JERUSALEM – On December 2nd, 2022, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, welcomed several Palestinian families and their children to the Diwan of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem for Christmas greetings.

This event was organized by Ms. Dima Khoury, director of the Social Services Department at the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and Ms. Reem Khader, the social worker of that same Department.

The 3rd of December, an Annual Anniversary for the Coptic Press

On the evening of Saturday 3 December 2022, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, witnesses the Celebration of the “Coptic Press and Periodicals, One Hundred and Fifty Years of Service to the Church and the Country”, that was held at the New Administrative Building that is affiliated to the Papal Residence at St Mark’s Cathedral in Abbaseya, Egypt.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II inaugurated an exhibition for magazines and periodicals that were published over the last 150 years which are more than 360 Coptic magazines.

“Add To Your Faith Virtue”, a new book released by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.

The book focuses on the virtues of a number of Biblical characters associated with Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ and the events accompanying it.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II highlights a virtue for each character, such as the virtue of humility of St. Mary in her conversations,the the virtue of sticking to the Lord as Anna the prophetess, the virtue of loyalty as Elizabeth, the virtue of trusting the promises of God like Simeon and the virtue of hope as Zacharias the Priest.

On December 1st, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, received His Beatitude Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, at the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate Headquarters in Bab Touma, Damascus.

‎‏His Beatitude Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan was accompanied by their Eminences: Mor Dionysius Antoine Shahda, Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo, Mor Aphrem Youssef Abba, Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Baghdad and Patriarchal Administrator of Mosul, Msgr. Habib Mrad, Patriarchal Secretary, and Rev. Fr. Karim Kalash, Assistant Secretary.

JORDAN - Every year, the Christian youth in Jordan celebrate the feast of Jesus Christ the King through several celebrations for different age groups, culminating in a major celebration during which the new logo and the members of the general secretariat committee of the JEC, which is responsible for the activities of all the Christian youth in the parishes of Jordan, were revealed.

Overview of the celebrations in Jordan:

1. The youngest group (primary school)

At the Our Lady of Peace Center, on Friday 28th, October 2022, Fr. Wajdi Twal, the spiritual guide of JEC Jordan, celebrated Mass with the youngest youth group.

On Tuesday, November 16 / 29, 2022, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the commemoration of the Holy New Martyr Philoumenos the Hagiotaphite, who suffered a martyr’s death at the shrine of Jacob’s Well on November 16, 1979, where he served as Hegoumen.

Saint Philoumenos, as a new martyr, was also included in the Hagiologion of the Church of Jerusalem in 2009. Every year his memory is honoured at the place of his martyrdom, where the rector for the last 40 years, Hegoumen Archimandrite Ioustinos constructed a magnificent Church.

On November 29, 2022, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, meets the staff of the Services Bishopric’s Programs at the new administrative building of the the Papal Residence in Cairo, with the presence of H.G. Bishop Yolios, General Bishop of Coptic Cairo and the Bishopric of the General, Social and Ecumenical Services, and Fr. Raphael Tharwat, Deputy for the Services Bishop, and as well as the Program managers and coordinators and staff of different districts in the Bishoprics from Aswan to Alexandria.

On Friday, November 12 / 25, 2022, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, awarded the medal of the Brigadier General of the Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre to the Russian pilgrim Mrs Elena Milskaya, for her intense and painstaking efforts, in order to return from Russia the enamel decorations of the door of the Edicule of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, depicting the Risen Lord and the Twelve Apostles.

On Wednesday, November 10/23, 2022, the Deputy General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (W.C.C.) Rev Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, priest of the Romanian Patriarchate visited the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, accompanied by his wife, his collaborators, the doctor Mr Odes Kauas, member of the Central Committee of W.C.C. for the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Rev Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca was accepted by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, after the Geronda Chief Secretary His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina and other Hagiotaphite Fathers.

On November 22, 2022, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, participated in the opening session of the conference of “Coexistence, Tolerance and Acceptance of the Other.. Towards a Better Future”, that was organized by the Coptic Studies Centre at the Conference Centre in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

In the opening speech, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II indicated that coexistence is life, tolerance is a way of life and acceptance of others is a quality of life.

On November 21, 2022, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, with the participation of a number of Bishops, consecrated El-Malak El-Bahary Church, Hadaeq Al Qubbah, Cairo, after it has been renovated.

The history of establishment of this church goes back to over 130 years, as it was built in 1893. The main altar is named on Archangel Michael, another altar is named on St. Mary, St. Joachim and St. Anne and another altar named on St. Anthony and St. Paul.

