On Friday morning, June 2nd, 2023, the Pontifical delegation accompanied by community heads and members, headed by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church of Cilicia, visited the Aram and Berdjuhi Markarian Nursery, ARS kindergarten, Sarafian Elementary, and Pastermadjian Secondary schools.

The principal of the Sourp Hagop Armenian School Ms. Lory Abrakian delivered the welcoming remarks. Subsequently, the students presented a brief program in honor of His Holiness’ visit, and His Eminence Arch. Papken Tcharian invited the Catholicos to the stage for his blessings and speech.

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church of Cilicia, Pontifical visit to Canada proceeded on Thursday evening, June 1st, 2023, with His Holiness and the pontifical delegation visiting Sourp Hagop Church. The Pontifical procession consisted of clergy, acolytes, the Homenetmen GAMK band, and scouts.

The Hrashapar hymn was sung as His Holiness and his entourage entered the Church, where Canonical Prayers were held. Central Council members of the Catholicosate, Executive Council, Boards of Trustees, and representatives of the Armenian community organizations were present.  

On Friday, May 20 / June 2, 2023, the Feast of the Glorious and God-crowned great sovereigns and equal to the apostles Constantine and Helen was celebrated by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem with a transference of the actual Feast date.

On this Feast, the Church honors Constantine the Great as an apostle, because with the decree of the Milanese of the year AD 312, he recognized Christianity as the freed religion of the Roman state, and allowed the construction of Churches for the worship of the true God through Christ, His incarnate Son. The Church also honors his mother Saint Helen on this day, because, following her son as king, she came to the Holy Land and erected the Church of the Resurrection on the Holy Sepulchre and the Martyrdom on the Horrendous Golgotha and the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem and other churches in different places of the incarnate presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jn 3:16-18

In some passages of the Gospel of John, we find words of Jesus that are like summaries, keys to reading, and understanding all the actions of God.

The passage we hear on this Feast of the Most Trinity (Jn 3:16-18), which is part of the dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus, is just one of these fundamental passages.

As I said, it is not the only one, there are others.

Let us think about Chapter 6: 39-40, where Jesus says that “…this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” Or about Chapter 12:47, when Jesus repeats the same words that we hear today, as to repeat the essential: He did not come to condemn, but to salve.

A symposium dedicated to the 850th anniversary of the passing of St. Nerses the Gracious (Shnorhali) was held on May 26th, under the auspices of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, and organized by the Cilicia library.

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I addressed the closing session and summarized the legacy of St. Nerses in three key endeavors: reorganizing and revitalizing the church; ecumenical relations; and state-church relations.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, prayed on the morning of Thursday 1st of June 2023, the Liturgy of the Entry of Christ into the land of Egypt at the Church of the Virgin Mary in Maadi, Egypt which is one of the stops visited by the Holy Family during their tour in the land of Egypt.

A number of metropolitans, bishops, priests, deacons of the church and the congregation participated in the liturgy prayers.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II blessed the waters of the Nile on which the church is located, by sprinkling the blessing water in it, after the end of the liturgy, which was held in the open air in the area directly overlooking the Nile.

In the morning of June 1, 2023, the official opening ceremony of the International Joint Theological Commission of the Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches took place at the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa.

24 Orthodox and 18 Catholic participants, Cardinals, Metropolitans, Elders and lay theologians were welcomed by His Beatitude Pope Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa.

The Patriarch said: “It is with deep love and great joy that we welcome the Co-Chairs and the members of the International Joint Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches at the seat of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa, which has a long history and a promising future. We wish a very warm welcome to you all”.

The journey began from Palestine to Egypt, through the plateaus and deserts, and not via one of the known routes (three roads at the time) because they were fleeing from Herod the King. They reached the borders of Egypt and made the following stops during their journey:

1- Al-Farma: The Holy Family traveled from Bethlehem to Gaza to the Zaraneeq reserve (Al-Felusiyat), 37 km west of Al-Arish, and entered Egypt through the northern side of the Al-Farma (Bloziom) located between the cities of Al-Arish and Port Said.

2- Tal Basta: The Holy Family entered the city of Tal Basta near the city of Zagazig in the Sharqia governorate. The people of the city mistreated them, so they left.

3- The Mahmah (now Mostorod): Its name was the Mahmah because it was a place of bathing, and in it the Virgin bathed Christ and washed his clothes, with a spring of water that is present until today.

On May 31st, 2023, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, accompanied by V. Rev. Fr. Barouyr Shernezian and the co-chair of the Central Council of the Catholicosate Mr. Kirkor Mahseredjian, arrived in Canada for a pontifical visit.

His Holiness was officially received at the airport by the Prelate of Canada H.E. Arch. Papken Tcharian, H.E. Arch. Souren Kataroyan, the Consul General of Lebanon to Canada Mr. Antoine Eid, clergy of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, member of the Central Council Dr. Jirayr Basmadjian, members of the Religious and Lay Councils of the prelacy, members of the organizing committee and board trustees.

