His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, delivered his weekly Sermon at the Wednesday meeting, on November 13, 2024, from the Church of Virgin Mary and St Abu Sefein in Ezbet El Nakhl. The sermon was broadcast on Christian satellite channels, the official website of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and the online C.O.C. channel, belonging to the Church's Media Center.

His Holiness prayed the raising of the incense of Vespers prayer, joined by several bishops, priests of the church, and a large number of priests from the churches in Ezbet El Nakhl and El Marg areas. H.G. Bishop Sedarous (General Bishop of the Churches of Ezbet El Nakhl and El Marg), welcomed Pope Tawadros, congratulating him on the twelfth anniversary of his enthronement on the See of St Mark. Additional speeches were given by priests, along with various hymns and church melodies sung by the church's youth choir, the choir serving the Sudanese community, and the children's choir. His Holiness praised and encouraged their performances. He also honored distinguished people from the area for their academic and sporty achievements.

Mk. 13:24-32

The evangelist Mark has his very own way of reporting Jesus’ account of the end times.

In the eschatological discourse that we find in chapter 13 of his gospel, there is no shadow of a possible final judgment to which the nations and individuals would be subjected.

The time of the end is not intended as a time of judgment by God, who sits like a judge on a throne and weighs up and evaluates our failures and good deeds. Life should not be lived in fear of judgment, and what motivates us to act cannot be the fear of doing wrong and being condemned.

But what then can motivate our existence and how can the thought of the end brighten our days?

The passage we read in today’s liturgy (Mk. 13:24-32) is taken precisely from this eschatological discourse and tells us something about the time of the end, which will indeed come.

A partnership between the Vatican and Microsoft gives life to a new digital portal that aims to bring St. Peter’s Basilica closer to the global audience and enhance the experience of pilgrims and visitors.

By Fabio Colagrande and Linda Bordoni 

Entitled “St. Peter’s Basilica: AI-Enhanced Experience,” an AI-enabled project was unveiled on Monday in collaboration with Microsoft and Iconem, a heritage digitalization company, as the Church prepares for the Jubilee celebrations in 2025.

With the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Orthodox Family, and in the presence of Rev. Bishops Romanos (Al-Hannat) the Patriarchal Vicar, Moussa (Al-Khoury), and John (Batash), the Patriarchal Department of Ecumenical Relations and Development celebrated the Sunday of the Good Samaritan, its patron's feast, which coincided with its thirtieth anniversary in the Mariamite Cathedral, November 10, 2024

On numerous occasions, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches. joyfully receives the Catholicosate Sunday School family, appreciating their talents and offering his blessings. This time, Sunday, November 10th, 2024, marked the back-to-school, which was celebrated with a brief ceremony.

Despite numerous challenges—this time due to the war—the Sunday School administration opened its doors to its students, remaining committed to its mission of Christian education for the young. Accordingly, following the Divine Liturgy, Ms. Janine Tanielian led the students, their parents, and the teachers to the atrium of the Catolicosate to celebrate the opening of the new academic year.

As Azerbaijan hosts the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP29, from November 11-22, effectively greenwashing its ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Artsakh Armenians and the unlawful holding of prisoners of war and political prisoners in Baku, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, and president of the World Council of Churches, reached out to prominent international leaders and extended letters to various international councils of churches, including World Council of Churches, Conference of European Churches, Middle East Council of Churches, Christian Conference of Asia.

Despite the challenging political climate in the Holy Land, His Beatitude Cardinal Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, resumed his pastoral visits to the parishes of the Diocese of Jerusalem, beginning with a visit to the parish of Smakieh in southern Jordan, which lasted from Thursday, November 7 to Sunday, November 10, 2024. Rather than allowing the circumstances to distance him from the parishioners, he has prioritized visiting them, connecting closely to hear their needs, and offering them spiritual counsel.

