On Wednesday, June 29 / July 12, 2023, the feast of the Holy Glorious and Chiefs of the Apostles Peter and Paul was celebrated by the Patriarchate.

On this feast, the Church honours the Apostle Peter, remembering that he heard the call of the Lord at the Sea of Tiberias and followed Him after his brother Andrew and confessed Him saying: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16,16) and denied Him, but he repented and proclaimed Him to the gathered multitudes on the day of Pentecost and in Judea, Antioch and finally in Rome, where he died by death on the cross.

The Church also honours the apostle Paul, a former persecutor, but enlightened on his march to Damascus and called to the apostolic office and preaching Christ and labouring for all others through Christ and being able to say: ” I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal. 2:20) and wrote his 14 letters and ascended to the third heaven.

Mt 13:1-23

The Gospel passage for this 15th Sunday (Mt 13:1-23) is the beginning of Jesus' third discourse reported by the evangelist Matthew. It is the discourse that Jesus delivers by telling a series of parables, of which today we hear the first one, that of the sower.

It is a complex passage, which is structured in three parts, preceded by an introduction (Mt 13:1-3): in the first part (Mt 13:3-9) Jesus tells the parable; in the second part (Mt 13:10-17) the disciples approach Him and question Him as to why He speaks to people in parables; in the third part (Mt 13:18-22) Jesus explains the parable to the disciples.

July 16, 2023

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, celebrated the Sunday Divine Liturgy at the Antiochian Village in Pennsylvania. Concelebrating were the Archdiocese Metropolitan His Eminence Metropolitan Saba Esber, His Eminence Bishop Anthony and a group of Priests. Also present was His Eminence Bishop Thomas. The students of the annual camp of the Church Music Department served the Divine Liturgy.

Pennsylvania, Antiochian Village, July 15, 2023

In the context of his visit to the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of New York and All North America, His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, celebrated Vespers at the Antiochian Village in Pennsylvania, in the presence of His Eminence Metropolitan Saba Esber, Their Eminences Bishops Thomas and Anthony, and a group of Priests. The students of the annual camp of the Church Music Department served the Prayers.

"I rejoiced with those who said to me,

Let us go to the house of the Lord”

(Psalm 122: 1)

Saint George Al-Homeyra Patriarchal Monastery - Al-Mashtaya, Syria

July 12/13 2023

"I rejoiced with those who said to me,

Let us go to the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122: 1)

With the blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Orthodox Family, the Families Meeting of the Diocese of Damascus and its Countryside was launched in the Patriarchal Monastery Saint George Al-Homeyra.

New Jersey, July 13, 2023

Within the context of his visit to the Archdiocese in North America, His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, met some Priests of the area near the the Archdiocese Residence in New Jersey. The meeting touched on the status of the Antiochian Church in the homeland and abroad.

New York, July 12, 2023

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East has arrived at JFK Airport in New York, commencing his visit to the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of New York and All North America, accompanied by a Church delegation. His Eminence Metropolitan Saba (Isper), Archbishop of New York and All North America received His Beatitude at the airport, with a group of Priests and Parishioners.

Upon his arrival at the Archdiocese Headquarter, a Prayer of thanksgiving was held. The program of the visit includes participation in the Archdiocesan Conference to be held this month in Arizona.

By: Nicolawos Hazboun/lpj.org

GALILEE – From July 4th to July 8th 2023, the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries (ACOHL) held its annual Retreat for Catholic Bishops and Priests in Korazim.

You can find a video about this Retreat.

JENIN – On Monday, July 10th, 2023, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by his delegation, visited the Latin parish of Jenin, to check-up on the Parish, after the end of the Israeli military operation on the camp of Jenin.

The Israeli army withdrew from the city and camp of Jenin on Tuesday, July 4th, 2023, after the end of the military operation that lasted for two days, which was launched for the purpose of pursuing armed resistance fighters. The military operation caused tremendous damage to the city's infrastructure and buildings.

As a result, major damage occurred to the building of the Latin Church in Jenin – Holy Redeemer Church.  A large explosion appeared to have broken out near the Church building, which caused the shattering of the Church’s windows, destruction of the electrical source, as well as damage to the internal and external paint of the building.

The Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE) concluded its three-day, 76th General Assembly on 7 July 2023. As had been previously decided, the format of this year’s meeting was consultative, taking up “Evangelism” as the topic, alongside the business meeting. The theme for the General Assembly was “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…” (Luke 4.16-21).

Each day began with a worship service, committing the day’s discussions to God. Following this a Bible study on the theme was presented by Rev. Dr. Haroutune Selimian.

Rev. Selimian was also by the 76th General Assembly as the Moderator for the Assembly, with Rev. Jirair Ghazarian as Clerk and Pastor Shant Agishian as Vice-Clerk.

