The Pilgrimage Day of St. Mary Monastery in Bikfaya, Lebanon, was marked on the evening of Saturday, August 12th, 2023 with a ceremonious Divine Liturgy presided over by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church of Cilicia, who also conducted the blessing of the grapes and madagh (sacrifice) ceremony, and delivered his Pontifical message. The Solemn Divine Liturgy was celebrated by HG Bishop Mesrob Sarkissian, the prelate of the UAE and Qatar.

Mt 15:21-28

The past few Sundays, the “Word” was found at the center of all the Gospel readings that we heard during the Liturgy.

In one passage, the Word was portrayed as a seed that grows in different soils and produces abundant fruit only if welcomed and buried deep in the soil. In another passage, the Word was portrayed as the good grain that does not fear the presence of other seeds, of other plants, but rather grows free from all fear.

Later, the Gospel highlighted the Word of the Father, which was spoken on the mountain. And the resounding Word spoken amidst the storm. All, to assure us of the ever-present Word that illuminates our life. A Living and life-giving Word.

MIDNIGHT arrived in Ramallah, but the children at the Anglican summer camp were still full of energy. More than 40 of them, aged 11 to 13, in maroon T-shirts, were gathered in the hall, where, for several hours, they had been singing worship songs in English and Arabic, dancing, and playing games.

Amid the high-octane activities that evening, they had also spent some time putting questions to the priests at the camp: Why didn’t God give Adam and Eve another chance? Why did God create the world? What should I do to strengthen my faith?

The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East runs three camps in the summer, each lasting a week and catering to different age groups. They have to be held in the West Bank to be accessible to children in the diocese: those living in Palestinian territory, or in the Arab countries immediately to the east of Israel, face huge difficulties in getting permits to enter Israeli-held territory, including East Jerusalem.

On August 10, 2023, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church attended a recital, on the occasion of the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The recital was first performed by St. Mary the Lady of the Girdle (Zunoro) Choir, at the Lady of the Girdle (Zunoro) Cathedral in Homs.

Their Eminences: Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, and His Excellency Youhanna Abdo Arbash, Greek Catholic Melkite Archbishop of Homs, attended the recital.

On August 10, 2023, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church, presided over the Ramsho Prayer, at the Lady of the Girdle (Zunoro) Cathedral in Homs.

His Holiness thanked the Lord for granting the opportunity to visit the cathedral for the beginning of the festivities of the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. He spoke about the various blessings we receive from the intercession of the Virgin Mary.

On August 12, 2023, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church, attended a recital performed by St. Aphrem Choir from Aleppo, at St. Georges Patriarchal Cathedral in Damascus.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Cyril Babi, Patriarchal Vicar in the Patriarchal Archdiocese in Damascus, Mor Boutros Kassis, Archbishop of Aleppo and Environs, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, attended the recital.

On August 13, 2023, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church, attended a Concert by “the Soloists of Damascus”, entitled: “Syriac Spirituality”, at Dar El Assad Opera House in Damascus.

The concert was attended by their Excellencies: Dr. Loubana Mshawwah, Minister of Culture, Dr. Boutros Hallak, Minister of Information, Dr. Louay Al-Mounjed, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Dr. Diala Barakat, State Minister, as well as dignitaries and religious and political figures

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, attended a concert of hymns for children entitled "From the Nativity of Our Lady to Her Dormition", at the Saint George Patriarchal Monastery in Saydnaya, on August 11, 2023

The concert was performed by the St. Kassiani Children's Choir at the Patriarchal Monastery of St. George in Saydnaya,

where they presented a bundle of hymns to the Most Holy Virgin Mary, revealing her journey from her Nativity to her Dormition.

On Thursday, July 28/ August 10, 2023, the Patriarchate celebrated the commemoration of our Holy Father John the new Hozevite from Romania, at the Holy Monastery of Hozeva, located at the bank of Brook Chorath, near Jericho.

On this feast, the Church, and especially the Church of Jerusalem commemorates that Saint John came to the Holy Land from Romania in the middle of the 20th century, and lived in utmost ascesis and humility at the Holy Monasteries of the Jordan River area, and in that of Saints George and John the Hozevites, he slept in peace and was deemed worthy to work miraculous signs, that is why he was canonized among the saints by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in 2016.

Mt.14:22-33

Last Sunday, on the Feast of the Transfiguration, we heard a Gospel passage (Mt 17:1-9) about a theophany, which occurred on a mountain, Mount Tabor.

Today as well, the Gospel tells us about a theophany that occurred not on a mountain, but in the middle of a lake, Lake Tiberias (Mt 14:22-33).

More precisely, the theophany takes place in the midst of a stormy lake: We are no longer on the quiet and calm mountaintop, where Jesus had ascended to find, in peace, the space of intimate dialogue with the Father, but amid the threatening waves of the lake, shaken by a strong wind.

Christian leaders express solidarity with the beleaguered Chaldean Catholic Church

In Lebanon, Christian leaders gathered for an evening of prayer for Iraq and the beleaguered Chaldean Catholic Church.

"Our church in Iraq is going through difficult circumstances," His Eminence Chaldean Bishop Michel Kassarji of Beirut said at the Aug. 12 solidarity prayer gathering at the Chaldean Cathedral of Archangel Raphael in Baabda, outside of Beirut, with representation by patriarchs, bishops and priests from Catholic and Orthodox churches.

"We will not surrender and the Lord is the one who protects us. Spread your light, O Lord, and bless us, bless our shepherds, bless your priests and your consecrated people who carry the good news of your Gospel, bless Iraq and its people, bless the Chaldean Church, bless Lebanon, bless our countries," Bishop Kassarji said.

