Mt 3, 13-17

The Gospel of the Epiphany gives rise in us to the same question that set the Magi on their journey: “Where is the child who has been born?” (Mt 2:2). Because Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Mt 2:1), the Magi can ask this question and begin their search. If Jesus had not been born, if God had not come among us, this question would make no sense and would have no answer: it would be useless to ask it. 

But God truly is Emmanuel, God with us, and in today’s Gospel (Mt 3:13–17) we can begin to find an answer to this question: where is the one who has been born? 

The account begins with a surprising act: “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him” (Matt. 3:13). Jesus goes down from Galilee to the Jordan; He descends into the ranks of sinners, descends into the waters that bear the weight of sin and the conversions of others. It is a movement that is not spectacular: it is a movement of silent solidarity. He descends to the Jordan without fanfare, a loud public announcement… 

On the occasion of Christmas/Epiphany, Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, Acting President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, and Central Committee Chair, Reverend Raffi Messerlian, as well as Pastors, Church Leaders and youth of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, visited the Armenian National Sanatorium of Azounieh in Lebanon, on 8 January 2026, accompanied by the Sanatorium’s Director, Mr. Dajad Srabian, and Board Chair Mr. Hagop Ladoyan, along with Board Members.

On January 8, 2026, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), presided over the Ramsho Prayer at St Peter and St Paul Cathedral in Baghdad. He blessed the vestments of the young Deacons who will be ordained on the occasion of the Feast of Mor Stephanos.

Their Eminences Mor Severius Hawa, Archbishop of Baghdad and Basra, Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, were also present.

On January 8, 2026, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), received His Holiness Mar Gewargis III, Patriarch of the Ancient Church of the East, as well as the Heads of the Churches in Baghdad, at the Archdiocesan Headquarters in Baghdad.

The meeting was attended by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Severius Hawa, Archbishop of Baghdad and Basra, Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV opens the Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals and recalls that Christ draws us to follow Him, warning that division in the Church scatters the faithful.

“I am here to listen,” His Holiness Pope Leo XIV said in his opening address of the Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals taking place in the Vatican, on 7-8 January.

The Pope began by expressing his joy at welcoming the Cardinals to Rome on the day after Epiphany, praying that the Holy Spirit may guide them during these two intense but important days of reflection and dialogue.

The Pope said their day-and-a-half together “will point the way for our path ahead."

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass with the Cardinals gathered for his first Extraordinary Consistory, and invites them to share their burden of pastoral care with each other as they seek to help the Pope guide the Church.

At the start of the second day of the Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV presided at Mass with the Cardinals who have come from across the globe to consult with him.

They began their discussion on Wednesday, January 7, taking up the themes of “Synod and synodality” and “Evangelization and mission in the Church in the light of Evangelii gaudium.”

In his homily, the Pope began with the theme of fraternal love, saying the Consistory represents a moment of grace that expresses their unity in service to the Church.

On January 7, 2026, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), arrived to Baghdad.

His Holiness was received by their Eminences Mor Severius Hawa, Archbishop of Baghdad and Basra, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, as well as the priests of the Archdiocese. His Excellency Dr. Ramy Aghajan, Director of Christian Endowments in Iraq, was also present.

He was accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs.

After the official welcome of the Syriac Scouts, His Holiness presided over the Ramsho Prayer at St Peter and St Paul Cathedral.

On the joyous occasion of Christmas the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE) held an official reception on 6 January 2026 in the “Aharonian Hall” of the First Armenian Evangelical Church in Beirut.

Acting President of the Union, Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, Central Committee Members, and Armenian Evangeliacal Pastors and wives greeted guests from Ecclesiastical, political and diplomatic circles, both Armenian and non-Armenian, as well as Church Members, to celebrate the birth of Christ, carrying wishes for peace and reconciliation for Lebanon, the region and Armenia.

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), presided over the Christmas Vigil (Jrakaluytsi Badarak) on the Eve of the Holy Nativity and Theophany, solemnly observed at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Mother Cathedral, Lebanon. V. Rev. Fr. Sdepanos Pashayan conducted the Divine Liturgy.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Grand Sacristan of the Cathedral, His Grace Archbishop Sipan Ketchejian, took a candle from the Altar symbolizing the Light of Christ and presented it to the Catholicos, who in turn shared it with the faithful present.

On the morning of Monday, January 5, 2026, 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), received His Excellency Archbishop Paolo Borgia, the Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon.

