On April 23, 2025, 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 (MECC) participated in the Kurdistan National Prayer Breakfast held in Erbil.

On April 22, 2025, 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 (MECC) arrived to Erbil to participate in the Kurdistan National Prayer Breakfast.

Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East

A Decade and Two Years Since the Abduction of the Bishops of Aleppo

Dear brethren and spiritual children,

Since the kidnapping of the Bishops of Aleppo, Boulos Yazigi and Youhanna Ibrahim, on April 22, 2013, the Greek Orthodox and Syriac Orthodox Patriarchates of Antioch and All the East have spared no effort in following up on this sensitive and complex issue. Communication has been made at all levels with the aim of freeing the bishops and uncovering the circumstances and aftermaths of the abduction, as this case constitutes a fundamental matter for both churches and all Eastern Christians, as it reflects part of the suffering of the Eastern human being in facing the challenges of remaining in their land.

From the General Secretariat of the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Bright Monday, 8th/21st April 2017, the Paschal service was held, during which the Resurrection Canon of Saint John of Damascus was chanted and the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom was celebrated in the monastic Church of Saints Constantine and Helen. His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and honorary President of the Middel East Council of Churches, with the participation in prayer of the Holy Archbishops, Priests, Monks, and many pilgrims.

The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Jerusalem, April 21, 2025

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25)

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ,

With a heart heavy in sorrow yet anchored in the promise of the Risen Lord, I join the faithful around the world in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome, who today has returned to the house of the Heavenly Father.

Message from His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, before heading to the Vatican to participate in the funeral Mass of the Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis

I want to greet the Church that we love—the Church of Jerusalem, Our diocese, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

It is a moment during which we need to be united in prayer, first for me, because this is a time in which I carry a great and important responsibility.

In an atmosphere filled with sorrow, yet infused with faith and hope, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over a Holy Mass for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

The Mass was concelebrated by Cardinal Mykola Bychok, C.SS.R., Eparchal Bishop of Saints Peter and Paul of Melbourne of the Ukrainians (Australia), Fr. Francesco Patton, OFM, Custos of the Holy Land, Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, Apostolic Delegate, Msgr. William Shomali, Patriarchal General Vicar, and Msgr. Rafiq Nahra, Patriarchal Vicar for Galilee, along with a large number of bishops and priests. Among the assembly were representatives of the Churches of the Holy Land, a number of ambassadors, consuls, and diplomats, along with members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, various religious orders, and the faithful.

On April 19, 2025, 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 (MECC) presided over the Holy Qurobo of the Easter Vigil at St. George Patriarchal Cathedral in Bab Touma.

Acts 10:34,37-43; Col 3:1-4; Jn 20:1-9 

Brothers and sisters, 
may the Lord give you peace! 

Once again this year we have come here, to the foot of Christ’s empty Tomb, to celebrate the end of Passion Week, which is also the heart of the life of the Church, of our faith. It is our only certainty that underlies our existence: Christ is risen! 

We want to ask ourselves about the meaning of this celebration and this day in the dramatic historical context in which we live. What does it mean for the Church in Jerusalem today to encounter and bear witness to the Risen Christ? 

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. 

ՎԵՐԱՊԱՏՈՒԵԼԻ ՓՈԼ ՀԱՅՏՈՍԹԵԱՆ
ՄԱՀԱԵՄ-Ի ՆԱԽԱԳԱՀԻ ՏԵՂԱՊԱՀ

Քրիստոսի յարութեան պատմութիւնը յեղափոխական եւ փրկարար միտք է բոլոր անոնց համար, որոնք հաստատապէս կը հաւատան, թէ կեանքի ու մահուան իրականութիւնները չեն սահմանափակուիր բնական օրէնքներով ու սովորական դրոյթներով: Իրապէս, արմատականօրէն յեղաշրջող է Խաչեալի յարութեան իրականութիւնը, որովհետեւ մեր առջեւ կը բանայ ոչ միայն մահէն ասդին, այլ մանաւանդ` մահէն անդին իսկական կեանք ունենալու յաւիտենական պարգեւը:

On Good Friday, April 18, 2025, a solemn service at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias commemorated the burial of our Lord Jesus Christ, presided over by Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

In his homily for the Easter Vigil read by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presiding on his behalf, His Holiness Pope Francis explains how this celebration "reminds us that the light of the Resurrection illumines our path" and our hearts. The Pope made a brief visit to St. Peter's Basilica a couple hours before the celebrations for a moment of prayer and to draw close to the faithful gathering for the Easter Vigil in the Basilica.

By Thaddeus Jones

In his homily read by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, during the Easter Vigil in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis underscored how “the light of the Resurrection illumines our path one step at a time,” breaking through the darkness of history and shining in our hearts. Cardinal Re presided over the Easter Vigil on behalf of Pope Francis who has been limiting his public activities as he continues recovery from his respiratory illnesses of recent months.

On April 19, 2025, 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 (MECC) presided over the Holy Qurobo celebrated by Rev. Fr. Sleman Shalouha on the occasion of the Saturday of Lights, at St. Georges Patriarchal Cathedral, Damascus.

On April 18, 2025, is 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 (MECC) celebrated the services of the worship and burial of the Cross at St. George Cathedral in Bab Touma - Damascus.

His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and honorary President of the Middel East Council of Churches, calls for reflection on the celebration of Easter 2025, which falls on the same day for Christians of East and West. He urges walking together also to achieve peace and security in the Holy Land. He writes, "a sound foundation has been laid but there is yet more to be done. We continue in this work confident in God's providence and renewed in the unconquered hope that is given to us in the Empty Tomb."

His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem, on Celebrating Easter Together

This year Christians of the East and the West celebrate Easter on the same day. We shall not see. this alignment again for almost a decade, and it is therefore important for us to reflect on its significance, especially for Christians in the Holy Land.

This year also sees the 1700th  anniversary of the Great Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, when the basis of our shared faith was articulated in the Creed that this Council promulgated.

From the General Secretariat of the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem

At 11:00 p.m. on Holy Friday, 5th/18th April 2025, the Epitaph Service—the Divine Burial of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ—was held at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

For this service, the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Makarios of Ainea of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, who was their guest, and led by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and honorary President of the Middel East Council of Churches, proceeded to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as the bells tolled mournfully. They passed through the Deposition from the Cross and the Holy Sepulchre and entered the Catholicon.

There, the Canon of Great Saturday was chanted until the Patriarch instructed the priests to vest, and the Hierarchs and Priests put on their liturgical garments.

From the General Secretariat of the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Friday, 5th/18th April 2025, Good Friday, the Royal Hours were read at the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem in accordance with the Typikon of the Church and the Status Quo of the Patriarchate.

Thus, early in the morning, the Hours were read in the monastic Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and honorary President of the Middel East Council of Churches, with the participation in prayer of the Holy Sepulchre Fathers.

Gen 1:1 - 2:2; Gen 22:1-18; Ex 14:15- 15:1; Is 54:5-14; Is 55:1-11; Bar 3:9-15.32 - 4:4; Ez 36:16-17a.18-28; Rom 6:3-11; Lk 24:1-12 

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

Today, we also do as the women do when they go early in the morning to anoint the body of Jesus. They see that the stone has been removed from the tomb and that the tomb is empty, and they wonder about the meaning of what has happened (Luke 24:4). We too wonder about the meaning of what has happened 

We ask ourselves what is the meaning of what happened here two thousand years ago: what does the resurrection of Jesus mean for us, what does it bring back into our existence, especially in this time when everything seems to speak of the opposite, of death and darkness.