On Friday, October 11, 2024, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, presided over the blessing of the khachkar (cross-stone) erected at Lowell, MA City Hall in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, titled “A Mother’s Hand.” Speeches were delivered by the organizing committee, former Mayor and current City Councilor James Milinazzo—under whom the project was conceived—and current Mayor Patrick Murphy. The artist of the khachkar, Taniel Varoujan Hejinian, was also present at the event. Mayor Murphy welcomed His Holiness and presented him with the key to the city.

After the [Israeli] army fires at UN peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon, the His Holiness Pope Francis calls for the troops to be respected.

By Joseph Tulloch

Following a series of recent incidents in which at least four UN peacekeepers were wounded after coming under fire from the [Israeli] army, Pope Francis has appealed for the troops to be "respected."

Brings to a Close the Plenary Meeting and 50th Anniversary Celebrations of the International Commission for Anglican–Orthodox Theological Dialogue

On Thursday, October 10, 2024, during his Pontifical visit to St Stephen’s Church of Greater Boston, 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 invited as a guest of honor by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, to the closing session of the International Commission for Anglican–Orthodox Theological Dialogue.

The dialogue is holding its plenary meeting and 50th anniversary celebration this week, and it is hosted by the newly-established Huffington Ecumenical Institute at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

On October 12, 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, blessed the construction work for the foundations of the new building of the Holy Cross Monastery in Sweden.

On October 11, 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, inaugurated the 4th World Congress for the World Medical Association of Suryoye (WMAS) at Mor Yacoub Nsibinoyo Cathedral in Sodertalje.

His Holiness blessed the participants and appreciated the efforts of WMAS to organize this congress where Syriac physicians working in the medical field can meet and discuss different professional matters in their respective specialties.

"It is with great appreciation that we have received your message of sympathy regarding the escalation in Lebanon"

Balamand, October 11, 2024

Patriarch John X, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East of the Greek Orthodox, expressed his thanks and appreciation to Patriarch Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. This came in a response to the message of sympathy that His Beatitude received from the Russian Patriarch following the military escalation in Lebanon. His Beatitude’s reply letter read:

On October 11, 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, launched the WMAS Without Borders (WWB) Program. The event was organized by the World Medical Association of Suryoye (WMAS) at Mor Aphrem Cathedral in Sodertalje. During the launch of WWB, Prof. Fuat Oduncu, President of WMAS, spoke about the new program and the opportunities it offers for the Suryoye doctors to serve worldwide and to share experiences and knowledge.

On October 11, 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, presided over the Ramsho prayer at Mor Yacoub Nsibinoyo Cathedral in Sodertalje.

Christian leaders of different denominations join His Holiness Pope Francis on Friday evening in the Vatican’s Protomartyrs Square to celebrate an ecumenical vigil together with thousands of believers from around the world, marking the anniversary of the Second Vatican Council and the start of a new Ecumenical era.

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay condemned attacks by [Israeli] forces on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. 

On 11 October, [Israeli] forces fired at a watchtower used by UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, injuring two. Peacemakers in the area have reported [Israeli] fire in their positions over the past three days.

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, accompanied by his Pontifical entourage, arrived in Whitinsville.

Their inaugural visit was to the Armenian Heritage Monument located in the cemetery, where they honored the survivors of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, who fled the atrocities perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire and were subsequently welcomed by the Whitinsville community. His Holiness Catholicos Aram I presided over a special ceremony at this site, attended by community representatives alongside members from Whitinsville and Boston. He addressed the faithful, emphasizing a steadfast commitment to preserving the heritage and memory of those who perished during the Armenian Genocide while also expressing gratitude towards the people of the United States for their generous reception of the survivors, allowing them the opportunity to rebuild their lives, churches, and community. “This memorial serves as an invitation to remember the past and to express our gratitude to the United States,” he articulated…

On October 10, 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, arrived to Stockholm.

His Holiness was received at the airport by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Dioscoros Benjamin Atas, Patriarchal Vicar in Sweden, Mor Youhanon Lahdo, Archbishop of Sweden and Scandinavia, Mor Theophilose Kuriakose, Patriarchal Vicar in Europe, as well as the Presidents and members of the Archdiocesan councils in Sweden.

