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

The Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon’s newly ordained priest Reverend Narsai Youkhanis has commenced his lifetime service to the Assyrian Church of the East, following an emotional laying of the hands ceremony at St Hurmizd Cathedral. The ordination, on 22 August 2010, was led by His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia and assisted by Cor Bishop Reverend Ashur Lazar and more than 30 clergy members including parish priests, deacons, sub-deacons and lectors. In a symbolic ceremony filled with ritual prayers to the Holy Spirit, H.B. Mar Meelis Zaia placed his blessed right hand on Deacon Ramsen Youkhanis, raising him to the ranking of priesthood and a commitment to work in the field of the Lord under his chosen name ‘Reverend Narsai’. Attending the early morning ordination were more than 2000 faithful, who filled St Hurmizd Cathedral with a mix of tears and joy, and took part in the new priest’s first offering of the Holy Eucharist, which followed a sermon and gospel reading for the 7th Sunday of summer according to the church calendar. Rev. Narsai said he felt confident through the strength of God, following the gracious gift of the Holy Spirit, the laying on of hands. “When …

“Follow Me” said our Lord while He walked on the face of the earth. Many heard His message and transformed their lives. On Sunday August 22nd, 2010, the Seventh Sunday of Summer, the consecration of a deacon and two sub-deacons took place at Mar Yosip Parish by His Grace Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of California. H.G. Mar Awa laid his hand on sub-deacon Ashur Kanoon and was elevated to the ranking of deacon. Along with deacon Ashur, two young men, Lawrence Younan and Banypaul Beitsayad were elevated to the ranking of sub-deacon for this parish. May God bless them and guide them so that their light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify the Father in heaven. [nggallery id=44]

The 18th annual Assyrian Food Festival took place Aug. 21 and 22 in San Jose, California. His grace Mar Awa Royel Bishop of California attended this event, along with Rev Archdeacon Nenos Michael of Mar Narsai Parish, San Francisco, and Father Lawrence Namato of Mar Yosip Parish, San Jose and many other dignitaries from the state of California and the city of San Jose. This year we were blessed with record number of attendees, approximately 5,000. Those who attended had their choice of beef, chicken, and vegetable kabobs, as well as rice with dill and lima beans, a traditional yogurt soup called boushala, Assyrian eggrolls called bourak, hummus, mixed olives and dishes with exotic names like kouba, jajik and goupta. Desserts include dates, baklava, a rice pudding called booshalad khalva and familiar items such as ice cream. While food is the focus of the event, there is a parade, live folk music and dancing and a special area for children with activities. The festival is designed to showcase Assyrian traditions and to educate others about the heritage of the land called “the cradle of civilization.” The festival took place at the Assyrian Church of the East, Mar Yosip Parish, located …

The power of a united Assyrian community was realised on Assyrian Martyrs Day, which was commemorated by the official unveiling of the Assyrian Genocide Monument in Bonnyrigg Heights, Sydney on Saturday 7th August 2010. The monument, the first of its kind for the worldwide Assyrian community, was officially approved by the Fairfield City council on December 15, 2009 and sponsored by the Assyrian Universal Alliance in honour of the 750,000 Assyrians who perished through orchestrated massacres and deportations in southeast Turkey in 1914 and following years of World War 1. The unveiling was witnessed by more than 2000 Australian and Assyrian community members at a passionate and patriotic ceremony, opened with a smoking ceremony by Aboriginal elders and marked with a one-minute silence of respect for the fallen. His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia, Metropolitan of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East in Australia and New Zealand, praised the passion of the present generations while leading a prayer for all those who had lost their lives in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. “Bless all this world so that it may comprehend Your will, compassion and Your son’s sacrifice. So through Him we can learn …

