Dn. Peter Azzo

The National Executive Committee of ACEYA-USA meets in Chicago, Illinois

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Assyrian Church of the East Youth Association of the United States of America met from Friday, January 14 to Sunday, January 16, 2022, at the Cathedral Church of Saint George the Martyr in Chicago, Illinois. The NEC is a joint ministry between the three episcopal sees of the United States commissioned by their respective hierarchs to be a governing body of the Youth Association in the United States.  The committee oversees the planning of the annual national youth conference and works towards the advancement of youth ministry within the country in various capacities. The NEC consists of four executives and three representatives from each United States diocese, the membership of the committee is as follows: Very Rev. Fr. and Chorbishop Gewargis-Bet Rasho of Tarzana, CA – President; Rev. Fr. Genard Lazar of Turlock, CA – Vice President; Rev. Dcn. Andrew Aziz of Gilbert, AZ – Secretary; Mr. Wilson Yonan of Chicago, IL – Treasurer; Rev. Dcn. Allen Youssefi of San Jose, CA – California Diocesan Representative; Rev. Dcn. Elbron Odisho of Glenview, IL – Eastern USA Diocesan Representative; Rev. Dcn. Peter Azzo of Chicago, IL – Eastern USA Diocesan Representative; Rev. Dcn. Zaya …

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His Holiness the Catholicos-Patriarch Hosts Post-Consecration Audiences

His Holiness Mar Awa III, Catholicos-Patriarch, received distinguished guests and representatives of governments in private audiences at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Ankawa after his consecration and enthronement on the Feast of the Holy Cross (14 September 2021). His Holiness received the U.S. Consul General Robert Palladino of the U.S. Consulate of Erbil. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Consulate Erbil Facebook page) The Catholicos-Patriarch received and met with Dr. Stavros Kyrimis, the Consul General of the Republic of Greece on Tuesday, 21 September 2021. On 21 September 2021, Mr. Evin Agassi paid a visit of honor to His Holiness the Catholicos-Patriarch. Mr. Emmanuel Khoshaba, along with a few colleagues, paid a courtesy visit to His Holiness on Monday, 20 September 2021. His Holiness Mar Awa III received Mr. Romio Hakari, the Chairman of Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party, and member of the Kurdish Parliament, along with Mr. Jarjis Younan, a member of the Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party on Monday, 20 September 2021.

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His Holiness the Catholicos-Patriarch Consecrates the Holy Altar of St Mar Yosip Khnanisho Parish in Gilbert, Arizona With Oil

On the first Sunday after the Feast of the Finding of our Lord’s Cross (15 September 2019), His Holiness Mar Gewargis III Sliwa Catholicos-Patriarch consecrated the Holy Altar of St Mar Yosip Khannisho Parish (Gilbert, Arizona) with oil.  This joyous celebration was a part of His Holiness’ first Apostolic sojourn to the Diocese of the Western United States.  The consecration was attended by the His Grace Mar Aprim Khamis Diocesan Bishop of the Western USA, His Grace Bishop Mar Emmanuel Yosip of Canada, various members of the clergy, lay faithful, and representatives of local government and Assyrian organizations.  Following the consecration of the Holy Altar, His Grace Bishop Mar Aprim Khamis celebrated the Divine Liturgy of Ss Addai and Mari and communion was distributed to over 700 faithful attendees.  A celebratory luncheon, with over 450 guests, was hosted by the new parish in honor of His Holiness the Catholicos-Patriarch and the consecration of the Holy Altar. A brief history of St Mar Yosip Khannisho Parish of Gilbert, Arizona: In August 2006, East Valley church members signed a contract with the Gilbert Public School District to use Burk Elementary Multipurpose Room for church service.  On 1 October 2006, the inaugural Qurbana …

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32nd Annual Youth Conference – Central Valley, California

