Holy Synod

His Holiness Mar Awa III, Catholicos-Patriarch, received distinguished guests and representatives of governments in private audiences at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Ankawa after his consecration and enthronement on the Feast of the Holy Cross (14 September 2021). His Holiness received the U.S. Consul General Robert Palladino of the U.S. Consulate of Erbil. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Consulate Erbil Facebook page) The Catholicos-Patriarch received and met with Dr. Stavros Kyrimis, the Consul General of the Republic of Greece on Tuesday, 21 September 2021. On 21 September 2021, Mr. Evin Agassi paid a visit of honor to His Holiness the Catholicos-Patriarch. Mr. Emmanuel Khoshaba, along with a few colleagues, paid a courtesy visit to His Holiness on Monday, 20 September 2021. His Holiness Mar Awa III received Mr. Romio Hakari, the Chairman of Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party, and member of the Kurdish Parliament, along with Mr. Jarjis Younan, a member of the Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party on Monday, 20 September 2021.

To all the sons and daughters of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East and fellow brothers and sisters in faith, The Holy Synod of the Assyrian Church of the East would like to inform all the faithful of the Church of the results on the Electoral Council held from the 6th to the 8th of September 2021, at St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Erbil, to choose the 122nd Catholicos Patriarch. The Prelates of the Church gathered from all dioceses across of the world, except for His Beatitude Mar Aprem Metropolitan India and the UAE, whose health condition prevented him from attending the Holy Synod meeting. We pray to the Almighty God to grant him good health, and we hope to see him with us in the coming councils. With supplication to the Almighty God, and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and in the spirit of love and brotherhood, the Synodical meetings took place to elect a new Patriarch for the Church, to succeed His Holiness Mar Gewargis III Sliwa, who submitted his resignation last year for health reasons. We pray to the Almighty Lord to grant His Holiness Mar Gewargis III health and full recovery, and we …

The Holy Synod of the Assyrian Church of the East gathered today in Ankawa, Erbil to commence its deliberations under the leadership of His Holiness Mar Gewargis III, Catholicos-Patriarch. On November 7, 2016 the Prelates participated in the Holy Qurbana celebrating the Commemoration of St George the Martyr. The first meeting of the Holy Synod convened shortly after the Holy Synod at 11am and will conclude on November 14, 2016. Prelates from Iraq, Iran, Syria, India, the United States, Australia, Sweden and Canada are in attendance.

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 …

PRESS RELEASE Visit of His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East Rome 1 – 4 October 2014 His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, came to Rome from 1-4 October to meet His Holiness Pope Francis. His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV arrived with his delegation on Wednesday 1 October. On Wednesday evening a dinner was hosted by His Eminence Cardinal Koch in honour of the Patriarch. On Thursday morning 2 October, there was the private meeting of His Holiness Mar Dinkha with the Holy Father, followed by the meeting of the delegation with the Holy Father, comprising speeches, an exchange of gifts and a group photo. On Thursday afternoon and Friday morning two meetings were held at the office of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The members of the delegation of the Assyrian Church of the East were His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia, Metropolitan of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon, His Grace Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of California and Secretary of the Holy Synod, His Grace Mar Yohannan Yousif, Auxiliary Bishop of India, Very Rev. Archdeacon William Toma and Very Rev. Cor-bishop George Toma. The Catholic …

His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos Patriarch of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East, has sent an epistle imploring all members of the church and the Assyrian nation to hold a 3 day fast (Rogation) beginning Monday the 1st of September. The purpose of this rogation is to beseech the mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ upon our Assyrian nation and all who are being persecuted in the Middle East, in particular Northern Iraq. May God accept our rogation just as He accepted the rogation of our forefathers the Ninevites.