On Sunday 20 November 2022, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, inaugurated the Website of the Holy Family Path with virtual reality (VR), which is established by “Blessed Egypt” Foundation for Development and Heritage Revival.

This was during a ceremony organized by the Foundation at St. Mark’s Cathedral this morning, which was within the framework of the Coptic Orthodox Church’s celebrations of the tenth anniversary of the Enthronement of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II.

The Coptic Church’s Social Role

The 9th Seminar for Holy Synod Members was hold on “The Coptic Church’s Social Role” from Wednesday, November 16th to Saturday, November 19th, 2022 at the LOGOS Center at the Papal Residence at St. Bishoy’s Monastery, in the presence and patronage of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, Bishop Danial (Maadi), Holy Synod Secretary and the presence of 116 of Holy Synod Members.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II started the Ninth Seminar of the Holy Synod. The Seminar discussed “The Coptic Church’s Social Role”.

His Holiness delivered a lecture during the opening session which was attended by a hundred and five members of the Holy Synod.

On Saturday November 19, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II visited the land of the Church at the Baptismal site on the Jordan River.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Anthimos Jack Yakoub, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education, and Patriarchal Delegate to the Archdiocese of Jerusalem, Jordan, and the Holy Lands, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, accompanied His Holiness as well as the parish priest and the committee of the Church project.

“Jesus Our King is different than the kings of the world…
When we bow our heads in reverence, we find Him washing our feet”

– Mgr. Rafiq Nahra, Patriarchal Vicar for Israel

NAZARETH – Saturday morning, on November 19th, 2022, Christian youth of all ages gathered from all over Galilee at the Salesian School (Don Bosco) in Nazareth to partake in the first meeting held for all the Christian movements of the Parishes of the Latin Patriarchate in Galilee. The event, which was organized by Fr. Ramez Twal, General chaplain of the Youth in Galilee, marked the celebration of the Feast of Jesus Christ the King, celebrated by the Church on the last Sunday of the liturgical year.

On November 18, 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 Aphrem Church in Amman – Jordan.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Anthimos Jack Yakoub, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education, and Patriarchal Delegate to the Archdiocese of Jerusalem, Jordan, and the Holy Lands, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, assisted His Holiness in the Holy Qurobo.

At noon on Thursday, November 4/17, 2022, the Leaders of the Local Churches of Jerusalem welcomed to a reception and a meal Her Excellency the President of Hungary Mrs Katalin Novák in the guest house of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem, which is led by the Most Reverend Hassam Naum. Mrs Katalin Novák was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense and the Ambassador of Hungary in Ramallah, Mr Csaba Rada.

At this reception, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, spoke on behalf of the Heads of the Churches through the following address in English:

The Coptic Orthodox Church celebrated on Friday 18 November 2022, the 10th anniversary of the Enthronement of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II on the Seat of St Mark the Apostle.

His Holiness prayed the Liturgy Friday’s morning in the Transfiguration Church at Logos Papal Centre, Wadi El Natroun, Egypt, with the company of the Metropolitans, Bishops and the Patriarchal Vicars of Cairo and Alexandria and the members of the Holy Synod who are attending the Seminar at Logos Papal Centre.

On Thursday 17 November 2022, the members of the Holy Synod celebrated the anniversary of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II Enthronement after the evening session…

During an ecumenical prayer, people of many faiths gathered during COP27 to confess, lament, and express hope for the future.

Gathering under the theme “O Lord, look at the workmanship of your hands,” the prayer was hosted by the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, Diocese of South Sinai, and Coptic Orthodox Cathedral of the Heavenly Hosts Sharm el-Sheikh.

“Gathered together in an ecumenical prayer, we raise it together for the sake of the world and all creatures and every living soul on the face of the earth,” read the opening to the prayer. “O Creator of all, I thank you because from the abundance of your love you left the universe to be a refuge for all.”

Speaking at the COP27 summit in Sharm El Sheikh, His Eminence Archbishop Nicolas Thevenin, Apostolic Nuncio in Egypt, urges a renewed model of development and sustainability based on care, fraternity, and cooperation.

By Amedeo Lomonaco

"The Holy See’s Delegation" to the COP27 summit “would like to underline two values which should orient our work in this remaining week: urgency and responsibility for concrete and far-sighted actions to face the climate crisis, which affect too many people, especially the poorest and the most vulnerable", said His Eminence Archbishop Nicolas Thevenin, Apostolic Nuncio to Egypt and delegate of the Holy See to the League of Arab States.