On Sunday, 30 June / 13 July 2025, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the Holy, Glorious, and All-Praised Apostles at the Patriarchal Holy Monastery dedicated to them. This monastery is located near the city of Tiberias, on the western shore of the Sea of Tiberias, at the place where the Lord appeared to His disciples, as recorded by the Evangelist John and read in the 10th Matins Gospel: “After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing…” (John 21:1–3)

At this beautiful seaside Holy Monastery, His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over Great Vespers on the eve of the feast and led the festive Patriarchal Divine Liturgy on the day itself. Concelebrating with Him were their Eminences Metropolitans Kyriakos of Nazareth and Makarios of Ptolemais, the Elder Chief Secretary Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, and the Secretary of the Holy Synod Archimandrite Christodoulos, together with priests from the surrounding areas, Archdeacon Mark, Hierodeacon Prodromos, and the faithful of the region.

We, the Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem, are here today in Taybeh in solidarity with the local community following an intensifying trend of systemic and targeted attacks against them and their presence. We ask for the prayers, attention, and action of the world, particularly that of Christians globally.

On Monday, 7 July 2025, radical [Israelis] from nearby settlements intentionally set fire near the town’s cemetery and the Church of Saint George, which dates back to the 5th century. Taybeh is the last remaining all-Christian town in the West Bank. These actions are a direct and intentional threat to our local community first and foremost, but also to the historic and religious heritage of our ancestors and holy sites. In the face of such threats, the greatest act of bravery is to continue to call this your home. We stand with you, we support your resilience, and you have our prayers.

We give thanks for the local residents and firefighters for extinguishing the fire before our holy sites were destroyed, but we join voices with the local priests - Greek Orthodox, Latin, and Melkite Greek Catholic - issuing a clear plea for support in the face of repeated, systematic attacks from these radicals, which are only growing more frequent.
In recent months, the radicals have led their cattle to graze on the farms of Christians on the east side of Taybeh - the agricultural area - rendering them inaccessible at best but at worst damaging the olive groves that families depend on. Last month, several homes were attacked by these radicals, lighting fires and erecting a billboard that said, translated into English, “there is no future for you here”.

On Saturday, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, inaugurated the fifth Service Week for the youth of the Coptic Orthodox Church from around the world at Karma House in King Mariout.

The opening ceremony included a documentary showcasing the history of the Logos Gatherings from 2018 until now. Afterwards, the youth engaged in a discussion with His Holiness, discussing topics related to service, the work of the apostles, and comparisons between the past and the present.

On Saturday, the 29th of June/12th of July 2025, the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem solemnly celebrated the commemoration of the Holy, Glorious, and Chief of the Apostles, Peter and Paul.

Their sacred memory was honoured in the Church dedicated to their names, which celebrates its patronal feast, located within the Holy Monastery at the city of Capernaum—a place frequently mentioned in the Holy Gospels, now lying in ruins upon the western shore of the Sea of Tiberias.

In honour of these two foremost Apostles, the Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem. Concelebrating with His Beatitude were Their Eminences Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, Metropolitan Makarios of Ptolemais, and the Elder Chief Secretary, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, together with Archimandrite Christodoulos, priests from the neighbouring regions, including the Russian-speaking priest of Capernaum, Fr Mark, Archdeacon Fr Mark, and Hierodeacon Prodromos.

Jerusalem – Beneath the incense-filled vaults of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the most intricate and profound archaeological operations in the Holy Land is unfolding. What began in 2022 as a restoration project for the church’s deteriorating floor has become a journey into the deep layers of sacred history. Led by Prof. Francesca Romana Stasolla of Sapienza University of Rome, and coordinated by the three main Christian communities— the Franciscans (Custody of the Holy Land), the Greek Orthodox, and the Armenians—in collaboration with the Antiquities Authority, this project seeks to preserve the past while protecting the present.

Restoration That Sparked Revelation

The current archaeological project stems from urgent conservation work launched in 2016, when engineers detected alarming signs of structural degradation in both the Edicule (the Tomb of Christ) and the church as a whole—including the flooring, plumbing, and ventilation systems. The urgency was both spiritual and structural.

