Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon

“… Lest we forget” On Saturday 31st October 2009, approximately 250 proud Assyrians gathered in Fairfield’s Ulverstone Street Park in Sydney, NSW to witness the Unveiling of a memorial park in honour of the Assyrian Levies. Mr Gaby Kiwarkis of the Assyrian Levies Association welcomed all at 10:00 am followed by a prayer by His Beatitude Archbishop Mar Meelis Zaia, Metropolitan of the Assyrian Church of the East, Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand. Guest speakers on the day were Lieutenant Steve Zakaria RAN, Assyrian Australian Association; Mr. Andy Rohan, Assyrian Sports and Cultural Club; Mr. Joseph Adams, Assyrian Bawar Association, Fairfield Councilor Zaia Tooma, Mr. John Savige – Lt General Sir S. Savige, Mr. Lindsay Grigg – Captain Nicol MC Rep. New Zealand Defense Force, Hon. Charlie Lynn MLC. Prior to the unveiling of the plaque, His Beatitude the Metropolitan lead all into a prayer of commemoration followed by the official unveiling by His Beatitude and the laying of the first wreath. Wreaths were also laid by the Colonel, then the Levies, then MP Charlie Lynn then Assyrian Sports and Cultural Club, followed by the Scouts. [nggallery id=34]

The Assyrian Church of the East Youth Association of Sydney sacrificed a night’s sleep and became stars on Saturday 12th of September to help raise money for two main causes: the Starlight Children’s foundation, doing their part to help bring magic and laughter into the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children and their families and secondly to the newly founded organization ACERO (Assyrian Church of the East Relief Organisation) to help and support Christian children and their families in war torn Iraq and its neighbouring countries. Youth Association held the tiring Wake-A-Thon with over 100 participants from the Assyrian community at Edessa Reception Hall (behind St Hurmizd’s Cathedral) in Greenfield Park. Chor-Bishop Father Ashur Lazar officially marked the beginning of the Wake-A-Thon with a prayer at 7pm. Over 500 people attended the dinner party. Participants danced and partied throughout the night till 2am, entertained by ten famous and beloved singers of the Assyrian community in Sydney who also donated their time and service for this worthy cause. When party was concluded at 2am the 100 participants with the sponsorship form stayed back to sacrifice their sleep to raise funds. A breakfast and various games were organised in order to …

The Ss. Peter & Paul Parish – Assyrian Church of the East of Australia, held its first ever charity fundraising bazaar on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd of August 2009 at the Assyrian Australian Social Centre. During the 2 days, merchandise which was donated by the Church faithful was sold at a charitable price in anticipation of raising funds for the building of the proposed Ss. Peter & Paul Parish Church premises in Cecil Park. Stalls were hired out by individuals who were granted the opportunity to present and sell their goods. The expertise of the Ss. Peter and Paul Parish hospitality committee assisted by the 
St Mary’s Parish ladies committee and other faithful of the Church; provided food, sweets and refreshments which were enjoyed by the attendants of the bazaar. Reverend Genard Lazar, Parish Priest; extended his welcome and gratitude on behalf of the Parish to all those who organised, donated, helped and s upported this cause in anyway. Mr. Chris Goffett, parish president, also spoke of the joy of the parish committee in organising such an event. May our gracious Lord God continue to bless and guard our Holy Church and Assyrian nation through His Son Jesus Christ …

Recently a delegation representing the Australian Federal and State Governments, members of the Department of Housing, visited the Senior Accommodation Living Projects initiated by the “Assyrian Church of the East Retirement villages Australia Ltd” a branch of the Trust of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East, Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand, to observe the progress and the resent development. H.B Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metropolitan of the Church greeted the delegation and took them for a tour of the project and presented a brief on the latest progress achieved by the Church in providing the local senior community with a better accommodation. H.B explained of how the Church is eager to find solutions to the local tenancy problem facing this sector of the community who find it difficult to face the rising cost of tenancy in the Fairfield area.