His Excellency Archbishop Borgia extended to His Holiness a congratulatory letter from His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. In the letter, the Pope expresses his gratitude to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I for his participation in Ecumenical and inter-religious meetings during his recent visit to Lebanon.

On January 6, 2026, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), inaugurated a Charity Bazaar organized by Emanuel Family of the brotherhood of “Faith and Light” (Iman w Noor) at the Patriarchate in Bab Touma, Damascus.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, and Mor Andrawos Bahhi, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education, were also present.

‏His Holiness blessed the volunteers and workers in the family, and prayed for them asking the Lord to bless their efforts and service.

On January 6, 2026, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), celebrated the Holy Qurobo on the occasion of Denho or Epiphany, 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.

Under the patronage and in the presence 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 Catholicosate’ “Shnorhali” Choir and the “Naregatsi” Children’s Choir celebrated the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany with a concert, on Saturday evening, January 3, 2026. The concert was conducted by Rev. Fr. Zaven Najarian.

The evening opened with welcoming remarks by Anna Nazarian.

The concert began with the Lord’s Prayer and continued with 17 selections, including hymns and traditional Christmas carols in various languages, accompanied by a narrative depicting the message of the Feast.

On the morning of Thursday, January 1, 2026, the first Divine Liturgy of the year was celebrated at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, presided over by 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). Rev. Fr. Tavit Asayan celebrated the Divine Liturgy.

Following the Liturgy, a small gathering was held at the atrium of the Catholicosate. V. Rev. Fr. Avedik Der Garabedian conveyed New Year greetings on behalf of the Cilician Brotherhood and faithful, emphasizing the importance of the “Year for the Renewal of Spiritual Life” pontifical proclamation.

The Feast of St. Stephen the Protomartyr and Protodeacon was solemnly observed at the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia, on Sunday, December 28, 2025, with a Divine Liturgy and a special celebration at the atrium of the Catholicosate, presided over by 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).

H.E. Arch. Sipan Ketchedjian, the newly appointed Grand Sacristan of St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, celebrated the Liturgy and delivered a homily, during which he elaborated on the Biblical foundations of the diaconate as outlined in the Acts of the Apostles. He reflected on the challenges and blessings of multilingualism, noting that while proficiency in multiple languages is a valuable asset in today’s multicultural world, it remains an earthly privilege. He urged the faithful to use their gifts, following Christ’s example, to build relationships founded on love, respect, and patience, and to aspire for a “good place” in the Kingdom of Heaven through a steadfast relationship with God.

On Friday, December 26, 2025, the Armenian Theological Seminary family gathered in a spirit of joyous fellowship to celebrate the New Year and the Feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ. This special agape celebration, jointly organized by the Seminary Administration and the Ladies’ Committee, brought together administrators, committee members, faculty, and students as one community. The evening was graced by the presence 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), who honored the gathering with his paternal blessings and guidance.

The Gospel of this Sunday after Christmas, the feast of the Holy Family (Mt 2:13–15, 19–23), tells us that God enters the world not as a powerful figure, but as a fragile and vulnerable child, a child who needs to be welcomed, cared for, and protected.

Matthew emphasizes this by recounting what follows the visit of the Magi (Mt 2:1–13): their passage through Jerusalem arouses the suspicion and concern of King Herod, who then decides to have all children two years old and under put to death (Mt 2:1–16).

Herod, like his son Archelaus later on; represents the figure of the powerful man, one who believes he can freely dispose of the lives of others. Their power is described as a power of death, a cruel power.
But God does not choose to be powerful…

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), visited the Aram I Armenological Institute in Lebanon, on Monday, December 22, 2025, to celebrate the New Year and Christmas holidays with the institute’s community.

The visit brought together lecturers and students, participating both in person and online, in a warm reception for the Catholicos. Mr. Aharon Shekerdemian, Director of the Institute, formally welcomed His Holiness Catholicos Aram I on behalf of the Institute’s community. During his welcome, Director Shekerdemian briefed Catholicos Aram I on the institute’s current academic endeavors and plans. He expressed the institute’s deep gratitude for the unwavering paternal support and guidance consistently provided by His Holiness.

In a cherished annual tradition marking the New Year and Christmas Season, 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), visited the Armenian Sanatorium of Azounieh in Lebanon, on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.

Accompanied by a delegation of Monastic Fathers, His Holiness was received by Director Dadjad Srabian, Board of Trustees Chairperson Hagop Ladoyan, and members of the board and ladies’ committee.