In his Message for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly—celebrated each year on the Sunday nearest the feast of Jesus’ grandparents, Sts Anne and Joachim—His Holiness Pope Leo reflects on hope and old age.

By Christopher Wells

Ahead of the Jubilee Year celebration of World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly—which this year falls on July 27—Pope Leo writes that “hope is a constant source of joy, whatever our age”, adding, “when that hope has also been tempered by fire over the course of a long life, it proves a source of deep happiness.”

On Monday, the 24th of June / 7th of July 2025, the Feast of the Nativity of the Honourable Forerunner and Baptist John was celebrated at the Holy Monastery of the Nativity of the Forerunner in Ein Karem, his birthplace, which belongs to the Patriarchate. The celebration was marked by Great Vespers on the eve and the Divine Liturgy in the morning, presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Makarios of Ptolemais. Concelebrating with him were Archimandrite Amphilochios, Russian-speaking priests Fr Nikolaos, Fr Vladimir and Fr Sergios from the Church of Ukraine, and Hierodeacon Prodromos.

The chanting was delivered by Hieromonk Dositheos and nuns of the Patriarchate. The congregation consisted of Greek-speaking and Russian-speaking faithful and nuns of the Patriarchate, and the Consul of the Hellenic Consulate, Mr Petros Anagnostaras, was also present.

Lk 10:25-37

The parable of the “Good Samaritan” that we hear today is embedded in the dialog between Jesus and a scribe (Lk 10:25-37) who wants to put him to the test.

The scribe’s question is an important one, the same question that every disciple asks his teacher.

But his attitude is not sincere, is not that of a good disciple: he is not so much looking for an answer as trying to embarrass his interlocutor, to discredit him. The doctor of the Law asks: “Teacher, what must I do to in-herit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25).

Jesus responds to this one, important question with two questions that are also fundamental: “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” (Luke 10:26).

It is important to keep these two questions together. The complete answer to the doctor of the Law can only be found by holding these two questions of Jesus together. One must indeed know what is written in the Law, what God has revealed about eternal life. But one must also know how to read it, with which heart, with which eye.

The doctor indeed knows the Law well and answers it correctly. But he doesn’t seem to fully understand what it means, how to interpret it. It is the look of someone who wants to justify himself (“But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus...” - Luke 10:29).

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV celebrates the first Mass for the Care of Creation at the Laudato Si’ Village in Castel Gandolfo, and urges Christians to embrace our mission to bring peace and reconciliation to our world and all creation.

By Devin Watkins

Just a few days after beginning his summer holidays in Castel Gandolfo, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV celebrated the first Mass for the Care of Creation,” a new formulary of the Roman Missal.

The Mass took place at the Laudato Si’ Village, an educational center located in the Papal summer residence near Rome, and was attended by the center’s staff.

In off-the-cuff remarks at the start of his homily, the Holy Father said the Mass was being celebrated surrounded by beauty in “a kind of ‘natural’ cathedral.”

The General Secretariat of the Synod releases “Pathways for the Implementation of the Synod”, which provides “an interpretive key for understanding the implementation phase of the Synod on Synodality.”

By Christopher Wells

A new document from the Synod of Bishops is intended “to provide an interpretive key for understanding the implementation phase of the synodal process.”

Released by the Synod on Monday, Pathways for the Implementation Phase of the Synod offers “local Churches throughout the world the world a shared framework that will make it easier to walk together” and promotes “the dialogue that will lead the whole Church to the Ecclesial Assembly,” set for October 2028 that will mark the culmination of the synodal process begun by His Holiness Pope Francis in 2020.

With the blessing 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 (MECC), the summer school officially commenced at the Khoren I Center on June 30, 2025, organized by the center’s committee.

The day commenced with a joint prayer in the Holy Trinity Chapel, followed by a welcome speech from the center’s director, V. Rev. Fr. Zaven Najarian. The summer school coordinator, Maral Harboyan, then welcomed the students, highlighting the exciting and enriching programs they would experience.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV arrives at Castel Gandolfo on Sunday, July 6, 2025, afternoon where he will spend a period of rest. A large group of faithful, including a group of nuns, waited hours for his arrival.