Highlights of the Pastoral Visit:

Upon his arrival to Smakieh, Card. Pizzaballa and his accompanying delegation were warmly welcomed by Fr. Khaled Gammoh, the parish priest of Smakieh, along with several Patriarchate priests from Karak, and the Priests of the Hijaziin family, as well as local church leaders, and authorities. Among the attendees were the Director of the Security Center in the Qasr District, the Mayor of Sheehan, and senior members of the Al-Hijazin and Akasha tribes. Security services accompanied His Beatitude throughout his visit, and the Scout group of Northern Zarqa animated the reception. In the parish hall, Fr. Khaled welcomed His Beatitude and distinguished guests, highlighting the significance of this historic visit, and praying for peace in the world. Then Card. Pizzaballa proceeded to the church to invoke the Holy Spirit's guidance for this pastoral visit.

On December 26, 2024, the feast of St Stephen, His Holiness Pope Francis will open a Holy Door in the Roman prison of Rebibbia, marking a historic moment in the history of Jubilee years. It will be the first time that - in addition to the Holy Doors opened in the four Roman Papal Basilicas - one will also be opened in a penal institution too. The announcement was made by the Pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, during a press conference on October 28. The Pro-prefect emphasized that Rebibbia, on December 26, should be seen as "a symbol of all the prisons in the world".

By the special invitation of the Protestant Church in Switzerland and its President, the Rev. Rita Famos, UAECNE Acting President Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, visited Bern and Zurich for a series of activities focused on Lebanon, the Middle East, Armenia and Artsakh from 3-7 November 2024.

On Friday, October 26/November 8, 2024, The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the feast of the Great Martyr Demetrios the myrrh-gusher.

On this feast, the Church remembers in the certainty of faith that Saint Demetrios came from Thessaloniki and lived in the time of Emperor Diocletian as the chief military officer and after his conversion to Christianity and his baptism, he became of catechist and teacher. Under this quality, he blessed and encouraged his student Nestor to fight against a gladiator of great strength and inhuman ferocity, Lyaeus. Thanks to the blessing of Saint Demetrios, Nestor agreed to “repress the pride of Lyaeus” and put him to death.

Having been informed of this, Maximian condemned Saint Demetrios and Saint Nestor to death by spear and sword. Through their example, all the Christians – members of the Church through the centuries until today are strengthened in their faith and life in Christ and glorify God, Who is wondrous in His Saints.

The Christian Media Center in the Holy Land (CMC) interviews the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

It is extremely difficult to express and assess in a few sentences the social, political and religious situation we have been experiencing for the past year. The fact is that we are living through one of the most problematic periods in modern history. This conflict is military in nature, and we are witnessing the consequences of what happened on 7 October and what is also happening in Gaza and the West Bank. However, from the Church's perspective, the concerns are not only about the military aspect, but also about the devastating impact on the population. First of all, the emotional impact; the hatred, resentment, revenge, and contempt. We had never witnessed a situation as deep and intense as this year! And of course also the consequences on people's lives

On Tuesday, October 23 / November 5, 2024, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of jerusalem celebrated the feast of Saint James the Brother of God. On this feast, the whole Church, especially that of Jerusalem, remembers that Saint James was the son of Joseph, born of a woman Joseph had married before he was betrothed to the Theotokos. That is why James was also called her son and brother of the Lord and son of Joseph (Matthew 13:55). He was also called “the Just” because of his extreme honesty and justice.

The Lord appointed him as the first Hierarch of the Church of Jerusalem. He presided over the First Apostolic Synod of Jerusalem in the year 49. He contributed the most to the decision of this Synod so that the Church would open its gates to the nations and not only to the Jews.

He wrote his Catholic Epistle in the New Testament, addressed to the twelve tribes of Israel in the diaspora. He confessed Jesus as sitting at the right hand of the power of God and coming on the clouds of heaven. On his testimony, he was pushed down from the wing of the Temple of Solomon and was stoned to death by order of Annanus the High Priest, in the year 62.

