From July 1st until July 5th, 2024, the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land held its annual retreat at the Seminary of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Galilee, drawing a large attendance of bishops and priests.

This year's retreat was led by Fr. Amjad Sabbara, a Franciscan priest of the parish of Jerusalem, who emphasized four foundational principles for cultivating a fulfilling priesthood: Firstly, the consistent study and understanding of the Holy Scriptures; Secondly, the pivotal role of spiritual guidance in the priestly life; Thirdly, the importance of fostering healthy relationships with others; and lastly, the transformative power of daily meditation, crucial for maintaining a steadfast commitment to authentic priestly ministry.

July 6, 2024

His Holiness Pope Francis sent a message of encouragement to the youth participating in the annual summer conference of the Latin Church in Egypt, which is being at St. Mark's House, Burj Al Arab, Alexandria, Egypt, under the slogan “My Prayer Is My Paddle,” from the fourth to the eighth of this July.

The Holy Father encouraged the young men and women to delve deeper into the meaning of Prayer in their lives, and called on them to be apostles of the Gospel and witnesses of joy and hope. The Supreme Pontiff also granted his apostolic blessing to His Eminence Bishop Claudio Lurati, Bishop of the Latin Apostolic Vicariate of Alexandria, and all participants in the conference.

His Holiness Pope Francis releases his Prayer intention for the month of July, and invites Christians to pray that the Church might show God’s closeness to people enduring illness.

By Devin Watkins

“Let us pray that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick grant the Lord’s strength to those who receive it and to their loved ones, and that it may become for everyone an ever more visible sign of compassion and hope.”

His Holiness Pope Francis offered that invitation to Christians around the world in The Pope Video, which accompanies his monthly Prayer intention.

The Pope is inviting the Church to pray for the pastoral care of the sick during the month of July 2024.

In the video, he recalled that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is not only for people at death’s doorstep…

Under the Patronage and Presence of His Beatitude Patriarch John X

Damascus, June 29, 2024

Under the high auspices and in the presence 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, and in the context of the Feast of the See of Antioch, a concert was held at the Opera House in Damascus, which included the "Spiritual Cithara" Choir led by Archimandrite Meletios Shattahi and the Orpheus Orchestra led by Professor Andre Maalouli.

“We stress the greatness of what was entrusted to us and the huge historical responsibility that was assigned to the Church of Antioch as being the first to be named after Christ”

Damascus, June 29, 2024

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, stressed the greatness of what was entrusted and the historical responsibility that was assigned to Christians in the East, who were first called by the name of Christ.

The Patriarch's words came during his celebration of the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, founders of the See of Antioch. This year's celebration took place among a remarkable popular and ecclesiastical participation from various dioceses of the Antiochian See.

June 28 and 29, 2024

Delegated by 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, Bishop Constantine (Kayyal), Abbot of the Patriarchal Monastery of Saint Elias Shouwaya and Rev. Archimandrite Efthymios Fakas celebrated the Vespers service and Aggripnia in the Church of the Apostle Paul (House of Saint Paul) in Tarsus. For the first time, the Church of Antioch celebrates this prayer in the home of the Apostle Paul.

On the morning of the Feast, His Grace celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Cave of the Apostle Peter in Antioch, and a group of parish priests from the Alexandretta and Antioch Districts assisted him in the service, in the presence of the heads of associations and a crowd of believers.

On Sunday, June 30th, 2024, the 29th anniversary of the election and consecration of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, was celebrated with special Prayers during the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias - Lebanon.

Traditionally, this occasion is celebrated with thanksgiving Prayers, hymn recitations, and Bible readings. The Cilician Brotherhood ascended the Holy Alter to ask God for a healthy and prosperous service in the mission of the Armenian Church, praying for abundant blessings upon His Holiness and the Holy See so that the glory of the Holy Trinity remains ever-present.

From Secretariat-General of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Sunday, June 17/30, 2024, was celebrated by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem as All Saints’ Sunday, following the book of Pentecost.

This Feast was celebrated in the All Saints chapel, inside the Holy Church of the Holy Monastery of Panagia Sayda Naya.

Jerusalem

July 2, 2024

With a positive atmosphere, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of the Holy Land met today with His Excellency the Mayor of Jerusalem, Mr. Moshe Leon, to convey to him in person the contents of their letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu earlier in June and their concern from the recent legal actions of the municipality against the Churches for the collection of so called Municipal taxes debts.

The Heads of Churches reiterated their long-standing position that such unilateral actions by the Municipalities is not in accordance with the Status Quo and with the rights of the Churches, recognized and upheld for centuries and granted to the Churches for their immense contribution to the Holy Land and the Holy City of Jerusalem.

Last Sunday's Gospel (Mark 5:21-43) helped us reflect on a very important aspect of our faith: where human religiosity, with its laws and customs, had created distance and separation from God. On the contrary, Jesus brought openness and closeness.

We witnessed the story of two women who, in different ways, because of the purity laws could not come into contact with the Lord Jesus.

The woman with the issue of blood was considered unclean and therefore untouchable: whoever touched her became unclean in turn.

