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

St. George Parish, Damascus has held a concert to entertain the children of the local community on the occasion of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Christmas concert was held on 27 December 2011 at the hall of the Ibrahim Al-Khalil Monastery in Jaramana, Damascus. It included a drama telling the story of the birth of our Lord, as well as games and activities, carols and the distribution of gifts to 225 children by Santa Claus. Clergy attendees included Archdeacon Toma Oraham, parish priest Rev. Toma Asitivo along with many deacons, church and ACERO committee members, and many faithful. Hymns and prayers were directed towards increasing happiness among the parishioners, seeing as many are immigrants who fled their homeland and are awaiting refugee acceptance by western countries that are willing to offer them a safe home. Thanks were also offered to His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV Catholicos Patriarch, along with His Grace Mar Aprim Nathniel, Bishop of Syria, for their continual follow-up and care for the community in Damascus. Further thanks were offered to all the brothers and sisters around the world who continually donate towards the Assyrian Church of the East Relief Organisation (ACERO) and …

The Barwar Association has visited His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metropolitan of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon, on the occasion of the Holy Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Reverend Archdeacon Emmanuel Youkhana, parish priest from Germany and representative of His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM in Lebanon has attended the consecration of Professor Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria.

His Holiness MarDinkha IV Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East Christmas message 2011.

The Youth Association of Beirut, Lebanon has organized a Christmas Concert as part of their activities for the church's local community.

His Beatitude Mar Gewargis Sliwa, Metropolitan of Baghdad and Iraq, has met Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, while on a sojourn to the Russian capital.

St. Hurmizd Parish in Sydney held their annual Carols by Candlelight and Christmas drama, much to the joy of a large congregation. The events, on 18 December, were organised in two segments; the first segment included the performance of church hymns and songs and the second segment followed on with a presentation of the nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The night was attended by Reverend Chor-Bishop Ashoor Lazar, St. Hurmizd Cathedral parish priest, along with Reverend Moshe Barkho and many deacons. The hymns performed at Carols by Candlelight was organised and composed by Shoora (Alexander) Michalian, conductor of St. Hurmizd Cathedral choir, and performed by the church choir. [nggallery id=334]

Graduation ceremonies have been held in recognition of Mar Narsai Assyrian College (MNAC) and St. Hurmizd Assyrian Primary School (SHAPS) students who will be continuing to the next level of their education in 2012.