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

The 14th Holy Synod of the pontificate of His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, was convened in Chicago from Friday, May 25th to Friday, June 1st 2012.

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has written to His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos Patriarch, extending his fraternal greetings and congratulations on the Golden Jubilee of the Catholicos Patriarch’s episcopal consecration.

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.

On the afternoon of Monday, May 14, 2012 His Grace Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of California and Secretary of the Holy Synod, met with the California State Assemblymember Kristin Olsen, Republican representing the the 25th congressional district at the State Capitol in Sacramento. His Grace was accompanied by the Rev’d Father Genard Lazar, Secretary to His Grace and Diocesan Youth Coordinator. Also in attendance was Mrs. Carmen Morad, a member of the Church in the Central Valley area and activist for Assyrian genocide recognition.

The Assyrian language program at Australia’s multicultural public broadcaster SBS has conducted a video-interview with His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metropolitan of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon.

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.

Sydney’s Reverend Father Narsai Youkhanis has received his Master of Arts in Early Christian and Jewish Studies from Macquarie University.