The Assyrian Church of the East, Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon has welcomed the noted Syriac Studies scholar, Dr J.J. van Ginkel, Fellow of the Faculty of Humanities, Leiden Institute for Area Studies at Leiden University (The Netherlands) to Sydney to present a lecture on the history of the Church of the East.

More than 300 Sydney faithful gathered at the front of Greenfield Park’s St Hurmizd Cathedral at midday to commence the 10km walk. Before embarking on the journey each walker released a balloon into the heavens.

An eminent scholar of the Syriac language and a senior priest of Church of the East in India Rev’d P.K. Raphael (75 years old), son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Poovathinkal Kochappu, has entered into the eternal peace at 5.30pm on 20 September 2012

His Beatitude Mar Gewargis Sliwa, Metropolitan of Iraq, Jordan and Russia has delivered a lecture to faithful in Illinois entitled ‘Pictures from the Past’. The lecture was held at St Andrew’s Church, Glenview, Illinois on Tuesday 4th September 2012.

Al-Ghorba TV, based in Sydney, Australia, has conducted an interview with His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metropolitan of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon.

His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metropolitan of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon was the guest of honour at the site of the future Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Cecil Park Sydney.

In response to a personal and direct invitation from Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu, Foreign Minister of Turkey, His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch, participated in an international conference in Istanbul. Under the theme, ‘The Arab Awakening and Peace in the Middle East: Muslim-Christian Perspectives,’ the conference was held at the Le Meridien Hotel (Istanbul) from the 7th to the 8th of September 2012. The delegation accompanying His Holiness included His Grace Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of California and Secretary of the Holy Synod, and His Grace Mar Paulus Benjamin, Bishop of the Eastern USA Diocese.

The Youth of the Diocese of California Embark on a Spiritual Journey in the Tradition of the Church of the East’s Illustrious Monastic Fathers at Mar Iskhaq’s 2012 Summer Retreat.

In light of all the recent challenges religious minorities face throughout the Middle East, on July 19, 2012, the Congress of the United States, Washington DC introduced a resolution (H. RES. 732) that calls for the protection of the rights and freedoms of religious minorities in the Arab world, particularly in Egypt and Iraq. In addition, the new resolution encourages the newly elected Egyptian President and Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to ensure that the Constituent’s Assembly will draft a new constitution that is representative of all parts of Egyptian society, including the religious minorities. Also, the resolution calls upon the local and federal governments of Iraq to prosecute acts of violence against Assyrians and other minorities, and make the protection of ancient ethno-religious minorities in Iraq an urgent priority.

The 20th annual Assyrian Food Festival in San Jose, CA hit record numbers. Over 14,000 people attended this year’s two day event. Filled with activities, exhibits, and an array of delicious dishes of kabobs, dolmas, and traditional stews.

The first annual Youth Conference of the Assyrian Church of the East, Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon has been hailed as a success, after taking place in Sydney, Australia from 5-8 July 2012.

The Assyrian Church of the East Relief Organisation (ACERO) has issued an urgent call to faithful of the Holy Church and of all compassionate individuals worldwide to support a major campaign to provide urgently needed aid to Assyrians affected by massive recent flooding in Krasnodar, Russia.