By Salvatore Cernuzio

The signal was the opening of the gate and the exit of two Swiss Guards. Then the roar of motorcycle engines and the dark car appeared from the bottom of the hill before pausing for the Pope to get out to greet the long line of people standing in the sun, who had been waiting for at least a couple of hours behind the barriers that even the mayor had helped to set up this morning. At around 5 p.m., Pope Leo XIV arrived at Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence of the Popes 25 km from Rome, where he will spend a period of summer rest until 20 July and then again for a few days in August.

During his Sunday Angelus, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV reflects on the universal call to mission, urging Christians to move beyond occasional faith and become committed witnesses in daily life.

By Francesca Merlo

Addressing the faithful gathered for his Sunday Angelus on 6 July, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV offered a reflection on the missionary nature of the Church, grounded in the Gospel of Luke.

The Pope focused his reflection on Jesus’ sending out of seventy-two disciples, an act which, he explained, represents the universal scope of the Gospel. “The hope of the Gospel is meant for all peoples,” he said, adding that this reflects “the breadth of God’s heart and the abundance of His harvest.”

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV releases his Prayer intention for the month of July, and invites us to pray that we may know how to choose the right path for our life and reject anything that leads us away from Christ.

By Devin Watkins

“Let us pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.”

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV made that invitation in his prayer intention for July 2025, released in The Pope Video, which accompanies his monthly intention.

In the video produced by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, the Holy Father offers a prayer to guide Christians in our discernment process.

The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments present at the Holy See Press Office, a new formulary of the Roman Missal dedicated to the “Care for Creation”.

By Isabella H. de Carvalho

On July 9, 2025, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will celebrate the first “Mass for the Care of Creation”, with a new formulary of the Roman Missal, produced by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, and presented Thursday, July 3, during a press conference at the Vatican. The Pope will celebrate this private Mass during his holiday with the staff of the “Borgo Laudato Sì” (“Laudato Sì Village”), an educational center located in the Papal residence in Castel Gandolfo. 

Lk 10:1-12,17-20 

The context of the Gospel we read today (Lk 10:1-12,17-20) is that of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem.

A few verses earlier, the evangelist Luke reports that Jesus makes the firm decision to set off for Jerusalem (Lk 9:51) and immediately sends his disciples off to prepare for his arrival from village to village (Lk 9:52). Luke had also already reported on the first mission of the twelve in chapter 9 (Lk 9:1-6), so one might think that this is something particularly important for the evangelist.

Let us first turn to the opening verse, where we read that the “the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit” (Lk 10:1)…

In his Message for the 10th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV quotes extensively from Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’, denouncing environmental and social injustice and noting that God’s creation is not intended to be a battleground for vital resources.

By Linda Bordoni

As the Church prepares to mark the Tenth World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on 1 September 2025, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV’s message for the occasion urges Christians and all people of goodwill to recognize the urgent need for environmental and social justice in a world increasingly scarred by climate change, conflict, and inequality.

The National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon held the 2025 Women's Conference, from June 29 to July 3 at the Dhour Chweir Evangelical Center - Lebanon.

The gathering addressed important issues affecting women's lives, such as mental health, the challenges of achieving balance amid pressure, and the role of women in times of change. It also included biblical reflections on grace, hope, and the Kingdom.

Acts 12:1-11; 2 Tim 4:6-8,17-18; Mt 16:13-19 

Dear brothers in Christ and in St. Peter 

Dear Fr. Custos,  
may the Lord give you peace! 

The Gospel that we read every year on this occasion always offers us new suggestions. Today, too, we are picking up just one of them. I am talking about the knowledge of God according to flesh and blood on the one hand, or according to God’s own inspiration on the other. These are two different ways of standing before God, the life and the world. They can also be two ways of standing in the life of the church, as we shall see. 

To say something about Jesus, the crowd and the disciples refer to the great prophets of the past (“Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets” - Mt 16:14): That is, they realize that Jesus is understood as a great, special person, but no different from others who were already part of biblical history…

Due regional issues, the three-day 78th General Assembly of the the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE) was changed to a one-day meeting, which took place on 30 June 2025 at the First Armenian Evangelical Church (Beirut), and those unable to travel joined online. There were 35 voting members in all (in person and online), plus guests and honorary members.