Eastern USA

Commissioned by His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch, Rev’d Cor-bishop George Toma, parish priest of St Andrew’s Church in Glenview, Illinois has represented the Assyrian Church of the East at the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches. Under the theme ‘God of life, lead us to justice and peace’, more than 2000 delegates of world churches convened in Busan, Republic of Korea between 30 October – 8 November 2013. The Assembly of the World Council of Churches is a unique moment when the fellowship of member churches unites in prayer, celebration and sets the future agenda for the council. The Assembly is held once every 7 or 8 years. The WCC brings together churches, denominations and church fellowships in more than 110 countries and territories throughout the world, representing over 500 million Christians and including most of the world’s Orthodox churches, scores of Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed churches, as well as many United and Independent churches. At the end of 2012, there were 345 member churches. While the bulk of the WCC’s founding churches were European and North American, today most member churches are in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, the Middle East and the …

On Saturday 13 April 2013, the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago held an outreach session aimed at the Assyrian community of Illinois.

Available below is a paper entitled ‘The Sacramental Theology of the Assyrian Church of the East’ authoured by the Very Reverend Archdeacon William Toma.

His Grace Mar Paulus Benjamin, Bishop of Chicago and Eastern USA consecrated the Eucharistic Liturgy on Tuesday March 26, 2013 at Peterson Park Health Care Center in Chicago where many Assyrian faithful are currently residing. His Grace was assisted by the Rev’d Archdeacon William Toma and Deacon Dadway Daniel.

On Thursday, March 14, 2013, His Grace Mar Paulus Benjamin, the bishop of Chicago and the Diocese of the Eastern USA, accompanied by the priests of diocese in the state of Illinois, received Mr. Johnson Siyawesh, the Minister of Transportation and Communication in the Kurdistan Regional Government, at St. Andrew’s Church in Glenview.

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.

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.

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.

His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV Catholicos Patriarch has welcomed to the Chicago Patriarchate, both His Excellency Dr Hamid Al-Bayati, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Iraq to the United Nations, and Dr William Eshaya, the Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Iraq.

On 24 April 2012 the faithful of St. George Cathedral in Chicago celebrated the Commemoration of St. George the Martyr and partook of the Holy Qurbana.

On Sunday 22 April 2012 His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East welcomed directors of the Assyrian Aid Society of America (AAS-A) to the Chicago Patriarchate.

His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East is expected to make two scheduled visits to St. Andrew Parish in Glenview, Illinois over the coming months.

The Holy Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has been celebrated across the world in dioceses and parishes of the Assyrian Church of the East.

His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East offered the service of the Holy Eucharist at St. George Cathedral in Chicago, celebrating the halfway mark of the Great Fast ahead of Easter.

The faithful congregation at St. George Cathedral in Chicago gathered on Friday 17 February to commemorate both the Friday of the Deceased and two years since the passing of the Late His Beatitude Mar Narsai DeBaz.