach Mount Tabor on the eighth day.

“This idea of a march to walk, pray and spend time together first started in Italy,” explains Fr. Mario Hadchiti, OFM, one of the organizers. “Since then, there have been marches here in the Holy Land, but also in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon… It originated from St Francis of Assisi’s Festa del Perdono (Feast for the forgiveness of the sins).”

His Holiness Pope Francis, during his weekly General Audience on Wednesday 3 August 2022, prays for the people of Lebanon as they mark the second anniversary of the Beirut Port Blast this 4 August.

By Vatican News staff reporter

During his weekly General Audience on Wednesday, His Holiness Pope Francis recalled the second anniversary of the devastating Beirut Port explosion.

Speaking to pilgrims gathered in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope said his thoughts went out to the families of the victims of the disastrous event and to the "dear Lebanese people."

On Tuesday, August 2nd, His Beatitude Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over a Mass for the charismatic movement Rinnovamento nello Spirito Santo, in the church of Gethsemane, Jerusalem. The Mass was attended by the president of the association, Mr. Salvatore Martinez, the first layman ever appointed to this position.

Born in 1971 in Italy, approved ecclesiastically in 1996, the movement of Rinnovamento welcomes lay, religious, and consecrated people.