For Immediate Release 4 June 2015  The holy Council of Prelates of the Assyrian Church of the East, presided by His Beatitude Mar Aprem, Metropolitan of All India and Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal See of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, continued its plenary working session on Thursday, June 4, 2015. By the Grace of the Holy Spirit, the Prelates continued to discuss the important matter of the election of the new Catholicos-Patriarch; as the chief shepherd has not yet been elected by the Prelates. Any other news to the contrary is incorrect and null.​  The Council of Prelates continues to seek the prayers of our faithful as their shepherds and fathers in Christ, in our deliberations to elect the new Chief Shepherd and Father of Fathers for our holy Church. May the Lord bless you all in the name of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; Amen.  Given at the episcopal residence in Dohuk, Iraq, this 4th day of June, 2015. Mar Awa Royel ♰ By Grace: Bishop of California; Secretary of the Holy Synod

The holy Council of Prelates of the Assyrian Church of the East, presided by His Beatitude Mar Aprem, Metropolitan of All India and Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal See of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, was officially called into session at the episcopal residence in Dohuk, Iraq on Wednesday, June 3, 2015. All the metropolitans and bishops were present for this council for the first full day of the ongoing extraordinary session of the Council.​ By the Grace of the Holy Spirit, the prelates began the important process of electing the catholicos-patriarch to the Holy See of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, after the vacancy of the Holy See with the falling asleep in the Lord of the late Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV, of blessed memory. The prelates, in a fraternal and charitable spirit, are in the process of discernment and election, guided by the Holy Spirit. ​The other work of the extraordinary Council of Prelates is concerned with the matter of our present dialogue with the Ancient Church of the East. The Council of Bishops met in a special assembly on June 1, 2015 in Arbel, Iraq, in order to respond to the requests of their bishops. As of the release of this statement, the Council of …

Meeting between the delegations of the Assyrian Church of the East and the Ancient Church of the Church for the achievement of a unified Church of the East. ​A cordial and fraternal meeting took place in Chicago, IL USA at the premises of St. Andrew’s Assyrian Church of the East on Friday, the 22nd of May 2015. The representatives of the Ancient Church of the East were: 1. His Beatitude Mar Yakoob Danil. Metropolitan of Australia & New Zealand 2. His Beatitude Mar Zaia Khoshaba, Metropolitan of Canada & the U.S. 3. His Grace Mar Gewargis Younan, Bishop of Chicago, IL The representatives of the Assyrian Church of the East were: 1. His Beatitude Mar Gewargis Sliwa, Metropolitan of Iraq & Russia 2. His Grace Mar Iskhaq Yousif, Bishop of Nohadra, Erbil, & Russia 3. His Grace Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of California and Secretary of the Holy Synod The common secretary of this meeting was the Very Rev. William Toma, Archdeacon. The meeting began with the Lord’s Prayer in a singular love, as King David says in the Old Testament: “How very good and pleasant it is, when kindred live together in Unity!” (Psalms 133:1) Representatives of both branches …

It is great sorrow and a heavy heart that His Beatitude Mar Aprem, Metropolitan of India and Patriarchal Vicar, in unison with all the members of the Holy Synod of the Assyrian Church of the East (absent were Mar Aprim Nathniel and Mar Narsai Benyamin due to visa difficulties), announce the falling asleep in the Lord of His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East. The late Patriarch passed at 10:04 am, this morning (Thursday, March 26, 2015) at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. His Holiness was surrounded by the prelates, clergy and family members. The prelates and clergy were in constant prayer at His Holiness’ bedside. The Patriarch’s viewing will take place on 7th April at St Andrews Church, Illinois and funeral will take place 8th April at St George Cathedral. By Grace, +Mar Awa Royel Secretary of the Holy Synod

On 1 February 2015 ACERO Australia in association with NSW Ecumenical Council were proud hosts of the Inaugural ACERO Benefit Dinner held in Sydney, Australia. The blessed evening was presided over by His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metropolitan of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon. The inaugural ACERO benefit dinner was held with two key aims which were focused on raising awareness of the plight of Assyrian and Christian minority groups across the Middle East in addition to raising much needed vital funds for ACERO’s life giving relief works across this region. The occasion was a resounding success and saw in excess of 500 guests across Sydney’s local and wider community gather to offer their collective support to the Middle East’s Christian communities. Guests were treated to informative presentations on the subject of Christianity and plight of Christians across the Middle East from the following esteemed individuals; – His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metropolitan of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon – The Very Reverend Father Shenouda Mansour, General Secretary of the NSW Ecumenical Council; – Sr Elizabeth Delaney, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Australia; – Reverend the Honourable Fred Nile MLC, of the Christian Democratic …