Assyrian Church News Official News Site of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East

Voice of the East – Vol. 68 – May & June 2021 – No’s 05 & 06

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Assyrian Church of the East Youth Association of the United States of America met from Friday, January 14 to Sunday, January 16, 2022, at the Cathedral Church of Saint George the Martyr in Chicago, Illinois. The NEC is a joint ministry between the three episcopal sees of the United States commissioned by their respective hierarchs to be a governing body of the Youth Association in the United States.  The committee oversees the planning of the annual national youth conference and works towards the advancement of youth ministry within the country in various capacities. The NEC consists of four executives and three representatives from each United States diocese, the membership of the committee is as follows: Very Rev. Fr. and Chorbishop Gewargis-Bet Rasho of Tarzana, CA – President; Rev. Fr. Genard Lazar of Turlock, CA – Vice President; Rev. Dcn. Andrew Aziz of Gilbert, AZ – Secretary; Mr. Wilson Yonan of Chicago, IL – Treasurer; Rev. Dcn. Allen Youssefi of San Jose, CA – California Diocesan Representative; Rev. Dcn. Elbron Odisho of Glenview, IL – Eastern USA Diocesan Representative; Rev. Dcn. Peter Azzo of Chicago, IL – Eastern USA Diocesan Representative; Rev. Dcn. Zaya …

The Assyrian Church of the East Youth Association hosted its annual Walkathon Fundraiser on Sunday 28 November 2021 with more than 600 walkers trekking the eight-kilometre route around St Hurmizd’s Cathedral in Greenfield Park. The map traced the steps of the Apostles of the East; St Addai, St Mari, St Thomas and St Simon Peter himself, where walkers passed by major cities that signified milestones in their ministry across the homeland: Seleucia, Nisibis, Babylon, Nineveh and Edessa. Walkers picked up a handout explaining the significance of the city and the church fathers’ commentary. The walk was officially opened by His Eminence Mar Meelis Zaia AM and Reverend Fathers of Sydney parishes with a short program to welcome the walkers and cut the ribbon. The event concluded with a celebration at Edessa Reception Hall (Eden Venues) with entertainment, amusements and a barbecue. All proceeds from the Walkathon will go towards helping the needy displaced individuals and families in the Middle East, local charities in Australia and the works of the Youth Association in Sydney.

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 …