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity -Psalm 133:1 The 32nd National Youth Conference of the Assyrian Church of the East Youth Association of America (ACEYA) took place in the Diocese of California, hosted by the Central Valley Parishes of Mar Zaia Cathedral, Mar Gewargis Parish, and Mar Addai Parish, from 10 July to 15 July 2019. This youth conference had over 400 attendees from the three dioceses in the United States of America.  In particular, this youth conference was blessed with the presence of His Holiness Mar Gewargis III Sliwa, Catholicos-Patriarch.  It is noteworthy to mention that His Grace Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of California and Secretary of the Holy Synod; His Grace Mar Yosip Sargis, Bishop Emeritus; His Grace Mar Aprim Khamis, Bishop of Western USA and His Grace Mar Paulus Benjamin, Bishop of the Eastern USA were also present along with many priests and deacons. This year’s youth conference’s theme was “Keys to the Kingdom” (c.f. Matthew 13:11) which expounded upon the sacraments of the Holy Church.  This youth conference’s lectures included: -Rev’d Chorbishop Gewargis Toma of Glenview, Illinois on the Holy Mysteries of Priesthood and Absolution; -Rev’d Chorbishop Gewargis Bet-Rasho and Rev’d …

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Commission for Dialogue between the Assyrian Church of the East and the Russian Orthodox Church holds its third meeting

On 23-27 October 2018, the third meeting of the Commission for Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Assyrian Church of the East took place at the Novodevichy Convent of the Holy Resurrection in St. Petersburg. The Moscow Patriarchate’s delegation included Bishop Kliment of Krasnoslobodsk and Temnikov, co-chairman of the Commission; Archimandrite Stefan (Sado), chief librarian of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy; Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), secretary for inter-Christian relations of the Department for External Church relations; and Mr. Sergei Alferov, DECR staff member. Representing the Assyrian Church of the East were Bishop Mar Awa Royel of California, secretary of the Holy Synod of the Assyrian Church of the East, co-chairman of the Commission; Cor-Bishop George Kanon Toma, cleric of St. Andrew’s Church in Glenview, Illinois, USA; Priest Ephraim Alkhas, personal assistant to the secretary of the Holy Synod of the Assyrian Church of the East; and Deacon Roland Bidzhamov, cleric of the Assyrian diocese of Northern Iraq and CIS. As the Commission members noted, the academic contacts between the two Churches have been successfully developing. As part of the student exchange project, in autumn 2018 an Assyrian student was admitted to the Moscow Theological Academy. On 5-11 October 2018, …

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Moscow Patriarchate Hosts Summer Institute for Assyrian Church of the East Delegation

Between October 5-11, 2018, an official delegation from the Assyrian Church of the East visited Moscow, Russia to participate in a Summer Institute programme organized by the Moscow Patriarchate’s Saints Cyril and Methodius Theological Institute of Postgraduate Studies. The 8-member delegation visited Moscow at the invitation of the Russian Orthodox Church, Holy Synod, Department for External Church Relations and by the Apostolic blessing of His Holiness Mar Gewargis III Sliwa Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East.  Assyrian delegates from Iraq, India, the United States, Sweden and Australia reflected a number of key backgrounds including ordained serving clergy, theological students, educators, youth ministry workers, parish administrators and charitable workers. The existing Bilateral Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Assyrian Church of the East was first established during a meeting between His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill and His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV, of thrice-blessed memory, on 28 May 2014. The First Session of the Commission for Dialogue met on 18 May 2016 in Moscow, Russia and the Second Session met between 23-26 October 2017 in Modesto, California. The Third Session will be hosted in Moscow, Russia in late October 2018. The Commission …

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31st Annual National Youth Conference – Scottsdale, Arizona

The 31st Annual National Youth Conference was held in the Diocese of the Western United States under the patronage of St. Peter’s Cathedral and Mar Yosip Parish from 4th-9th of July.  The conference agenda included prayer services, lectures, and fellowship for over 350 youth members ranging from 14-30 years old from the various three dioceses in the United States of America. The theme of this conference was ‘Mission Possible: Our Christian Vocation’ according to Isaiah 6:8 which recalls the blessed prophet Isaiah hearing the voice of the Lord and responding, “Here I am. Send me!”  The lectures at the conference explored various aspects of our Christian vocation; Rev. Cor-Bishop Gewargis Bet-Rasho of Los Angeles, California expanded on the family context, Rev. Fr. Gewargis Sulaiman of Chicago, Illinois focused on the religious aspect of a vocation, Rev. Fr. Genard Lazar of Modesto, California taught about our personal encounter with our vocation, and Rev. Deacon Allen Youssefi of San Jose, California presented a lecture on a career oriented vocation. This conference was blessed by the presence of our father prelates: His Grace Mar Aprim Khamis; Bishop of the Western United States, His Grace Mar Awa Royel; Bishop of California and the Secretary …

