Diocese

On Friday 23rd June 2017 at St John the Baptist Church in Ankawa, Erbil, Deacon Martin Nabil Nikola was ordained to the rank of priesthood at the blessed hands of His Holiness Mar Gewargis III Sliwa, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East. In attendance was His Grace Mar Abris Youkhanan, Bishop of Erbil and Patriarchal Vicar, Archbishop Mar Grigorios Sliwa Shimon of the Syrian Orthodox Church along with numerous reverend priests, deacons and nuns from many sister churches. Biography: Reverend Martin was born in Baghdad in 1990 and completed his primary and secondary education in the city of his birth. From there he moved to Erbil to study philosophy and theology at Babel College, successfully graduating in 2014. He was ordained a deacon by His Holiness Mar Gewargis III in St Odisho Church, Baghdad on 18th December 2010. Revered Martin is married and will serve the Assyrian Church of the East at St John the Baptist Patriarchal Cathedral in Ankawa, Erbil.

“…Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty...” -Acts of the Apostles 6:3 It is with great joy that His Grace Mar Paulus Benjamin, Bishop of the Eastern United States, accepted the request of Very Rev. Fr. Cor-Bishop Dr. Gewargis Toma, parish priest of Saint Andrews Church in Glenview, Illinois to ordain one deacon and two sub-deacons for the growing parish! On the sixth week of the Great Fast, His Grace Mar Paulus Benjamin placed his blessed right hand upon two new Sub-Deacons; namely, Sargis Giliana and Tawer Matloub.  The newly ordained Sub-Deacons are great examples for the youth as they were both born and raised in the diaspora, but have spent countless hours studying the Aramaic language and the Apostolic traditions of our Holy Church. Lord willing, on April 23, 2017, during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Mar Paulus Benjamin will also elevate Afram Liwi Zakaria and raise him to the Holy Order of Diaconate for Saint Andrews Church.  We request the prayers of all the Church faithful, across the world, for the ones who have been called to …

His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metropolitan of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon has elevated three priests to higher holy orders and ordained two priests for the Archdiocese. On Sunday 26th March His Beatitude elevated Rev’d Fr Korkis Toma to the ranking of Cor-bishop at St Abdisho’s Church in Melbourne. Rev’d Fr Korkis is the priest of the latter parish. On Sunday 2nd April His Beatitude elevated Rev’d Father Ninos Elya and Rev’d Father Narsai Youkhanis to the ranking of Archdeacon and Cor-bishop, respectively at St Hurmizd’s Cathedral. The Rev’d Archdeacon Ninos Elya, formerly  parish priest of Saints Peter and Paul Church and chaplain of the Assyrian Schools is to be consecrated to the episcopate on 16th July in Melbourne for the newly formed Diocese of Victoria and New Zealand. Rev’d Cor-bishop Narsai Youkhanis is the secretary to the Metropolitan and chaplain for the youth and children’s associations and will now take up responsibility for international youth ministry for the Assyrian Church of the East. On the same day, Deacon Sami Reverend Shamuel was ordained to the ranking of priesthood and will assume the name Rev’d Father Shamuel Shamuel and a role as chaplain at St Narsai Assyrian Christian College and the responsible clergy member for the Christian education in the Archdiocese. Also, Deacon Neil Makko was ordained to the ranking of priesthood and will take on the role of parish priest at Saints Peter and Paul …

FASTING AND GREAT LENT The institution of fasting: Fasting is as old as the human race is. From the Old Testament we learn that God instituted fasting in Paradise. It is written: “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Gen. 2:15-17) The above mentioned verse makes it clear that fasting existed before the Adam and Eve committed sin by breaking the commandment of God, and fasting was not established as a treatment for their sin. The fasting in Paradise consisted of abstaining of the fruit of the tree, the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God by commanding Adam and Eve not to eat of the particular fruit wanted to teach them the discipline of self-control and spiritual growth. Fasting was practiced both in the Old and New Testament and throughout the history of the Church. What is the similarity between …

On Sunday 26th February being the beginning of the Great Lent in the church’s liturgical calendar, His Eminence Mar Meelis Zaia AM offered the Holy Eucharistic service at St Hurmizd’s Cathedral, Greenfield Park. By which the announcement of Sydney’s clerical ordinations was made to the congregation, to take place 8:00 am on Sunday 2nd April at St Hurmizd’s Cathedral, and are as follows: Reverend Father Ninos Elya to be elevated to the ranking of Archdeacon for the Holy Church, in preparations for his consecration as bishop on Sunday the 16th July in St Abdisho’s Church, Melbourne as elected by the Holy Synod. The Church will be anticipating the attendance of His Holiness Mar Gewargis Sliwa Catholicos Patriarch accompanied by a number of esteemed prelates. Reverend Father Narsai Youkhanis to be elevated to the ranking of Chor-Bishop for the Holy Church, in commencing his international youth ministry as elected by the Holy Synod. Deacon Neil Makko to be elevated to the ranking of priesthood and taking on the responsibilities of Saints Peter and Paul Church in Cecil Park, Sydney. Deacon Neil will relieve Rev’d Fr Ninos as he commences his bishop duties for Melbourne in July 2017. At the same time, …

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” (1 Thessalonians 4:14) On Wednesday 16th November 2016, the village of Sarsing in Northern Iraq mourned the death of Reverend Father Patros Younan, parish priest of St Matthew’s Church. The Late Rev’d Fr Patros Younan was born in the year of 1969, was married with four children; two boys and tow girls. He was ordained a priest on the 18th February 2012 by His Grace Mar Iskhaq Yousip, bishop of the diocese of Northern Iraq and Russia. He served at St Matthew’s Church in the village of Sarsing and other surrounding churches. The funeral service will be held 1:00 pm on Friday 18th November 2016 in St Matthew’s Church. The Church in its entirety convey their condolences to his family and parishioners, and pray that the Lord grants him His Eternal Kingdom as a faithful servant.

