Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon

Hymns of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East Album

The album, Hymns of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East contains seven hymns sung by Reverend Genard Lazar. Feel free to download the hymns and burn them to CD. We encourage all people to share these hymns with family and friends. 01 – O The Fiery Beings (How D’nuraneh) 02 – Tell Me O Church (Emar Li Edtha) 03 – Father Of Truth (Awa D’qushta) 04 – We Have Hope And Trust (Itlan Sawra O’tookhlana) 05 – Until When? (Khen Hal Eeman) 06 – Blessed Is Christ Our Saviour (Breekhoo Msheekha Paroqan) 07 – Fallen In The World (Npeela Ewin B’ulma)

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2010 Walkathon Inspires Spiritual Walk of Life

In a show of faithfulness to the Assyrian Church of the East, more than 300 church members took part in a physical and spiritual walk to raise more than $22,000 for the building of two new churches for the Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon. The 2010 Walkathon encouraged the young, old, fit and fighting to power-walk, trek and stroll their way through the scenic 10km route from the future site of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, Kosovich Place in Cecil Park, to St Hurmizd Cathedral in Greenfield Park. A sea of green-shirted participants was visible from afar, proudly displaying motivational words from the Epistle of Paul to the Philippians, 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The annual marathon fundraiser was organised by the Youth Association of the ACOE alongside Ss. Peter and Paul Parish committee members, with the aim of raising donations for the building of Ss. Peter and Paul and St George Parishes. Officially opening the 2010 Walkathon with a prayer, Reverend John Kushaba, priest at Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, said partial fundraising was to be donated to the Starlight Foundation of Australia. “It is encouraging to know that while …

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His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM Metropolitan Visits Melbourne

The faithful of the Assyrian Church of the East in Melbourne were this weekend blessed by the Episcopal Sojourn of His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metropolitan of the Assyrian Church of the East for the Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon. His Beatitude visited Melbourne to assess the condition of the church and provide direction and stewardship to its faithful. His Beatitude arrived in Melbourne on Friday 27 August 2010, and gave leadership to a series of meetings with the parish priests and various committees. In these meetings, the Metropolitan discussed numerous points of importance to the parish faithful and laid out concrete measures for the ongoing success of the parish. Sunday 29 August 2010, marking the First Sunday of Elijah in the ecclesial calendar, saw His Beatitude consecrate the Eucharistic Liturgy in the St. George Church located in Reservoir. Hundreds of faithful packed the small church, which was purchased in 1979, to take part in the service. In his sermon, His Beatitude exhorted the faithful to be in constant prayer and asserted the importance of humility, good works and mutual respect in the spiritual life of every Christian. His Beatitude was assisted during the service by Rev. …

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Ordination of Reverend Narsai Youkhanis

The Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon’s newly ordained priest Reverend Narsai Youkhanis has commenced his lifetime service to the Assyrian Church of the East, following an emotional laying of the hands ceremony at St Hurmizd Cathedral. The ordination, on 22 August 2010, was led by His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia and assisted by Cor Bishop Reverend Ashur Lazar and more than 30 clergy members including parish priests, deacons, sub-deacons and lectors. In a symbolic ceremony filled with ritual prayers to the Holy Spirit, H.B. Mar Meelis Zaia placed his blessed right hand on Deacon Ramsen Youkhanis, raising him to the ranking of priesthood and a commitment to work in the field of the Lord under his chosen name ‘Reverend Narsai’. Attending the early morning ordination were more than 2000 faithful, who filled St Hurmizd Cathedral with a mix of tears and joy, and took part in the new priest’s first offering of the Holy Eucharist, which followed a sermon and gospel reading for the 7th Sunday of summer according to the church calendar. Rev. Narsai said he felt confident through the strength of God, following the gracious gift of the Holy Spirit, the laying on of hands. “When …

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Assyrian Genocide Monument Begins Process of Healing

The power of a united Assyrian community was realised on Assyrian Martyrs Day, which was commemorated by the official unveiling of the Assyrian Genocide Monument in Bonnyrigg Heights, Sydney on Saturday 7th August 2010. The monument, the first of its kind for the worldwide Assyrian community, was officially approved by the Fairfield City council on December 15, 2009 and sponsored by the Assyrian Universal Alliance in honour of the 750,000 Assyrians who perished through orchestrated massacres and deportations in southeast Turkey in 1914 and following years of World War 1. The unveiling was witnessed by more than 2000 Australian and Assyrian community members at a passionate and patriotic ceremony, opened with a smoking ceremony by Aboriginal elders and marked with a one-minute silence of respect for the fallen. His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia, Metropolitan of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East in Australia and New Zealand, praised the passion of the present generations while leading a prayer for all those who had lost their lives in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. “Bless all this world so that it may comprehend Your will, compassion and Your son’s sacrifice. So through Him we can learn …

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Assyrians in China – Lecture by Dr Ken Parry

Thursday the 22nd of April 2010, was an evening of knowledge, wisdom and a clear understanding on the history of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East’s missionaries in China and India. Dr Ken Parry, a senior lecturer and researcher from the Ancient History Department of Macquarie University and is a world renowned authority on ancient philosophy, church history and theology, lectured to a congregation of church faithful in Edessa Reception with the presence of H.B Mar Meelis Zaia, other university lecturers, along with priests and deacons and faithful of the church. His extensive travels in Asia enabled him to give first hand information on the ancient missionary work of the church of the east that cannot be found in textbooks. The presentation by Dr. Parry opened the eyes of the congregation and expanded their knowledge of the remarkable message propelled to China and India over a thousand years ago. H.B Mar Meelis Zaia, being a graduate of the MA East Syriac Studies of Macquarie University, also presented a speech on this note and was highly supported both historically and factually by the lecturers present (having taught H.B Mar Meelis during his studies). [nggallery id=32]

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Prayer Memorials for the Late Mar Narsai DeBaz Held by Churches and Schools

Hundreds of people attended a memorial service at the St Hurmizd Assyrian cathedral of Greenfield Park in Sydney’s west on Tuesday (16th). The service was in remembrance of H.B Mar Narsai DeBaz, the Metropolitan of Lebanon, Syria and all Europe for the Assyrian church of the East. People also lay flowers and wreaths on the cathedral gates along with messages and cards of sympathy. Among the attendees local Assyrian organisations and politicians payed their respects. Priests from the Ancient church of the East of Sydney were also present. The Assyrian Church of the East has now entered into its 6th day of the Great Fast and yet during this fast, the faithful not only grieve over their sins but now also mourn for the loss of one of their dear Church Fathers; His Beatitude; the late Mar Narsai DeBaz. Ss. Peter and Paul Parish conducted prayer service in the English language, lead by the Parish Priest, Rev. Genard Lazar, in honour of the late Metropolitan of the Assyrian Church of the East in Lebanon Syria and Greater Europe, commencing at 8pm at St Hurmizd’s Cathedral in Sydney. Reverend Genard presented a short eulogy on the life of the simple, meek and …

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Visit of the Iraqi Ambassador in Australia to His Beatitude for Christmas

His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM was visited by His Excellency Ambassador Ghanim Taha Al-Shibli, the Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq in Australia, and Dr William Isaiah, Charge  of the Iraqi Embassy in Japan, and Mr. Mohsen al-Samarrai, an Iraqi consul in Sydney, In addition to  Mr. Havel Sean representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Australia. [nggallery id=33]

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