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Chicago Commemorates the 100th Martyrdom Anniversary of Mar Benyamin Shimun XXI

“There is no greater love than this: that a person would lay down his life for the sake of his friends” -The Gospel of John 15:13 The Diocese of the Eastern United States commemorated the 100th martyrdom anniversary of Mar Benyamin Shimun XXI with the opening of a new monument dedicated in his honor as he sacrificed his own life for the sake of the Holy Church and the Assyrian nation.  Upon arrival to Montrose Cemetery, His Grace Mar Paulus Benjamin, Diocesan Bishop of the Eastern United States of the Assyrian Church of the East began the a prayer service alongside His Grace Mar Gewargis Yonan, Bishop of Chicago of the Ancient Church of the East, and Reverend members of the clergy.  After the prayer service, His Grace Mar Paulus Benjamin extended his sincere gratitude to Dr. Norman Solhkhah and Dr. Edison Ishaya for their efforts in honoring the martyred Catholicos-Patriarch, Mar Beyamin Shimun XXI.  The monument was then officially unrevealed to the public by His Grace Mar Paulus Benjamin, His Grace Mar Gewargis Yonan and Dr. Norman Solhkah. A luncheon followed the opening of the momentum at Crystal Palace Banquets in Mount Prospect, Illinois.  His Grace Bishop Mar Paulus …

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Mar Yosip Khannisho Parish Lays Foundation Stone in Gilbert, Arizona

“…Upon this rock I will build my church…” -Matthew 16:18 On the Second Sunday of the the Great Fast, after the celebration of the Holy Qurbana, His Grace Mar Aprim Khamis, Bishop of the Western United States, Rev. Archdeacon Frederick Hermiz, Rev. Koshaba Sholimun, and the Rev. Deacons along with the faithful of Mar Yosip Khannisho Parish laid the foundation stone of their church in Gilbert, Arizona. The clergy commenced the service with a procession of chanting antiphons (oniyathe) unto the construction site.  His Grace Mar Aprim Khamis then placed a picture of the blessed Mar Yosip Khannisho into a brick to be the cornerstone of the Church and delivered a brief history of the parish acknowledging the help of the loyal members of the Assyrian Church of the East and Assyrian nation throughout the years. The church is expected to be completed in 6-7 months by the grace of God and the donations of faithful members of the Church worldwide.  If you are interested in donating a personalized brick, which will be placed in the entrance hallway of the new church, please visit www.projectmaryosip.com and for other various donation visit, GoFundMe.com/ProjectMarYosip. Mail can be sent to: PO Box 735 Gilbert, AZ …

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Bishops Mar Awa Royel and Mar Paulus Benjamin attend the 66th annual National Prayer Breakfast

His Grace Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of California and the Secretary of the Holy Synod, along with His Grace Mar Paulus Benjamin, Bishop of the Eastern United States, attended the 66th annual National Prayer Breakfast in the nation’s capital on February 8, 2018.  Initiated in 1953, the National Prayer Breakfast allows for government officials and religious leaders to converse and establish professional relationships while bringing glory to the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The gathering was attended by the President of the United States, Mr. Donald J. Trump, along with approximately 3,500 other attendees including members of congress, various state officials, and religious leaders from all four corners of the earth.

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Presbyteral Ordination in the Diocese of California

On September 13, 2017, The Feast of the Holy Cross, His Grace Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of California elevated Rev. Deacon John Piro to the ecclesiastical rank of presbyter at Mar Zaia Cathedral in Modesto, California.  Rev. Fr. John will serve as an assistant priest at Mar Addai Parish in Turlock, California.  Following the ordination, His Grace Mar Youhannan Yousip, Auxiliary Bishop of India, celebrated the Holy Mysteries and there was a fellowship meal in the Church Hall. Video of Rev. Fr. John’s Ordination Biography of Rev. Qashisha John Badal Piro Reverend Qashisha John Badal Piro was born on February 7, 1973 in the city of Turlock, CA. to his father Reverend Cor-Bishop Badal S. Piro, and Bereshwa Piro.  He is the youngest of 7 children.  He began his ecclesiastical education in the Assyrian Church of the East in both Syriac language and liturgical service at the hands of his father beginning at the age of five years.  This was instrumental in building a strong foundation in the Apostolic faith of the Church of the East, which is evident to this day. At the age of 12 years, he was ordained a hypodyakhna (subdeacon) for Mar Addai Parish and served …

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