Mark 12:38-44

We saw two Sundays ago that Jesus' last miracle before entering Jerusalem and experiencing the Passion was that of healing a blind man, Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46-52). And this is because the disciple is the one who sees: he sees God at work in history and recognizes it by his unique and unmistakable style, which is the style of Easter.

Just like the disciples of Emmaus: they see a pilgrim walking with them, but they only recognize him when they see him breaking bread (Lk 24:31, 35). Because that gesture speaks of God, it speaks of his way of living and loving. The disciple is the one who learns to see, to look at life through the lens of Easter.

On Sunday, November 3, 2024, the parish of Reneh celebrated the 60th anniversary of the church's inauguration with a thanksgiving Mass led by His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa,  Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Concelebrating were Msgr. Rafiq Nahra, Patriarchal Vicar of Galilee, Fr. Ibrahim Shomali, the parish priest, as well as several priests and religious sisters.

Established in 1964, the church was built to serve the growing Catholic community in Reneh, guided by Fr. Joseph Nicolas and funded through the generosity of the French Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.

01 November 2024 | Indonesia   Global

The delegates of the General Assembly gathered Yogyakarta have approved 18 public statements on a variety of topics, from the situation in Ukraine and Palestine to Tax Justice and climate change. Public statements are an opportunity for the members to outline priorities, positions and define engagement on a  variety of topics.

Please, find the approved statements here.

29 October 2024 | Indonesia

The climate crisis is a threat that impacts all people, all communities, all nations in the world. ACT Alliance has had a focus on climate justice through its programming and advocacy for many years, and that focus continues in its General Assembly taking place in Yogyakarta, Indonesia October 28-November 1, 2024.

The crisis is of concern to all people, from the youth attending the Youth Pre-Assembly, to leaders of ACT, ACT members, and others speaking to journalists during a press conference, or from those working with local communities in Indonesia to those engaged in the UNFCCC’s Conferences of the Parties.

He spoke before 300 delegates from across the globe who are gathered in Indonesia this week.

“With gratitude, I want to affirm the ACT Alliance as a gift to the world and to the ecumenical movement,” he said. “I express special and personal words of thanks to the moderator Erik Lysén and the general secretary Rudelmar Bueno de Faria.”

Pillay reflected that the ACT Alliance is an essential partner of the WCC.

“We need to serve those in need, and we also need to change the systems and policies that keep them oppressed,” he said. “We go into the world knowing that mercy and justice go together.”

The ACT Alliance international organization held its 4th General Assembly under the theme “Hope in Action, Together for Justice”, between 28 October and 1 November 2024, in Yogyakarta – Indonesia.

The ACT Alliance General Secretary Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria heartfeltly thanked all members, YAKKUM, and the dedicated volunteers who made the Assembly possible. In this message, he acknowledges the invaluable support, hard work, and commitment that brought the event to life, highlighting the spirit of unity and service that defines the ACT community.

01 November 2024 - Indonesia/ Global

On the day of his appointment as new Moderator for ACT Alliance, Nicolàs Rosenthal delivered the following address in front of the delegates of the ACT Alliance General Assembly:

Dear sisters and brothers,

The other day, when I spoke, we were campaigning. Now we’ve been elected, and here’s the bad news: We are at a critical point in human history. But we did not appear here unexpectedly. More than 50 years ago the Club of Rome was already warning us of the limits of growth. More than 50 years ago, too, my late uncle, the radical thinker and prolific writer Ivan Illich, Monsignor Ivan Illich, was drawing our attention to the critical thresholds that our civilization was beginning to cross, points of no return where supposed advances in energy, transportation, medicine or technology were beginning to turn against their original good purposes.

On the occasion of COP29 UN Climate Change Conference in Baku (Azerbaijan) – November 2024 – We, the three spiritual leaders, express once more our frustration and concern regarding Azerbaijan’s war, blockade (2020-2023) and forced evacuation of 120.000 Armenians from their historical homeland; the planned destruction of Armenian religious and historical monuments and the illegal imprisonment of political leaders.