At the opening of the annual Synod of the Chaldean Church in Baghdad, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq and the World, once again raises the alarm on the risk of Christians disappearing from Iraq as they continue to face hardships and discrimination.

By Lisa Zengarini

The Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq and the World, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, has warned that Christians in Iraq and in the entire region are heading towards disappearance unless there is a "change" in the way of thinking in governmental, social and economic policies.

He made these remarks at the opening of the Synod of the Chaldean Church taking place in the Iraqi capital from 21-27 August.

“Iraqi Christians, and perhaps also Christians of other nations, will soon disappear if there is no change in thinking and of the state system.”

During the recent Cilician Brotherhood gathering, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, announced the following new appointments:

- Rev. Fr. Sdepanos Pashayan, formerly pastor St. Mary Church in Thessaloniki, joins the Information and Communication Department in Antelias and is replaced by V. Rev. Fr. Yeghia Malkhassian.

-Rev. Fr. Avedik Der Garabedian and V. Rev. Fr. Azad Filigian join the supervisory staff of the Armenian Theological Seminary

-Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aprahamian joins the Middle Eastern and Christian-Muslim Dialogue section of the Ecumenical Department.

-Rev. Fr. Yezegiel Selloumian is appointed as pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Zahle…

On Friday, August 6 / 19, 2022, the Despotic feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord was celebrated at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. During this holiday, the Church remembers that our Lord Jesus Christ before His passion took three of the pre-qualified disciples, Peter and James and John, and they went up to Tabor, where He was transfigured before them.

There, He hid His human nature for a little while and revealed to the disciples His divine nature in its brilliance, shining more than the sun and His clothes were now white as snow and was seen with the prophets Moses and Elias, conversing with them about His passion, which would happen in Jerusalem in the near future.

On Sunday, August 21st, 2022, a requiem service was held at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, Lebanon, and St. Mary Monastery in Bikfaya, Lebanon, as well as in all Prelacy Churches of the Holy See of Cilicia, under the auspices of The Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, for the repose of the souls of the victims of the Surmalu shopping center explosion, in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, on August 14th.

Damascus, August 16th, 2022

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, sent a letter of condolence to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, following the fire that ripped through the Giza Church.
His Beatitude Patriarch John X wrote: My letter coincides with the season of dormition of the Most Holy Virgin Mary. Hence, we ask for her omnipresent divine tenderness.

On August 15, 2022, on the occasion of the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, celebrated the Holy Qurobo at the Lady of the Girdle (Zunoro) Cathedral in Homs.

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II was assisted by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeera and Euphrates and Armenian Orthodox Archbishop of Damascus Armash Nalbandian.

On August 14, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, arrived to the Lady of the Girdle (Zunoro) Cathedral – Homs, for inauguration Shrine of belt (Zunoro) of the Virgin Mary.

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II was received by His Eminence the Archbishop Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, the clergy of the archdiocese as well as the Syriac Scouts of the Archdiocese.

His Holiness Pope Francis concludes his catechesis on the value and meaning of old age at the weekly General Audience, and recalls that serene faith and trust in Christ’s promise at that time of life can offer fruitful witness to the Gospel.

By Devin Watkins

At the Wednesday General Audience, held in the Paul VI Hall due to the heat, His Holiness Pope Francis picked up the theme of the value of old age for the last time.
He reflected on Jesus’ words of farewell to His disciples at the Last Supper, as recounted in the Gospel of John (14:1-3).

On Tuesday, July 27/ August 9, 2022, the Patriarchate celebrated the commemoration of the Holy glorious great martyr Panteleimon the healer, at the Holy Monastery dedicated to him on the south-west of the Patriarchate, near Jaffa Gate.

On this day the Church commemorates the life and martyrdom of Saint Panteleimon according to his synaxarion. The Saint was the son of the idolater Eustorgios and a Christian mother named Euvouli, who taught him the Holy Scriptures. Saint Panteleimon studied medicine and was named Panteleon initially, but Elder Ermolaos baptised him Panteleimon.

The Lambeth Conference, a gathering of the bishops of the World Anglican Communion, convened from July 26th to August 7th, 2022, at the invitation of Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. H.G. Bishop Magar Ashkarian participated in the conference on behalf of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia.

The conference takes place once every ten years. This year’s theme was “God’s Church for God’s World: walking, listening and witnessing together.” More than 1450 bishops gathered together to pray together, study the Bible, hear the struggles and joys that each bishop’s experience in their local contexts and address the issues facing the world.

His Holiness Pope Francis sends a video message to participants in a conference in Mexico, and urges “digital evangelizers” to reach out to people in digital spaces who have not yet encountered Christ.

By Devin Watkins

“The Lord knocks on the door to enter within us, but how many times He also knocks on the door inside for us to let Him out!”