Likewise for the body of a dead person, such as that of Jairus' daughter: those who came in contact with it, had to undergo various purification rites.

Mk 5:21-43 

A key reading that can help us in understanding today's Gospel passage (Mk 5:21-43) is verse 33: the woman afflicted with hemorrhages, after stealthily being healed by Jesus, is invited to come out, to show herself (Mk 5:30). And she does, but she does so "in fear and trembling" (Mk 5:33). 

These are not two random adjectives.

We find them in the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb 12:18), in the chapter in which the author reflects on the two covenants, the one stipulated on Sinai (Ex 19) and the one renewed with the Passover of Jesus.

The author of the Epistle, speaking to his readers, says that they did not approach a tremendous and dramatic event, such as that recounted in the Theophany on Sinai: in that case, the spectacle was so terrifying that even Moses said. " I am terrified and trembling." (Heb 12:21).

On June 24, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, visited Peter Pazmany Catholic University in Budapest.

His Eminence Archbishop Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, accompanied His Holiness during this visit.

On the evening of Wednesday 26 June 2024, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, resumed the weekly Wednesday meeting, after it stopped at the end of the Holy Forty Days of Lent. The meeting was held in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria, which was filled with attendees from members of the church. Before the start of the vesper prayers, His Holiness visited the International Book Fair, which is held annually in the courtyard of St. Mark’s Cathedral, as well as an employment forum for youth and graduates, organized by the leaders of the youth service in Alexandria.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II prayed the raising of incense of vespers, with the participation of the General Bishops supervising the pastoral sectors of Alexandria, Hegumen Abraam Emil (Deputy General of the Patriarchate in Alexandria), and a large number of priests from Alexandria.

With the Apostolic Letter “Fratello sole,” issued motu proprio, His Holiness Pope Francis provides for the construction of an agrivoltaic plant in the extraterritorial zone of Santa Maria in Galeria, where Vatican Radio maintains antennas for digital broadcasting.

By Christopher Wells

Highlighting the need “to make a transition to a sustainable development model that reduces greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, setting the goal of climate neutrality,” His Holiness Pope Francis has ordered the construction of an agrivoltaic plant within the extraterritorial zone of Santa Maria di Galeria.

Agrivoltaics involves the dual use of land for solar energy production and agriculture. As the Holy Father explains in the new Apostolic Letter Fratello Sole (“Brother Sun”), “Mankind has the technological means to deal with this environmental transformation and its pernicious ethical, social, economic and political consequences; and among these, solar energy plays a key role.”

Sunday, June 10/23, 2024, the Feast of Pentecost was celebrated by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and by the entire Church as the day of commemoration of the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit, whom our Lord Jesus Christ sent to His Disciple and Apostles from the Father.

Then, on the day of Pentecost, the Apostles spoke in various languages ​​the greatness of God to the multitudes gathered “by the violent breath” of the Holy Spirit, to whom the Apostle Peter preached and believed and were baptized and formed the first Church, Mother of all Saints of Churches, according to the book of the Acts of the Apostles.

On June 23, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, celebrated the Holy Qurobo on the occasion of the Feast of the Pentecost, at Mor Augeen Monastery in Switzerland.

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II was assisted by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Dionysius Issa Gurbuz, Patriarchal Vicar for Switzerland and Austria, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary…

Damascus, June 23, 2024

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, celebrated Divine Liturgy for the Sunday of Pentecost at the Mariamite Cathedral in Damascus. Reverend Bishops Romanos (Al Hannat), Youhanna (Batash), Arsenios (Dahdal), and Moses (Al Khasi) were concelebrating, as well as a many priests and deacons.

During the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Patriarch John X ordained Deacon Nektarios Abu Sabia to Priesthood.

The Liturgy ended with the kneeling Prayers.

On June 17, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, attended a recital of the 4 choirs of the Archdiocese of Aleppo, at St. Georges Church in Aleppo.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Boutros Kassis, Archbishop of Aleppo and Environs, Mor Chrysostomos Mikhael Shemoun, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeerah and Euphrates, Mor Yacoub Babawi, Patriarchal Vicar for Monks Affairs and the Administration of Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary in Maarat Saydnaya, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, were also present as well as their Excellencies: Afram Maalouly, Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo, Alexandretta and Environs, and Msgr. Joseph Tobji, Maronite Archbishop of Aleppo.

On June 17, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, met the elderly and the people with special needs of the Archdiocese of Aleppo.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Boutros Kassis, Archbishop of Aleppo and Environs, Mor Chrysostomos Mikhael Shemoun, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeerah and Euphrates, Mor Yacoub Babawi, Patriarchal Vicar for Monks Affairs and the Administration of Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary in Maarat Saydnaya, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, were also present.

On June 17, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, visited the Spiritual Gathering of Young Families in Aleppo.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Boutros Kassis, Archbishop of Aleppo and Environs, Mor Chrysostomos Mikhael Shemoun, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeerah and Euphrates, Mor Yacoub Babawi, Patriarchal Vicar for Monks Affairs and the Administration of Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary in Maarat Saydnaya, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, also attended.