The delegation consisted of the following members:

Sally Trovena (FaHCSIA), Sue Finnegan (FaHCSIA), John Paszek (HNSW), Helen O`loughlin (HNSW), Gallna Laurie (HNSW), Vivian Hanich (HNSW),Chrisina Foran (HNSW), Tanya Fichmond (HNSW), Nancy Tan (HNSW) and Julian Noylan (HNSW).

The delegation commended the Church and H.B for the project and praised the Assyrian Community for consistently endeavoring to find solution for the …

Qasha Shaju Paulose arrived in Australia at the end of June. He is currently visiting Australia from New Zealand to fulfil the Priestly duties in place of Reverend Genard Lazar who is currently in California of United States for the 23rd Annual Holy Apostolic Assyrian Church of the East Youth Conference. He has been offering the Holy Eucharist in St Hurmizd Cathedral, and St Johns Park High School hall, with his last service to be conducted on the 19th July. The Ss Peter and Paul Parish parishioners have also been blessed with some personally challenging sermons on Friday night preaching at St Marys church. We would like to thank him for his caretaking role with the Ss Peter and Paul Parish and wish him a safe trip home for his return flight as he will be returning to New Zealand. [nggallery id=40]

AFFORDABLE rental properties are being built in Fairfield as part of a national scheme that will offer new accommodation for low- and middle-income families. The 58 properties, now under construction in Polding Street, are to be built and managed by an association between Churches Community Housing and the Assyrian Church of the East that shares the site. Archbishop Mar Meelis Zaia said the Assyrian church had already started construction of the homes before they found out about the Federal Government scheme. “The Churches Community Housing informed us of the scheme and as we were one of the first to apply, we were also one of the first to be approved,” he said. Archbishop Mar Meelis Zaia said that due to the shortage of affordable accommodation in the area, there is already a waiting list of more than 120 people. “The people on the waiting list are mainly elderly residents that can not to afford to rent privately anymore because they are on the age pension,” he said. “As long as they meet all the eligibility requirements, they will be the first to be housed in the properties.” Archbishop Mar Meelis Zaia said the Polding Street properties were expected to be …

Melbourne’s St. George Church was honoured with a visit from His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand during a 4-day Arch-Episcopal Sojourn to the city. During his time in Melbourne, His Beatitude took the opportunity to engage in a number of meetings, in particular with the Parish Council and both Parish Priest’s Rev. Gewargis Toma and Rev. Hurmizd Gewargis, where the general progress of the Parish was examined and a number of plans put in place to ensure the continued success of the Parish. On Sunday the 29th of March, the Sixth Sunday of the Great Fast, His Beatitude consecrated the Eucharistic Liturgy for many hundreds of faithful who came to receive the Holy Qurbana and welcome His Beatitude. In the evening His Beatitude took time from his busy schedule to hold a meeting with the St. George Church Youth Group where he exhorted the young faithful to remain strong in their Christian faith and work together for the advancement of each other’s spiritual lives. The success of the youth program in Sydney was discussed, with particular reference made to Sydney’s Ss. Peter and Paul Parish. His Beatitude informed the youth in attendance of his …

The faithful of the Assyrian Church of the East have responded to the call to help those in need. During recent church services His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM made an appeal to all the church faithful to respond to the devastation of the Victorian people. He announced that at this time of great national disaster, a Christian’s duty is to help those in need, and the very least we can do is give financially to those whose lives have been destroyed so quickly and fiercely. As Christians our compassion drives us to act on behalf of the vulnerable and right now the suffering of the people of Victoria needs our immediate response. Thank you to all who have generously donated to this appeal. The funds will be forwarded to the Australian Red Cross. As a church, and as individuals, our prayers and our hearts go out to all affected by the recent Victorian bushfires. [nggallery id=30]

"This award gives me a sense of working for the whole community, not just the Assyrian church,'' Mr Zaia said.