In response to an invitation from the Westminster Group of Washington D.C. and Barnabas Aid USA, a delegation of the Assyrian Church of the East visited the U.S. capitol from July 10-15, 2010. The Westminster Group had hosted a delegation of the ‘Council of Iraqi Christian Leaders’ to meet with various senators, congressmen and the State Department in Washington. The Iraqi delegation was headed by Archbishop Avak Asadourian, the Primate of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Iraq and the General Secretary of the Council; His Beatitude Mar Gewargis Sliwa, Metropolitan of Iraq & Russia for the Assyrian Church of the East; Rev. Joseph Al Sakka of the Presbyterian Church in Iraq. Accompanying the Iraqi delegation were other prelates from the U.S., namely: H.G. Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of California and Secretary of the Holy Synod (appointed by His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV to attend the meetings); Metropolitan Mor Cyril Aphram Karim, Syrian Orthodox Bishop of the Diocese of USA; Bishop Yousif Habash of the Syrian Catholic Church, Diocese of USA & Canada; and Mons. Emmanuel Shalita of the Chaldean Catholic Church (Detroit). Other Assyrian social and political activists from Chicago, Illinois and London (UK) were also present. Some of the …

“You shall serve the Lord, your God…” On Sunday, 9th May 2010 at 10:00am (VI Sunday of the Resurrection), the gracious gift of the Holy Spirit, the laying on of hands (Syameeda), was bestowed upon eleven young men of the Church, through the hand of His Grace Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of California & Secretary of the Holy Synod. The service was conducted at Mar Addai Church, followed by the offering of the Holy Eucharist (Qurbana Qadisha) by His Grace. Those first ordained were the Readers: Mr Michael Nissan, Mr David Baghdasarian, Mr Sargiz Eshaq, Rameil Youkhanna, Eilen Shahbaz and Mr. Delmon Khoshaba. Then, two Sub-Deacons were ordained: Mr. Ramsin Youkhanna and Mr. Raymond Rasho. Finally, those ordained to the Diaconate were: Mr. Edson Joudeh, Mr. Antovan Ousipsargezzadeh and Mr. Ramil Biviyodavid. It is apposite to note that the above ordained were educated and trained by Rev. Fr. Jameel Wardah, Parish Priest of Mar Addai Church, Turlock. We beseech the Lord’s merciful grace to be bestowed upon the newly ordained, granting them the desire and strength to serve His holy church. [nggallery id=44]

Thursday the 22nd of April 2010, was an evening of knowledge, wisdom and a clear understanding on the history of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East’s missionaries in China and India. Dr Ken Parry, a senior lecturer and researcher from the Ancient History Department of Macquarie University and is a world renowned authority on ancient philosophy, church history and theology, lectured to a congregation of church faithful in Edessa Reception with the presence of H.B Mar Meelis Zaia, other university lecturers, along with priests and deacons and faithful of the church. His extensive travels in Asia enabled him to give first hand information on the ancient missionary work of the church of the east that cannot be found in textbooks. The presentation by Dr. Parry opened the eyes of the congregation and expanded their knowledge of the remarkable message propelled to China and India over a thousand years ago. H.B Mar Meelis Zaia, being a graduate of the MA East Syriac Studies of Macquarie University, also presented a speech on this note and was highly supported both historically and factually by the lecturers present (having taught H.B Mar Meelis during his studies). [nggallery id=32]

Hundreds of people attended a memorial service at the St Hurmizd Assyrian cathedral of Greenfield Park in Sydney’s west on Tuesday (16th). The service was in remembrance of H.B Mar Narsai DeBaz, the Metropolitan of Lebanon, Syria and all Europe for the Assyrian church of the East. People also lay flowers and wreaths on the cathedral gates along with messages and cards of sympathy. Among the attendees local Assyrian organisations and politicians payed their respects. Priests from the Ancient church of the East of Sydney were also present. The Assyrian Church of the East has now entered into its 6th day of the Great Fast and yet during this fast, the faithful not only grieve over their sins but now also mourn for the loss of one of their dear Church Fathers; His Beatitude; the late Mar Narsai DeBaz. Ss. Peter and Paul Parish conducted prayer service in the English language, lead by the Parish Priest, Rev. Genard Lazar, in honour of the late Metropolitan of the Assyrian Church of the East in Lebanon Syria and Greater Europe, commencing at 8pm at St Hurmizd’s Cathedral in Sydney. Reverend Genard presented a short eulogy on the life of the simple, meek and …