On Sunday, October 20, 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 Divine Liturgy at All Saints’ Church in Chicago, assisted by the Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy, HE Arch. Anoushavan Tanielian, and the Prelate of Canada, HE Arch. Papken Tcharian. His Holiness delivered a sermon based on John 6:35, which states, “I am the bread of life,” emphasizing the significance of spiritual nourishment over mere physical sustenance. He stated that through participation in the Holy Liturgy, where Christ offers His body for the forgiveness of sins, believers may partake of this spiritual “Christ-bread” and remain steadfast in the values communicated in the Bible.

His Holiness Pope Francis reiterates his appeal for peace in the world, saying the fatality statistics coming from Ukraine are “terrible" and that Palestine is suffering "inhumane attacks."

By Kielce Gussie

At the end of his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis once again made an appeal for peace in the world.

The Pope explained he had received statistics on the number of deaths in Ukraine, calling it “terrible.”

During the 105th Annual Meeting of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) held in Montreal (October 17-20, 2024), Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family with the representatives of the UAECNE presented the medal of the 100th Anniversary of the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East to the leadership of the AMAA, the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches of France, the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches of Eurasia, and the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America.

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 pontifical delegation arrived in Chicago and were warmly received by the Armenian community at All Saints’ Armenian Apostolic Church. During the visit, His Holiness engaged with the youth, bodies of the church, and sister organizations.

The Armenian community in Wisconsin warmly welcomed His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, during his visit to Racine’s Sourp Hagop Church on Thursday, October 17, 2024. The faithful participated in the “Hrashapar” ceremony, followed by a heartfelt message from His Holiness. He quoted Psalm 121:1, emphasizing that the church is not merely a building, but the house of God. He reminded the faithful that their gatherings within the church hold deep spiritual significance. The Catholicos stressed that while the physical church was built by the hands of the Armenian people, it was God who called them to this mission. Within this sacred space, Armenian values, traditions, and ideals have been formed and nurtured.

On October 18, 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 second conference of the Syriac Scouts of Syria at the Patriarchate Headquarters in Bab Touma, Damascus.

Most Reverend Excellencies, 
Most Reverend Father Custos, 
Dear brothers and sisters, 
may the Lord give you peace! 

(opening greetings) 

Yesterday, we had the immense joy of witnessing the canonization, alongside others, of the martyrs of Damascus. Today, we gather to give thanks to the Lord for their powerful testimony, now officially recognized and declared by the authority of the Church as a model for all, through the proclamation of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. 

His Holiness Pope Francis presides at the Canonization Mass for 14 new Saints, including 11 martyrs killed in Syria for refusing to renounce their faith, and upholds their Christian witness by noting they lived Jesus’ way of service.

By Linda Bordoni

Father Manuel Ruiz López and his seven companions, the brothers Francis, Mooti, and Raphael Massabki, Father Joseph Allamano, Sister Marie Leonie Paradis, and Sister Elena Guerra, canonized by His Holiness Pope Francis on Sunday, each exemplified heroic virtue and bore witness to holiness within their unique vocations.

As the Pope noted in his homily at the Canonization Mass in St. Peter’s Square on World Mission Sunday, “These new saints lived Jesus’ way: service.” 

On Tuesday, October 15th, 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, and his delegation arrived in Granite City, Illinois, where he was warmly received by Rev. Fr. Taniel Mandjikian, pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, and members of the local Armenian community. Notably, His Holiness had consecrated this church in 1997.

On Sunday, October 13th, 2024, during the Divine Liturgy conducted by HE Arch. Kegham Khatcherian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, delivered an address, beginning by acknowledging the presence of HE Arch. Anousavan Tanielian, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy, the clergy, the Diocesan Executive Council, and the various organizations active in Armenian community life in Boston. He appreciated their dedication and commitment to the Armenian Church and community. His Holiness emphasized that the Armenian Church’s mission is to serve the people and recognized Archpriest Antranig Baljian for his 50 years of service.

at the meeting of the Roman Synod of Bishops headed by His Holiness Pope Francis, Vatican City

Holy Father, brothers and sisters in the Lord,

When I was a student in the late 60’s at Propaganda Fidei College, at Genicolom, we were urged to return to our homes and countries to evangelize, to be missionaries. I don't know how we understand the missions in the Church today, or according to what it was given in the “Instrumentum Laboris”.