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II was accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary.

Continuing his pontifical visit to the Armenian communities under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Church in the USA, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, and his entourage arrived in Worcester on Tuesday, October 9th, 2024. At the Sourp Yerrortutyun (Holy Trinity) Church, His Holiness was warmly welcomed by the church community, led by the parish priest, V. Rev. Fr. Ardag Arabian.

As per tradition, the “Hrashapar” ceremony was conducted upon His Holiness’ entrance to the church, attended by a large number of faithful, as well as representatives from other churches, including the Archbishop of the Catholic Church in Worcester, Most Rev. Robert Joseph McManus.

Mk 10:17-30

Today's Gospel passage (Mk 10:17-30) recounts an encounter of a person who ran to Jesus, as he was setting out, and sought to dialogue with him.

Let us consider the outcome of this encounter: “...his face fell, and he went away sad,” (Mk 10:22):

The outcome, then, is sadness.

But why does the encounter between Jesus and this fellow end like this?

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, accompanied by his entourage, journeyed from Providence to Springfield, where the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church is located in the Indian Orchard region. Among those accompanying His Holiness were the Prelate of the Eastern Armenian Prelacy, His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian; the Prelate of the Western Armenian Prelacy, His Eminence Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian; and Aram Sarafian, the Chair of the Diocesan Executive Committee.

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches,’s pontifical visit to Providence included an ecumenical prayer gathering with the Orthodox churches of the state. As such, on Monday, October 7, His Holiness presided over the ceremony, which was held at Sts. Vartanants Armenian Church.

His Beatitude JOHN X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Orthodox Family, called for an emergency and extraordinary session of the Holy Synod of Antioch. The meeting, presided by His Beatitude, was held on October 8, 2024, at the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology-Balamand, in the presence of Their Eminences, the Metropolitans: Elias Aude (Beirut); Elias Kfoury (Tyre and Sidon); Silouan Moussi (Mount Lebanon); Basilios Mansour (Akkar); Ephrem Kyriakos (Tripoli and Koura); Silouan Oner (Britain); Antonios El Soury (Zahle and Baalbek) Athanasios Fahd (Lattakia); Jacques El-Khoury (Argentina); Efraim Malouli (Aleppo and Alexandretta); Niphon Saykali (Philippopolis); Gregorios Khoury (Homs); and Antonios Saad (Hauran). The Synod Fathers discussed the current situation in the region...

Ephesians 2:14-17 

Dear brothers and sisters,  may the Lord give you peace! 

We are gathered here at the end of a day of prayer, fasting and penance, at the end of one of the most difficult and painful years of recent times. 

This year we have cried out our horror at the crimes committed, starting with the events of October 7 exactly one year ago, in southern [Israel], which have left a deep wound in [Israelis] to this day.  

We raised our voice against the following turmoil of aggression, destruction, starving, suffering and death...

On Monday, October 7, 2024, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, led an Hour of Prayer for Peace at the Pro-Cathedral of the Latin Patriarchate, in response to the Pope's call for the entire Catholic Church to observe a day of prayer, fasting, and repentance for global peace, with a special focus on the Holy Land.

His Beatitude Former Patriarch Michel Sabbah and Msgr. William Shomali, General Vicar, Msgr. Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Msgr. Carlos Malfa, Fr. Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land, attended the prayer vigil, as well as several priests, religious sisters, seminarists, and official figures as well as the faithful of the diocese.

On Monday, September 24 / October 7, 2024, the Patriarchate celebrated the memory of the Holy First Martyr and Apostle Thecla.

On this feast, the Church commemorates Saint Thecla who came from the Iconion of Asia Minor and was taught the Christian faith by the Apostle Paul, whom she later followed in his tour. Because of her faith in Christ, she was subjected to many tortures, which she endured as an athlete of Christ and survived. She lived in her homeland, working miracles and evangelizing Christ until the age of ninety when a stone burst open and received her.

Saint John of Damascus composed a canon in her honor in the book of Minaion.