During the latest visit to their diocese, His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM met with the Lebanese President General Michel Aoun in his presidential palace Baabda – Beirut. His Beatitude conveyed his sincere congratulations and well wishes to the President, on behalf of the Assyrian Church of the East’s Holy Synod and the Assyrian community in Lebanon in its entirety for the presidential elections of the Republic, and prayed for Lebanon and its people to live in peace and harmony. Upon His Beatitude’s visitation, a thorough update on the living conditions of the Assyrian community who have been displaced from their homeland and are currently seeking refuge in Lebanon was presented. The great sufferings of these families was brought to the attention of the President, and a recount of their traumatic experiences in Iraq and Syria. In concluding their visitation, His Beatitude conveyed his best to the President, praying that the Lord strengthens and guides him with the work entrusted to him by the Lebanese people; to bring process and prosperity.   His Beatitude Mar Meelis was accompanied by Rev’d Chor-Bishop Yatron Kilyana and Mr. Essam El-Assaad.

The Holy Synod of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East, headed by His Holiness Mar Gewargis Sliwa III convened in the city of Erbil, Iraq commencing on Monday the 7th November till Saturday 12th November 2016. The Synod opened the meeting with the offering of the Holy Oblation in St Youkhana Mamdnana Cathedral (St John the Baptist) in Ankawa, Erbil. The Holy Synod elected two priests to be consecrated bishops in the year of 2017, namely; Reverend Father Dr Tyari Jonsen for the Diocese of Erbil and Patriarchal Vicar and Reverend Father Ninos Elya for the Diocese of Melbourne (Australia) and temporarily New Zealand. Biographies 1- Reverend Father Dr Tyari Jonsen Reverend Tyari was born in Erbil, Iraq in the year of 1978. He was ordained a deacon by Metropolitan His Beatitude Mar Gewaris (currently His Holiness) in Baghdad on the 23rd November 2002. He was ordained a priest once again by the Metropolitan at the time in Kirkuk’s St George’s Church on the 14th January 2007. Rev’d Tyari received his Bachelor Degree in Political Science from the University of Baghdad in 2007. Rev’d Tyari also received his Masters Degree in Theology 2011 from Alphonsian Academy in …

The Suffering, Death, Burial and Resurrection Of Jesus Christ It is recorded in The Scripture that the High-priests, The Scribes, the Pharisees, the learned theologians of that time in history were possessed of a particular hatred for our Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus was not accepted by the above mentioned figures for the following reasons: 1. The majority of regular people followed Him and His teachings, accepted His miracles, etc. It is written: “And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching.” (Mark 11:18) Again it is written: “They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.” (Matthew 21:46) Again it is written: “Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.” (Luke 19:47-48) 2. He was straight forward with His teachings, and revealed their teachings as false.  It is written: “Again …

The Assyrian Church of the East Relief Organization (ACERO) is the international aid agency of the Assyrian Church of the East. ACERO Australia is the Australian arm of the international aid agency, and is established to provide benevolent aid and relief to refugees, the displaced and other victims of persecution, war or natural disaster. On Sunday 9th October 2016, ACERO Australia’s NSW Chapter held a luncheon as a gesture of the Charity’s appreciation for the overwhelming generosity extended by its various business and association sponsors during times of intense need. The blessed occasion was presided over by His Eminence Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metropolitan of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East, and Founding Chairman of ACERO and ACERO Australia. Attending as guest of honours was the NSW Ecumenical Council, represented by the Council’s General Secretary, the Very Reverend Fr Shenouda Mansour. The occasion was a resounding success and saw in excess of 40 businesses and associations gather to offer their collective support to the Charity and its aid and relief works. Guests were treated to various informative presentations delivered by the following esteemed individuals: • Keynote address from His Eminence Mar …

Two clergy of the Diocese of California have recently completed their graduate theological studies and have been awarded Master’s degrees from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, at Berkeley, California. These clergy are the following: Rev. Fr. Ephraim Alkhas Fr. Ephraim Alkhas completed a Masters of Arts in Philosophy as well as a Master of Arts in Theology from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, CA. He is a priest in the Diocese of California serving as the sole dedicated servant in the Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Educational Development (CIRED). Fr Ephraim’s thesis, which was applied towards both degrees, is titled: Philosophical Terms and Anthropology in the Christology of Mar Babai the Great and Saint Maximus the Confessor. This thesis studied how philosophical language was used in Greek (by Maximus the Confessor) and in Syriac (by Mar Babai the Great) to describe the person of Jesus Christ as both fully God and fully man. Today, Fr Ephraim continues serving CIRED and in the Diocese of California. He is also in his second year of graduate studies at the University of California Berkeley’s Department of History. Primarily concerned with how canon law functioned in the creation of …

  Rev. Fr. Cor-Bishop Dr. Gewargis Toma Parish Priest of Saint Andrews Church Glenview, Illinois, U.S.A.  

Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The second Qnuma (person) of the most Holy Trinity, God the word, is called the Son of God. This same Son of God, God the Word, became man, and was called Jesus.  It is written in the Holy Bible that He was conceived and born of the Virgin Mary and He was called Jesus.  The Prophets of the Old Testament and the Evangelists of the New Testament, who had expected the coming of Him to save humankind called Him Christ. It is written: “She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) Again it is written: “And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.” (St Luke 1:31) Saint Matthew in the book of the generation of Jesus says: “And Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah…” (Matthew 1:16) Pilate the Roman Governor calls Jesus the Messiah which means Christ the anointed one. It is written: “So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do you want …