His Holiness Pope Francis offered that consideration in a video message sent to young people taking part in the “Hechos 29”, or “Acts 29” event.

The international conference took place on 5-6 August in Monterrey, Mexico, and brought together “digital evangelizers”—Christians seeking to evangelize online and on social media—to encourage them to be active members of the Church in the digital space.

On August 7, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, celebrated the Holy Qurobo at Mor Gabriel Church in Ajaltoun, Lebanon, on the occasion of the Feast of Transfiguration and the Feast of Mor Gabriel.

He was assisted by their Eminences: Mor Theophilos George Saliba, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, Mor Severus Roger Akhrass, Patriarchal Vicar for Syriac Studies. Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Justinos Boulos Safar, Patriarchal Vicar in Zahleh and Beqaa, Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh, Archbishop of Beirut, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, also attended the Holy Qurobo.

His Holiness Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for the month of August, urging special prayers for small businesses.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

As August kicks off, His Holiness Pope Francis is calling on Catholics to pray for small and medium-sized businesses, so that "in the midst of economic and social crisis, they find ways to continue operating, and serving their communities.”

The Pope released his monthly prayer intention in a video prepared by the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network.

For the final day of the March of the Franciscans, which takes place every year during summer, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over a Mass on top of Mount Tabor, Palestine, and met with the youth who participated in the event.

Eight days. It’s how long the 31st march of the Franciscans lasted this year, from July 27th to August 3rd. Starting in Rameh, the participants walked from Eilaboun to Nazareth, to finally reach Mount Tabor on the eighth day.

“This idea of a march to walk, pray and spend time together first started in Italy,” explains Fr. Mario Hadchiti, OFM, one of the organizers. “Since then, there have been marches here in the Holy Land, but also in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon… It originated from St Francis of Assisi’s Festa del Perdono (Feast for the forgiveness of the sins).”

His Holiness Pope Francis, during his weekly General Audience on Wednesday 3 August 2022, prays for the people of Lebanon as they mark the second anniversary of the Beirut Port Blast this 4 August.

By Vatican News staff reporter

During his weekly General Audience on Wednesday, His Holiness Pope Francis recalled the second anniversary of the devastating Beirut Port explosion.

Speaking to pilgrims gathered in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope said his thoughts went out to the families of the victims of the disastrous event and to the "dear Lebanese people."

On Tuesday, August 2nd, His Beatitude Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over a Mass for the charismatic movement Rinnovamento nello Spirito Santo, in the church of Gethsemane, Jerusalem. The Mass was attended by the president of the association, Mr. Salvatore Martinez, the first layman ever appointed to this position.

Born in 1971 in Italy, approved ecclesiastically in 1996, the movement of Rinnovamento welcomes lay, religious, and consecrated people.

On Tuesday, 20 July/ 2 August 2022, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the feast of the Prophet Elias from Thesbis.

On this feast, which has its origin in the Old Testament, in the books of Kings and in the New Testament, in the Gospels and in Saint James’ letter, Prophet Elias is commemorated as the incarnate angel, the prophets’ summit, the second forerunner of the coming of Christ, the one who casts out sickness and cleanses lepers, who sent down fire from heaven through his prayer and slaughtered the priests of Baal in the altar of Mount Carmel, the one who did not see death but was ascended into the heavens on a fiery chariot and threw down his mantle upon his disciple Elisaios, who walked on it and crossed the river Jordan.

On August 2, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, met the monks who are serving in the Archdioceses in Sweden, at the Holy Cross Monastery.

His Eminence Archbishop Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, attended the meeting.

The journalist Youssef Al-Husseini conducted a television interview with His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, which was broadcast on the evening of Sunday 31 July 2022, on Egyptian Channel One.

The interview included a variety of topics: national, spiritual, and social. It also included the memories and visions of His Holiness the Pope during the ten years he spent on the throne of St. Mark. His Holiness Pope Tawadros II also addressed the modern challenges and the Church’s vision to confront them.

In a question about the memories of His Holiness the Pope for the period from June 30 to July 3, His Holiness referred to the visit he and Dr Ahmed El-Tayeb made to the ousted President Mohamed Morsi…

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, inaugurated, on Saturday 30 July 2022 morning, the Church of the Holy Resurrection and the Virgin Mary in Al-Zahir district, Cairo, affiliated to the Jerusalem Association, and it is the seat of the Jerusalem See in Cairo.
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II had arrived at the church at seven o’clock morning and was received by His Eminence Metropolitan Antonius, Metropolitan of the Jerusalem and the Near East, and the priests of the church.
The choir of deacons recited the melody of welcoming the patriarch the moment His Holiness the Pope entered the Church, after which the inaugural Prayers began.