On Friday 14th November 2008, students of St. Hurmizd Assyrian Primary School and Mar Narsai College in Sydney Australia, along with their Principal Mr. John Haskal, Deputy Principal Mr. Sargis Makko and all teachers and staff, joyously welcomed His Grace Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Bishop of the Assyrian Church of the East, Diocese of Australia and New Zealand. Students also welcomed to their schools a patriotic Assyrian guest of honour Dr. Sargon Dadisho, President of Bet Nahrain Democratic Party and Assyria Sat, in Modesto California, USA. Students presented poems, songs and other items portraying the quality standard of education provide by both schools. The admired behaviour and respect shown by all students depicted both the cultural and spiritual morals of the students as Christian Assyrians. In His speech, His Grace officially welcomed Dr. Dadisho on behalf the school community and expressed His gratitude towards the assistance provided by Assyrian Sat in broadcasting news reports of the schools and the entire achievements of the Church in Australia and New Zealand. Dr Dadisho expressed his absolute delight in finally eye witnessing the great achievements of the Church under the assiduous leadership of His Grace Bishop Mar Meelis Zaia. Dr. Dadisho said, “here …

The 17th of October annually marks the Assyrian Church of the East’s worldwide commemoration of His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos Patriarch’s consecration to the exulted Holy See of Seleucia-Ctesiphon. On this occasion the faithful of the church, in whichever country they reside, take time to reflect upon and consider the diligence and dedication with which His Holiness has executed his role as Catholicos Patriarch for some 32 years at the helm of the most apostolic Church of the East. Taking this opportunity to commemorate the Catholicos Patriarch, the St. George Parish of the Assyrian Church of the East in Melbourne held a function on the 19th of October 2008 which was attended by some 400 faithful who gathered together for a beautiful evening of fellowship. The evening was adorned by the heavenly voices of the Church choir and St. George Assyrian Language School students who recited a number of hymns and other songs in tribute to His Holiness’ immense and selfless service to the Holy Church over the course of many decades. Speeches were delivered by Parish Priest Rev. Gewargis Toma and Assistant Parish Priest, Rev. Hurmizd Dawood Gewargis who both paid homage to His Holiness’ enduring love and …

A successful seminar on the humanitarian crisis in Iraq was held on Thursday 28th of August 2008 at Sydney University’s Footbridge Theatre. Organised as a joint initiative between the NSW Ecumenical Council and Sydney University’s Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, the seminar brought together three experts who have seen first-hand the situation affecting the Iraqi people. The speakers were His Grace Bishop Mar Meelis Zaia AM of the Assyrian Church of the East, Ms. Donna Mulhearm who has worked with Human Shield in Iraq and the director of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, Associate Professor Jake Lynch. Focusing on the impact of the coalition-led intervention and its devastating consequences, the seminar also emphasised the actions that Australia and other governments need to take in order to address the humanitarian crisis they have inadvertently help to create. Current UN estimates report that over 4 million people have been directly affected, with 2 million internally displaced in Iraq and a further 2 million living as refugees in the surrounding countries such as Syria and Jordan. His Grace Mar Meelis presented on the situation of the Christian Assyrians of Iraq and the efforts of the Assyrian Church of the East …

The Youth Association of the Assyrian Church of the East in Sydney organised a gathering of the faithful to which an invitation was extended to His Grace Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Bishop of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand to present an important historical lecture concerning the Patriarchal Seat and Succession within the history of the Assyrian Church of the East on Sunday the 13th of July 2008 at Edessa Hall to more than 500 faithful amongst whom were other clergy of the Church in Sydney. His Grace employed this important academic occasion to communicate to members of the Church in Sydney the most ancient history of the church and how its history has sustained and continued the adherence to sacred doctrines, rites, rituals and practices. His Grace Bishop Mar Meelis Zaia AM commenced the evening’s lecture by offering a short history of the Church and the extensive role it has played within Christendom.  His Grace also explored and emphasised the hardships that the Assyrian and other peoples have faced during the long 2000 year history of the Church of the East and the blood that has been shed by Martyrs for the Holy Church. Within the lecture His Grace urged …