The 76th General Assembly of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE) began on Wednesday evening, 5 July 2023 in KCHAG, with a service of Word and Sacrament.

Following registration, the over 40 present - delegates and honorary members - assembled in KCHAG’s chapel for the opening worship service. During the service, led by Rev. Jirair Ghazarian, the congregation heard the sermon of the the Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Evangelical Family, about Jesus’ temptation as well as his mission (Luke 4.16-21). In his message he emphasized how the book of God’s Word was handed to Jesus, and how Jesus opened it and used it to describe his life of service. Rev. Haidostian called Armenian Evangelicals to do as their forbears did and open their Bibles and in it find the meaning of their mission.

Mt 11:25-30

To enter this Sunday's Gospel passage (Mt 11:25-30), I would like to take a step back and return to the beginning of the "missionary discourse," where we saw that Jesus was moved by the crowd because he saw the people tired and exhausted (Mt 9:36). We had noticed that they were tired and exhausted because they had no reference, no guidance, no relationship, that gave foundation and security to life.

Today, we also find terms that speak of fatigue and weariness: Jesus is addressing all those who are tired and oppressed (Mt 11:28), and thus He seems to want to tell us that this experience of debilitation and fatigue is part of daily life, of every man's experience.

The term fatigue, in fact, resonates in the Bible from the very first pages: after sin, God meets man again and speaks to him of fatigue and pain (Gen. 3:16-19), experiences that entered the world at the precise moment when man stopped trusting God; we could say that fatigue became part of human experience, when man no longer knew God as Father, as a companion on the road, as a good and reliable presence.

The Holy Synod convened today, Monday, July 10, 2023, at the Jerusalem Patriarchate’s headquarters chaired by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem.

At the start of the meeting, His Beatitude mentioned the blessed Archimandrite Philotheus, and touched on his dedicated service and sincerity since he was a young man, especially his service and zeal from the moment he was appointed Patriarchal Vicar in the Archdiocese of Ptolemais in Acre.

His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III added that the late Archimandrite Philotheus devoted himself to the service of the Orthodox parish, he was a teacher of Byzantine music, and worked to build relations of love and peace between all religious denominations. For this reason, he was loved and respected by all. The scene of large crowds attending his funeral in the city of Acre and the region spoke volumes. Therefore, His Beatitude asked members of the Holy Synod to observe a minute of silence in memory of their late brother.

The diocese of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem,

the Bishops, Priests, and Faithful, convey their warmest congratulations to

His Beatitude Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

on his elevation to the rank of Cardinal

as announced by His Holiness Pope Francis, on Sunday, July 9th, 2023

Following the aggression on the region of Jenin, Archbishop Hosam Naoum, Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, condemns these violent acts.

Reacting to the Israeli operation on Jenin refugee camp, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, warns there will be many more victims if the issue of Palestinian self-determination with their own State is not resolved.

By Michele Raviart

"Once again, it is not the first, and unfortunately, I fear, it will not be the last time, we are witnessing a military operation in northern Samaria, in the Jenin Refugee Camp, intent on striking some cells of Palestinian resistance, armed resistance."

With these words, His Beatitude Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, in an interview with Vatican News, describes the violence that broke out in Jenin, after the sudden Israeli military operation that began Monday.

Following the aggression on the city of Jenin, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem Prays for peace in the Holy Land.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem sent an appeal this morning, July 4, to the international community and the forces concerned with the cause of peace in the Holy Land, asking them to work to stop the attack on the city of Jenin and its camp, and to put an end to violence and bloodshed based on the values ​​of peace and justice proclaimed by the Abrahamic religions.

In the statement, the Patriarchate stressed that the world is witnessing today an alarming escalation of violence and bloodshed in our region, and that the world, with great regret, is silently witnessing the continued violation of human rights and the targeting of innocent civilians, and that this painful reality requires everyone to take urgent action to prevent further human losses and suffering.

Following the new aggression on the city of Jenin, His Beatitude Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, condemned these violent acts in a statement in which he said:

“In the past two days, the city of Jenin has been subject to unprecedent Israeli aggression, which also caused a lot of damage to our Latin Parish in Jenin. We condemn this violence, demand a ceasefire, and hope for the pursuit of peace and dialogue to prevent other future unjustified attacks on the population.”

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II witnessed, on the evening of Tuesday 4 July 2023, a ceremony honoring the graduates of the Saint Didymus Institute for Choirs in Cairo, which was held at St. Rwis Theater in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Abbaseya, eGYPT, which is organized by the institute in coordination with St. Athanasius Theological College in Los Angeles, according to the cooperation agreement signed between the college and the institute.

The choir teams lined up on the stairs of the theater building and sang hymns in the reception of His Holiness the Pope, who was keen to take memorial photos with them.

While the chorus of deacons of the Didymus Institute led the procession of His Holiness during his entry into the theater hall, singing the melodies of welcoming the Patriarch.