By: Miral Atik/ lpj.org

HOLY LAND – During the month of May, His Beatitude Mgr Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Mgr William Shomali, General Vicar, and Mgr Rafiq Nahra, Patriarchal Vicar for Israel, administered the First Communion and the sacrament of Confirmation to over 200 children from the various Latin parishes of the diocese. 

“You have to be aware of the gift you are receiving today. It is something that will change your life,” said Mgr Pizzaballa during his homily in Saint Savior, in Jerusalem, where he administered the sacrament of confirmation to 33 boys and 19 girls. “After this, your very lifestyle should express your love for Jesus”.

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, is continuing his pontifical visits within the framework of declaring 2023 the Year of the Armenian Diaspora. On this account, he departed for Canada on May 31st, accompanied by V. Rev. Fr. Barouyr Shernezian and the co-chair of the Central Council of the Catholicosate Mr. Krikor Mahseredjian.

In a message for the launch of the Family Global Compact, His Holiness Pope Francis gives his support to the initiative that aims to bring the pastoral care of families into dialogue with centres of study and research on the family in Catholic universities around the world.

By Thaddeus Jones

His Holiness Pope Francis has expressed his support for the Family Global Compact that is being launched as a way to support the welfare of the family, "decisive for the future of the world and that of the Church.” In a message released on Tuesday 30 May, the Pope lauded the goals of the Compact, an initiative of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life and the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences. 

Social media is a way for the Church to be among the people, and work toward the common good, not about compromising the truth to gain followers or 'likes,' says Dr Paolo Ruffini. The Prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication was speaking with Vatican News after presenting the Dicastery’s new theological and pastoral document reflection on social media, titled “Towards Full Presence. A Pastoral Reflection on Engagement with Social Media." (#FullyPresent).

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

The Vatican's Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, Paolo Ruffini, says that social media is valuable for being present in today's rapidly evolving world. However, he said in an interview with Vatican News, it’s not about gaining followers or 'likes,' but working toward a better world.

By: Cécile Leca/ lpj.org

JERUSALEM - On May 27th and 28th, the city of Jerusalem marked the Feast of Pentecost celebrated by His Beatitude Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, with a vigil at the Basilica of St Stephen and a solemn Mass at the Abbey of the Dormition. The video presents an overview about these celebrations.

On Sunday, May 15 / 28, 2023, on the commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Synod, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem. made a Pastoral visit to the Greek Orthodox Arabic-speaking Community of the county of Turan, adjacent to Cana of Galilee.

His Beatitude was warmly received by a parade of Scouts and a reception by the Priests, and he officiated in the Holy Church of Saint Georgios of this Community, with the co-celebration of their Eminences, the Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, the Elder Chief Secretary Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, the Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella, the Elder Kamarasis Archimandrite Nektarios, Arabic-speaking Priests of the Galilee region, the Archdeacon Mark and the Hierodeacon Eulogios, under the chanting by the members of the Community choir and the participation of many faithful of the city.

Below you can find the Pastoral Letter from Archbishop Hosam E. Naoum, Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, the Head of the Church Synod for the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, and the Primate of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, on the occasion of Pentecost 2023.

Dear brothers and sisters,

May the Lord give you peace!

Today, it is a special Pentecost that we are celebrating here in Jerusalem. First because we have finally returned to celebrate at the Dormition, as per tradition, after the end of the renovations that have restored it to its former glory. But also because today, along with the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are also blessing the beginning of the abbatial ministry of Fr. Nikodemus Schnabel, newly elected abbot, and until now Patriarchal Vicar for Migrants and Asylum Seekers. It is therefore an important moment for the whole Church in Jerusalem.

In his homily for the Solemnity of Pentecost, His Holiness Pope Francis calls on us to invoke daily the Spirit who gives "harmony to the world" and "directs the course of time and renews the face of the earth."

By Thaddeus Jones

At the Mass on this Solemnity of Pentecost celebrated in Saint Peter's Basilica, His Holiness Pope Francis in his homily highlighted how the Holy Spirit acts in the world he created, in the Church, and in our hearts, bringing order and harmony in all spheres.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, on May 27 2023, visited the Church of St. Marina in the Brock and Dermore area of the Austrian Diocese.

His Holiness was accompanied during the visit by His Grace Bishop Gabriel, Bishop of Austria, and Fr Kyrillos, St Bishoy, Director of the Pope’s Office.

This visit comes within the framework of His Holiness’s pastoral visit to Austria, and in conjunction with the ten-year anniversary of the consecration of the Church.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II was welcomed by a number of Priests, Deacons and congregation who joyfully welcomed His Holiness who were joyful with the pastoral visit of His Holiness.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, prayed on the morning of Thursday 25 May 2023 the Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension in the Church of the Victorious Virgin in the Austrian capital, Vienna. His Grace Bishop Gabriel, the Bishop of Austria, participated in the Liturgy Prayers along with His Grace Bishop Abakir, Bishop of Scandinavia, His Grace Bishop Makar, Bishop of Sharkia and the Tenth of Ramadan and His Grace Bishop Anianos, Bishop of Bani Mazar, and a number of priests, monks and the Church’s congregation.