On May 9, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, arrived to Cairo to participate in the fourteenth meeting of the Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, delegated their Eminences: Anba Thomas, Archbishop of Kawsiyya and Mir, Anba Clemandos, General Bishop, Anba Angelos General Bishop of the Churches of Shabra, and Dr. Gergis Saleh, Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, to receive His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, and His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia,and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, at Cairo International Airport.

On Tuesday evening, May 7th, 2024, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, established contact with His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II of the Holy See of St. Etchmiadzin, expressing full solidarity with the statement published on the same day by the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Holy See of St. Etchmiadzin, regarding Armenia’s current situation.

Last Sunday we began meditating on chapter XV of John's Gospel, in which Jesus speaks of the bond that unites him to his own, which is likened to the vine and its branches: not two different things, not two different lives, but the same life which circulates and bears fruit (Jn 15:1-8).

Today our meditation continues (Jn 15:9-17), leading us to ask a fundamental question: what is the fruit that Jesus is talking about. We said that the branch must bear fruit. Such a good vinedresser, such a beautiful vine, a branch so united to the vine, what kind of good fruit will it produce?

From Secretariat-General of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

The feast of the Holy Pascha, the feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, was celebrated on Sunday, April 22 / May 5, 2024, at night in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

In the beginning, the Resurrection Canon was chanted in the Catholicon of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, until His Beatitude, the High Priests and the Priests were clothed.

Then the litany began around the Holy Sepulchre three times, then the Second Matins Gospel from the Evangelist Mark was read “on the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene…” and “Christ is Risen” was sung from the interior of the Holy Edicule by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, and the Byzantine choir, ten times.

On May 5, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, celebrated the Holy Qurobo on the occasion of Easter Sunday, at St. Georges Patriarchal Cathedral in Bab Touma, Damascus, Syria.

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Orthodox Family, celebrated the Trampling of Hell Service and the Divine Liturgy for Holy Pascha, with the concelebration of Their Eminences Reverend Bishops: John (Batash), Moussa (Al Khasi), and many Priests and Deacons in the Mariamite Cathedral in Damascus, Syria, on May 4, 2024.

The service was attended by the Minister of Local Administration and Environment, Ms. Lamia Chacour, the Hungarian Ambassador, Mr. Csaba Czibere, and the Head of the Austrian Mission Mr. Peter Krois.

From the Secretariat-General of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Holy Saturday, April 21/May 4, 2024, the Ceremony of the Holy Light took place at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

In accordance with the Status Quo and the Standard of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, arrived on the 12th noon winter time at 13.00 p.m. summer time from the Patriarchate through the stairs of the Cathedral of Saint James the Brother of God to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Then, having venerated at the Holy Deposition, He went to the Holy Altar of the Catholicon and the three communities of Armenians, Copts and Syrians came and received the blessing to receive the Holy Light.

In a historic meeting, Anglican Communion Primates from around the world have attended an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican, during the morning of May 2.

In the hour-long meeting the Pope shared words of encouragement and affirmation, in conversation with the primates, responding to questions from those gathered.

In his address, His Holiness Pope Francis spoke about themes of synodality, church unity and the prioritization of relationships, Christian love and service.

The Pope said: "Only a love that becomes gratuitous service, only the love that Jesus taught and embodies, will bring separated Christians closer to one another. Only that love, which does not appeal to the past in order to remain aloof or to point a finger, only that love which in God's name puts our brothers and sisters before the ironclad defence of our own religious structures, only that love will unite us. First our brothers and sisters, the structures later."

Coordinated by the Anglican Centre in Rome, the Anglican Communion Primates will visit important sites that relate to the first Apostles who made missionary journeys to Rome.

On April 29, 2024, their pilgrimage was to Tre Fontane (the location of St Paul’s martyrdom) and the Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls (the resting place of St Paul).

At Tre Fontane, the primates spent time in Prayer and contemplation, visiting the three shrines on the location. Tradition holds that between AD 64-67 the apostle Paul was beheaded at Tre Fontane by the Emperor Nero, the bounce of his head on the ground causing three fountains to spring forth.

On April 30th, 2024, both His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II of the Holy See of St. Echmiadzin and His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia underscored the paramount importance of safeguarding the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia.

During a recent phone conversation, the Catholicoi addressed pressing concerns facing Armenia and reiterated the unwavering commitment of the Armenian Church towards preserving the nation’s sovereignty and unity.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, is scheduled to pray the Holy Pascha prayers and the Holy Thursday Liturgy in a number of churches and monasteries, while His Holiness the Pope will pray the Good Friday prayers and the Glorious Resurrection Liturgy in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Abbasiya.

On April 28, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, celebrated the Holy Qurobo on the occasion of Palms Sunday, at St. Georges Patriarchal Cathedral in Bab Touma, Damascus.

