Tag Archives: Modesto

Leaders of a coalition of Assyrian political organizations have paid a courtesy visit to His Grace Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of California and Secretary of the Holy Synod, in Modesto, California.

Faithful members of St Zaia's Parish in Modesto, California are continuing regular spiritual services in their church hall, following a damaging fire in the cathedral.

Assyrian Martyrs Day, the 7th of August, has been officially recognized with a City Proclamation by the City of Modesto

On Saturday August 28th, 2010 the A.C.O.E, Diocese of California youth ministry held its monthly Joint Bible Study (JBS) at Larsa Hall in Turlock, California, which saw youth members of Mar Yoisp, Mar Zaia, Mar Gewargis and Mar Addai Parishes coming together in the love of Christ and His life-giving word.  The topic for this month’s discussion was “Media and its Influence on Our Christian Lives.” The day commenced with the Assyrian Church of the East liturgical Morning Prayer lead by Reverend Genard Lazar – Diocesan Youth Coordinator, numerous deacons, and all youth members. After the prayer, all attendees were welcomed by Deacon Ramil Bivyodavid, Vice President of the Mar Addai youth ministry, which was the hosting parish for this month’s JBS. Deacon Ramil expressed his gratitude to everyone who attended and urged those who were attending for the first time to engage with this month’s topic, discuss, learn, and join their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ for fellowship. After a few instructions and breakfast, as prepared by the Mar Addai Parish youth committee, all attendees were divided up in groups based on age and dispersed with their respective bible studies leaders for discussion. In these small groups, various …

His Grace Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of the Assyrian Church of the East for the Diocese of California (USA), attended the ‘Second Symposium Syriacum’ in Vienna, held under the patronage of the Pro Oriente Foundation, from November 4 to 6, 2009. Accompanying His Grace, was Cor-bishop Auchana Kanoun, priest of Mar Gewargis Parish, Ceres, California. With its studies in the Syriac tradition, the PRO-ORIENTE FOUNDATION of Vienna, Austria, intended to facilitate mutual understanding and exchange as well as to promote the common heritage of the various churches belonging to the historical Syriac Tradition. In continuation of its former “Syriac Dialogue” (1994-2005), the PRO-ORIENTE, fourth Forum Syriacum was held in Vienna from November 2-7, 2009. Under the auspices of the Forum Syriacum, the “Second Symposium Syriacum” was held at the Palottihaus, Vienna. The theme this year dealt with the contributions of Syriac Christianity in the Middle East and India, and the challenges it faces in the same areas. The following were the invited experts and Church representatives: A.  Expert Scholars from the Churches of Syriac Tradition:- 1. Mar Boulos Matar, Archbishop, Beirut, Lebanon (Maronite Catholic Church) 2. Mar Joseph Powathil, Metropolitan, Changanassery, India (Syro-Malabar Catholic Church) 3. Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim, …

On Sunday, May 24, 2009, Feast of the Pentecost, His Grace Mar Awa Royel conducted the ordinations to minor orders of four readers and one sub-deacon at Mar Zaia Cathedral, Modesto, California. Those ordained were: Robert Malkopour to the order of sub-deacon; Michael Barsom, Brainer Gewargis; Onel Barcham and Zaia Merza to the order of reader. Assisting the bishop were Rev. Shamlee Tamras, parish priest of Mar Zaia Cathedral, and numerous other deacons. [nggallery id=46]

On Friday, August 15, 2008—the commemoration of the Virgin Mary—a new parish priest was ordained for Mar Zaia Parish in Modesto, California. On that joyous day, attended by some 750 faithful from all parts of California, His Grace Mar Aprim Khamis, Bishop of Western USA, ordained the Rev’d. Deacon Sawa Shawel Tamras to the priesthood. Also in attendance for the momentous occasion were: His Grace Mar Sargis, Bishop of Baghdad; Archdeacon Nenos Michael of San Francisco; Cor-bishop David Royel of San Jose; Cor-bishop Fredrick Hermiz of Phoenix; Rev. Auchana Kanoun of Ceres; Rev. Jameel Wardah of Turlock. The new priest was given the ecclesiastical name of ‘Father Shamli.’ Fr. Shamli Tamras was born in 1951, and studied for some years at the Assyrian Church of the East seminary in Dora, Baghdad; he was ordained a deacon by His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch, in October of 2007. Fr. Shamli holds a Master’s Degree in Chemistry and presently teaches Chemistry at Fresno State University. Fr. Shamli succeeds Rev. Kando Kando as the parish priest for Mar Zaia, who was relieved of the parish and transferred to the parish of Chandler in Arizona. Fr. Shamli’s brother, Rev. Eshmael Tamras, was also recently …