On December 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, inaugurated the “Christmas Market 2022” in the garden of the Syriac Martyrs in Damascus, Syria.

St. Aphrem Patriarchal Syriac Scouts performed on the musical instruments the different special melodies for Christmas. Then St. Ephrem Patriarchal Choir performed a group of Syriac hymns and folk songs on the occasion of Christmas.

The long-standing tradition of exchanging Christmas greeting by Heads of Churches in Jerusalem with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate was carried out on Monday January 10, in the main hall in the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

The first to arrive were the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, led by The Custos His Paternity Father Francesco Patton, who was warmly greeted by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos and the Bishops attending. During the meeting, His Beatitude thanked the Franciscan Brotherhood for their visit and emphasized the importance of the ongoing collaboration between the churches caring for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the joint insistence for the autonomous status of the Holy Places, which “have been the foundation of our resolve confronting the challenges we are facing,” which only led to further deepening the cooperation between the two Brotherhoods.

On Monday, December 6/18, 2022, the Feast of Holy Father Nikolaos, Bishop of Myron of Lycia, was celebrated by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem,.

During this Feast, the Church remembers that St. Nikolaos was the Bishop of Myra of Lycia who “gained the high places through humility, the rich through poverty” throughout his life, and especially as Bishop of Myra of Lycia, he defended the “one essence” of our Lord Jesus Christ with the Father, worthy of God’s gift to work miracles, by which he helped many, especially the seafarers.

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the University of Balamand Dr. Elias Warrak, have launched the 1,000 pine trees planting project at the University of Balamand’s main campus - Koura, Lebanon, as part of the UOB Christmas Village.

With the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, the relics of Saint Jacob of Nisibis were brought out of the Cilicia Museum and placed in St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Lebanon, during the Vespers service on Friday, December 16th, 2022, which was led by His Eminence Arch. Shahan Sarkissian.  

On Saturday, the 4th/17th of December 2022, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of the Holy Glorious Great Martyr Barbara in her chapel, located in the southeast wing of the Church of the Holy Monastery of Saint Nikolaos, on the south side and very close to the Patriarchate.

On this holiday, the Church remembers that Saint Barbara lived in the time of Maximian in Nicomedia and confessed Christ, was tortured and beheaded by her own father Dioscorus in the year 290 AD.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One True God, Amen

We, Patriarchs, Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East,

Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East,

Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch,

Cardinal Mar Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldeans in Iraq and the World,

And Mar Awa III Royel, Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East in Iraq and the World,

We thank God for granting us to gather in His holy name as brothers and church shepherds together in this official meeting of the Patriarchs of the Syriac heritage churches, at the invitation of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East.

In our meeting, we discussed, through research and study, issues of common interest…

His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Patriarch of Jerusalem and all of Palestine, joined the Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, on Wednesday 14 December, to attend the annual Christmas reception hosted by His Majesty King Abdullah II, King of Jordan.

During the reception His Beatitude gave the following speech: 

Your Majesty,

Your Royal Highnesses,

Esteemed Members of the Government,

Beloved Leaders of our Religious Communities

Your Eminences,

Your Graces,

Reverend Fathers,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We greet you, Your Majesty, in this festive season, in which our region has the privilege of holding the festival of the light of justice, even in a world, and in a time, when there is deep confusion and despair…

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.