LISBON – From August 1st till August 6th, 2023, Catholic Christian youth from all over the world participated in the 37th World Youth Day, including the youth of Palestine, Galilee, Jordan, and Cyprus.

The Logo

Decorated in the colors of the Portuguese flag (green, red, and yellow), this year's logo is formed mainly of a Cross, which is the ultimate sign “of the infinite love of God for humankind.” A path emerges from the cross, showcasing the Rosary (as a reminder of Fatima’s Apparitions), Mary depicted as a young girl (to signal Mary’s readiness to live according to God’s will), and a depiction of the Holy Spirit. The logo invites the youth of the Church to not stand still but be builders of “a fairer and more fraternal world”.

The World Council of Churches and Conference of European Churches, in a joint letter to the European Union, are urging lifting the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh by reopening the Lachin corridor.

“The humanitarian crisis in the blockaded enclave of Nagorno-Karabagh (Artsakh) is escalating into tragic levels of experiences with the prolonged deprivations and sufferings of civilians,” reads the letter. “We are, thus, prompted to stress the urgency of finding solutions to the ongoing crisis.”

Both organizations reiterated previous statements and positions on the need for urgent and immediate action by the international community.

“The Lachin corridor is the only road that links the region to Armenia and it has been blocked for more than seven months, seriously affecting the lives and living conditions of 120,000 people, including children,” reads the letter.

In the final WYD event on his schedule, His Holiness Pope Francis thanks the 25 thousand World Youth Day volunteers from 150 countries for their wonderful generosity, service and faith.

By Thaddeus Jones

In his final meeting with young people in Lisbon on Sunday afternoon, His Holiness Pope Francis met with 25 thousand World Youth Day volunteers at another large outdoor event on a sun-baked afternoon there. The volunteers came from around the world representing 150 countries. 

At the conclusion of the Holy Mass for World Youth Day, His Holiness Pope Francis expresses his deep gratitude for every person who made “this grace-filled event” possible and announces the Asian country as the next WYD site in 2027.

By Edoardo Giribaldi

Before making the excitedly-awaited announcement that the next World Youth Day will take place in Seoul, South Korea, "moving from the western edge of Europe to the Far East," Pope Francis expressed gratitude to all those who have made WYD2023 in Lisbon come true.

There is an expression, he said, that we have heard frequently during these days: “Thank you,” or rather, “Obrigado.”

Gratitude was the core value of the His Holiness Pope's Angelus message after the Holy Mass concluding World Youth Day in Lisbon.

On Saturday, July 22/August 5, 2023, the feast of the prophet Elijah was celebrated by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem in his Holy Temple, in the village of Maaloule, near Nazareth.

This Holy Church belonged to the Greek-Orthodox Arabic-speaking Community of Maaloule, it was abandoned due to the events during the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, and it was maintained during the last years by the Patriarchate and His Eminence the Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth with the funding of the Hegoumen of Tabor Archimandrite Hilarion, with the permission of the Israeli army and a Divine Liturgy is celebrated in it during the feast of the Prophet Elijah.

In his homily for the concluding Mass for World Youth Day in Lisbon, His Holiness Pope Francis calls on young people to shine, to listen, and to be unafraid.

By Christopher Wells

At the concluding Mass for this year’s World Youth Day, His Holiness Pope Francis echoed the words of the Apostles who witnessed the Transfiguration of Christ on the Mount: “It is good for us to be here!”

At the same time, he challenged the young people  to ask themselves, “What will we take back with us to the valley of our daily lives?” Drawing on the day's Gospel, the Holy Father proposed three verbs: to shine, to listen, and to be unafraid.

1.The feast of Saint Magdalene in her Russian Holy Monastery in Gethsemane.

On Friday, July 22/August 4, 2023, the memory of Saint Mary Magdalene was celebrated in the female Russian Monastery in Gethsemane.

During the Divine Liturgy in this Monastery, which was presided over by the Metropolitan of Berlin, His Eminence Mark, with two High Priests of the Russian Orthodox Church of the former diaspora, their Eminences Irenaeus and Theodosios, and Priests of the same Church. His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem, visited the Monastery and presented an icon to Metropolitan Mark and a cross of blessing to the Abbess Nun Elizabeth and spoke in English.

His Holiness Pope Francis portrays the Blessed Virgin Mary as a "missionary of joy" in his address to young people gathered in Lisbon for the World Youth Day Vigil celebration, and invites Christians to train our hearts to love God and our neighbor.

By Edoardo Giribaldi & Devin Watkins

As evening fell in Lisbon, young pilgrims gathered in Parque Tejo to celebrate the Vigil with His Holiness Pope Francis on the fifth day of World Youth Day.

The location, installed in 1998 for Lisbon’s World Fair and adjacent to the Tagus River Estuary Nature Reserve, hosted the first part of the event, a stage performance, and a second moment dedicated to the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, with Pope Francis speaking to the pilgrims in between the two moments.

His Holiness Pope Francis reminds students at the Universidade Catòlica Portuguesa "there’s no future in a world without God" inviting them to make their faith credible through their choices. The meeting took place on the second day of the Pope's Apostolic Journey to Portugal for World Youth Day 2023.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

“There is no future in a world without God,” Pope Francis warned university students in Portugal while appealing that they make their faith credible through their choices.

The Holy Father’s admonition came during his meeting with the students on the premises of the Universidade Catòlica Portuguesa, on the second day of his Apostolic Journey to Portugal for the occasion of the 37th World Youth Day.