During the Holy Qurobo, His Holiness was assisted by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, and Mor Andrawos Bahhi, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education, in the presence of Archbishop Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

On the evening of Lazarus Saturday, April 14th / 27th 2024, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalems blessed the palm tree branches in Bethsphage, and assigned to His Eminence Metropolitan Isychios of Capitolias, to lead the procession with the palm tree branches under the chanting of “the general Resurrection before your passion” from Bethsphage, passing through the Holy Monastery of the Ascension, Gethsemane, Saint Stephen and from the Lions Gate to the Holy Monastery of the Holy Ancestors of God as a memory of the Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, when the children of the Jews welcomed Him singing “Hosanna to the Son of David”.

April 28, 2024

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Orthodox Family, celebrated the Divine Liturgy for Palm Sunday at the Mariamite Cathedral in Damascus, with the participation of reverend bishops John (Batash), Moussa (Al Khasi), and a group of priests and deacons.

Before the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude blessed the palms and performed the Palm Sunday procession inside the church.

Jn 15:1-8

Last Sunday the Word brought us across the parable of the Good Shepherd: we saw that the Shepherd is the one who cares so much for the members of his flock to the point of laying down his life for theirs.

We also saw that this life is saved as soon as it can get out of the fence in which sin had enclosed it, to go out to others, to the brothers and sisters, and to form with them one flock.

In today's Gospel passage (John 15:1-8), Jesus uses another image, that of the vine grower, the vineyard, and the branches.

What strikes one upon first hearing it is the term "fruit," a term that recurs five times (Jn 15:2,4,5,8), and this frequency highlights its importance: the farmer cares for the vineyard and knows how to prune it, but the purpose of this care is not so much the well-being of the plant as the fruit it is called to bear.

On the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, an Armenian Evangelical service of remembrance took place on the morning of April 24, 2024, at the Armenian Evangelical Church of Nor Marash. Organized by the church pastors of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE) in Beirut, the preacher was Pastor Joe Garabedian from the U.S. Additionally, the students of the Armenian Evangelical College and the Armenian Evangelical Secondary School (“Shamlian-Tatigian”) brought a freshness to the remembrance with their instrumental and vocal groups.

Using the words of Psalm 54, Rev. Jirair Ghazarian opened the service, responsively led the reading of “Faith’s Victory” (Heb. 11), and prayed that God’s presence would remain central to the service of remembrance. Following this, Rev. Hrayr Cholakian stressed the supremacy of faith in his biblical reading (Rom. 8.31-39). Thereafter the string ensemble (Henry Ishkhanian, instructor) performed “Adana Lament” and “Giligia” with beauty and sensitivity. Rev. Hovhannes Svadjian offered a heartfelt prayer, laying before God the sorrows of the Armenian nation, beseeching the Lord to illuminate the nation and lead it with his light. The student choir under the direction of Nectar Palazian, accompanied by Shogher Grboyan, tastefully and harmoniously sang “Tarer Antsan” (Centuries Have Passed) (Ayvazyan) and “Ov Araritch” (O Creator) (Torosian). During the service those present also joined together in singing hymns accompanied by Mrs. Silva Mncherian on piano.

This year, as we remember the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we face even greater challenges. Azerbaijan, aided by Turkey, committed another genocide in the historical Armenian land of Artsakh and continues to threaten Armenia’s sovereignty. Despite these atrocities, Armenians remain steadfast in their faith for redemption and unwavering in their pursuit of justice. The Holy See of Cilicia has shared the same fate as its people and naturally stands shoulder-to-shoulder with them in the pursuit of justice.

Under the auspices of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, a Divine Liturgy was conducted on the morning of Wednesday, April 24th, 2024, celebrated by Archbishop Shahe Panossian, the Prelate of Lebanon, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. Following the service, a procession led by the Catholicos moved to the Armenian Genocide Memorial, where a solemn Intercessory Prayer Service was held, presided by His Holiness Aram I.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, participated in the ‘Media and Information Literacy and Global Understanding: Peace for All’ Conference, organized by the League of Arab States, in cooperation with the UNESCO Organization for Culture and Science, on Monday 22 April 2024.

The opening session of the conference witnessed the announcement of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II receiving an honorary doctorate from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport which is affiliated with the League of Arab States.

Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit (Secretary-General of the League of Arab States), and Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar (President of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport) welcome His Holiness Pope Tawadros II upon his arrival to the headquarters of the League of Arab States. His Holiness was received in the headquarters’ Emirates Hall before the opening session of the conference commenced.

On World Earth Day 2024, His Holiness Pope Francis reminds everyone of our duty to protect the planet and safeguard peace.

By Lisa Zengarini

As the world marked Earth Day on Monday, April 22, His Holiness Pope Francis reiterated his urgent plea for bold action for our common home and for world peace.

The international Day was established in 1970 to raise awareness about the critical environmental challenges facing our planet, and to mobilize efforts to address them.

The observance provides an opportunity for individuals, communities, organizations, and governments to come together and engage in activities to repair and heal ecosystems, combat climate change, and preserve biodiversity so as to preserve the planet for future generations.