On December 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, inaugurated the First Meeting of the Patriarchs of the Syriac Churches, at the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Residence in Atchaneh, Lebanon.

The Heads of the Syriac Churches: His Beatitude Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, His Holiness Patriarch Mar Awa III, Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, and His Beatitude Chaldean Patriarch Cardinal Mar Raphael Louis Sako, also participated in the meeting.

JERUSALEM - On December 13th, 2022, the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land (ACOHL) organized a conference for the launching of two new offices: the Safeguarding Office & the Professional Legal Office, which aim to provide support and advice to the Catholic Church in the Holy Land.

The conference, which included opening speeches by His Beatitude Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Mgr Adolfo Tito Yllana, Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy Land, was meant to present the purpose of these offices to the religious congregations and institutes of the Holy Land.

In this Advent season, which prepares us for Christmas, we, as Pastors of our communities, feel the need to express some concerns, about the political and social life of our communities, that occupy our hearts at this time.

A new government is going to be formed in Israel, which we hope will bring political stability. However, we want to express our concerns about the political context in which this government is being formed and about the gradual deterioration of the general social and political situation in the Holy Land.

Certain statements made by members who are part of the governmental coalition are very divisive toward the Arab or otherwise non-Jewish community. They are contrary to the spirit of peaceful and constructive coexistence among the various communities that make up our society. Such statements favor those in this country who want division. Create distrust and resentment. The lay the groundwork for further violence. Violence in language inevitably, sooner or later, turns into physical violence as well.

On December 12th, 2022, in the city of Bethlehem, the director of the Caritas Baby Hospital, Mr. Issa Bandak, the Dorothy Sisters working there as well as members of the staff welcomed to the hospital's chapel His Beatitude Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, to exchange Christmas greetings for the Advent season. 

After a reading of the Gospel, the Patriarch said a few words to thank the work done by the hospital, and to remind all to look with love, in order to see differently, during this time of waiting for the coming of Jesus Christ.

On December 10, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, inaugurated Meltho International School in Erbil.

The inauguration was also attended by His Eminence Mor Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf, Archbishop of Mosul, Kirkuk, Kurdistan and Environs. Her Excellency Mrs. Katalin Novak, President of Hungary, and His Excellency Mr. Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of Kurdistan Regional Government, were present at the inauguration as well as His Holiness Patriarch Mar Awa III, Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, Consecrates On December 10, 2022, St. Mary & Archangel Raphael’s Church, Al Jawaher, Alexandria
Upon his arrival at the church, His Holiness the Pope removed the curtain from the commemorative plaque that dates its inauguration and took a memorial picture with the Bishops of the districts of Alexandria.
H.H. then headed to the Church to begin the prayers of consecration where H.H. consecrated the main altar on the name of St Mary and Archangel Raphael, and the other two altars on the names of St. Mina and Pope Kyrillos and the other on the name of St. Abraam.
H.H. consecrated the Pantocrator icon and the iconostasis and the rest of the church icons. H.H. also consecrated an altar on the name of St. George at the bottom floor.
After the Prayer of Reconciliation, H.H. then ordained a deacon with the name Deacon Abraam.

On Thursday, November 25/December 8, 2022, the Feast of the Glorious Great Martyr Catherine the all-wise was celebrated by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

On this Feast, the Church commemorates that Saint Catherine lived in Alexandria under Maximian, the oppressive and implacable tyrant of Alexandria and that she was a young lady of great beauty, most prudent and highly educated. She confessed Christ and put to shame the philosophers who worshipped the twelve gods of Olympus. Due to her confession, she was subjected to various tortures and attracted many to the faith in Christ; finally, she was crowned with the crown of martyrdom in the year 305, and for this, she was called by the Christian believers as the “bride of Christ”.

CYPRUS – On Wednesday, December 7th, 2022, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, officially inaugurated the new siege of the Patriarchal Vicar of Cyprus, Fr. Bruno Varriano, OFM, by presiding over a Mass in the church of the Holy Cross in Nicosia.

The Mass was concelebrated by Fr. Ibrahim Faltas, Custodial Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land, Mgr Salim Sfeir, Maronite Bishop of Cyprus, as well as all the parish priests of the Latin Patriarchate in Cyprus, and several other priests serving in the diocese.  

On Sunday, the 4th of December 2022 (21st November, according to the Eastern Church Liturgical calendar), the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple was celebrated by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

During this Feast, the Church remembers that the Theotokos, as a gift to her former barren parents Joachim and Anna, was presented/ offered by them, in accordance with their promise to the priests of Solomon’s Temple and was kept by them in the Holy of Holies, when alone the High Priest entered once a year. There, she was nourished by the angels and prepared for the great mystery of the incarnation of God the Word, until she was handed over for safekeeping to Joseph her minister.

On December 3, 2022, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, witnesses the Graduation Ceremony of the First batch of the Institute of Church History in Maadi, Egypt, with the presence of His Eminence Metropolitan Danial, Metropolitan of the Diocese and the Secretary of the Holy Synod and the Dean of the Institute.

The Ceremony included the presentation of a documentary about the educational system and how to join the Institute. In addition, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, His Eminence Metropolitan Danial and two graduates gave speeches.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II discussed three points about the effects of history on our lives…

and the Ordination of Father Basilios Moussa as an Archimandrite in the Church of St. John of Damascus, Bab Touma

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, presided over Vespers of the feasts of Saint John of Damascus and Saint Barbara at the Church of Saint John of Damascus in Bab Touma, Damascus, on Saturday 3 December 2022, in the presence of their Graces Bishop Moussa Al-Khoury, Bishop Youhanna Batach, Bishop Arsanios Dahdal, Bishop Moses Al-Khosi, many priests and deacons of the city of Damascus, and a large crowd of believers.

In preparation for Christmas, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, launched the initiative “warm Christmas”. It aimed to purchase diesel for heating for the neediest families in Syria and Lebanon, amidst the difficult living and economic conditions.

You can find the full text of the initiative.

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.