Engagement with the Youth
At a special gathering at St. Stephen’s Church, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, addressed the youth regarding their crucial role in the Armenian community. He responded to questions related to Armenian identity, the diaspora, and church life, underscoring the importance of youth involvement. “The place of our youth is not on the sidelines but at the forefront,” His Holiness emphasized, encouraging young people to take active roles within the community and church.

V. Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian, pastor of St. Stephen’s Church, opened the event with welcoming remarks. The gathering was facilitated by Nayiri Karafian, Knar Karafian, and Ani Nalbandian, who led the program in succession.

Mk 10, 35-45

Jesus goes up to Jerusalem with His own, but they are afraid because they suspect what might happen to Jesus and themselves in the Holy City. In fact, Jesus tells them exactly what awaits Him: His glory, which will be revealed when He is lifted up on the cross. For the third time, Jesus announces His destiny of passion, death and resurrection, a time when he will surrender himself completely to the obedience of the Father and give himself up.

In this dramatic context, the evangelist Mark reports that the two brothers James and John approach Him with an unusual-sounding question. A question in which the roles are reversed and Jesus is asked to obey their will (“we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you” - Mark 10:35).

At the beginning of the Christian-Islamic Spiritual Summit, Bkerke, October 16, 2024

Reverend Beatitudes, Eminences, Excellencies,

Brethren,

We are here because the homeland is wounded, in pain, and bleeding. Our hearts are bleeding, for around us are victims, martyrs, killing, violence, displacement, and all afflictions that beset us. We are here by the mercy of the Lord in hope and expectation that our meeting and gathering will be a means of consolation for our people. We are here in hope and expectation that this meeting will be an impetus to find solutions for our people, our country, and Lebanon together with our brothers, the political and civil officials, and every authority. May it be a glimmer of hope for our wounded and suffering people.

First of all, we thank His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi for his kind invitation to meet in this honorable residence in Bkerke for an Islamic-Christian spiritual summit to consult on the affairs of our country and the painful issues that trouble Lebanon and our people Lebanese at this difficult time. Our meeting is first a message to the world so that it may see that we have been and shall remain the children of this country with all its sects, Muslims, and Christians and that we are one spiritual family in a national unity that is not marred by any defect. It is also at the same time an internal message to our people for everyone to see that we are united and that nothing separates us. As Muslims and Christians in Lebanon, so dear to our hearts, we hold our hands together in the time of danger.

Announcement from the Central Committee of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE) under the presidency of Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of Haigazian University - Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family:

As we have entered a situation of war here in Lebanon, we wish to announce that our Churches, institutions and the entire Union has joined in doing its part in facing this crisis, as we have done in the past in previous crises.

Our Lord Jesus Christ has given a command to help “the least of these my brethren” in tangible ways, as well as telling us that our neighbor is the one who needs us. So we obey Him and serve with mercy and love, with God’s help…

His Eminence Bishop Hosam Elias Naoum, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, and the Primate of the Episcopal Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, visited on Wednesday 9 October 2024, the new constructed educational building at Alahliyia & Bishop’s School in Amman- Jordan. This new building will provide over 24 classrooms, labs, meeting rooms, etc.

and Scandinavia and the Patriarchal Vicariate of Sweden, at Mor Yacoub Nsibinoyo Cathedral in Sodertalje

On October 14, 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 clergy and councils of the Archdiocese of Sweden and Scandinavia and the Patriarchal Vicariate of Sweden, at Mor Yacoub Nsibinoyo Cathedral in Sodertalje.

On October 13, 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 at Mor Aphrem Cathedral in Sodertalje.

In 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, engaged in visits to various esteemed community institutions, encompassing educational and cultural organizations. He toured Armenian schools, where he received a warm welcome from the directors, administration, educators, and students.

Following his visit to Whitinsville, 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 Boston, a city with a significant Armenian community that embodies all facets of Armenian identity. His Holiness was warmly welcomed by the parish priest, V. Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian, along with the board of trustees, the organizing committee, and members from the diocesan executive council.