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.

On the morning of Monday, June 4, 2012, His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, received in audience at the patriarchate Mr. David Tam, director of the Hong Kong based ‘Jingjiao Fellowship.’ Also in attendance of the audience were: Their Graces Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of California, President of CIRED and Secretary of the Holy Synod; Mar Paulus Benjamin, the newly consecrated Bishop of the Diocese of Eastern USA; Mar Narsai Benyamin, Bishop of the Diocese of Iran; and the Very Rev. Archdeacon William Toma, parish priest of Mar Sargis parish in Chicago and Archdeacon of the Holy Synod.

​After more than a year of close collaboration between the American Bible Society (ABS) based in New York and the Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Educational Development (CIRED), the project of reprinting 10,000 modern Assyrian language Bibles has now come to fruition. The project began in mid 2011 at the express request of His Holiness MarDinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, who saw the need to have fresh copies printed of the 1893Urmia edition of the Modern Assyrian Bible, as all copies reprinted until then had been exhausted worldwide, in order for the faithful to be closer to the word of the Lord and to regularly read the Sacred Scriptures.

In the Holy Synod of the Assyrian Church of the East, convened under the presidency of His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch in Chicago from 25 May to 1 June 2012, the Very Reverend Archdeacon Paulus Benjamin, vicar of Mar Gewargis Cathedral in Chicago, was elected bishop for the Diocese of Eastern USA.

The 14th Holy Synod of the pontificate of His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, was convened in Chicago from Friday, May 25th to Friday, June 1st 2012.

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has written to His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos Patriarch, extending his fraternal greetings and congratulations on the Golden Jubilee of the Catholicos Patriarch’s episcopal consecration.

On Friday 18 May 2012, His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos Patriarch, was called upon at the Chicago Patriarchate by Mr Yonadam Y. Kanna MP, Member of the Iraqi Parliament and Secretary General of the Assyrian Democratic Movement.

On the afternoon of Monday, May 14, 2012 His Grace Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of California and Secretary of the Holy Synod, met with the California State Assemblymember Kristin Olsen, Republican representing the the 25th congressional district at the State Capitol in Sacramento. His Grace was accompanied by the Rev’d Father Genard Lazar, Secretary to His Grace and Diocesan Youth Coordinator. Also in attendance was Mrs. Carmen Morad, a member of the Church in the Central Valley area and activist for Assyrian genocide recognition.

The Assyrian language program at Australia’s multicultural public broadcaster SBS has conducted a video-interview with His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metropolitan of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon.