Welcome to this week’s update on news from the Eastern Churches, brought to you in partnership with L’Œuvre d’Orient. The latest headlines include Lebanese Churches offering shelter to displaced individuals, the ordination of Archbishop Noradounguian, and the inauguration of the first church in an Iraqi Christian village.
This week, Churches in Lebanon have opened their doors to provide refuge for half a million people escaping the violence between Israel and Hezbollah. The conflict has resulted in over 600 deaths and 2,000 injuries, with civilians bearing the brunt of the casualties. In times of crisis, Christian communities are stepping in as peacemakers by offering support to displaced families.
In a significant event, Kévork Noradounguian was recently ordained as the Archbishop of the Armenian Catholic Church in various regions, including Armenia, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe. The ordination ceremony took place at the Armenian College in Rome, with Armenian Catholic Patriarch Raphaël Minassian and Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti in attendance. Upon returning to Armenia, Archbishop Noradounguian was officially enthroned in Gyumri, an occasion that was met with joy by the Armenian Catholic community.
Meanwhile, in the village of Maroke in Northern Kurdistan, residents celebrated the opening of their first parish hall on September 20. This marked a significant milestone for the community, as they previously did not have a church of their own. The new hall will be a gathering place for Mass and community events like weddings and funerals. The inaugural Mass was presided over by Bishop Shemmon of Nala from the Assyrian Church of the East, along with Chaldean Bishops Thabet and Najeeb, and Assyrian Bishop Mar Abris.
These stories reflect the resilience and faith of Eastern Churches as they continue to serve their communities and spread messages of hope and peace. Stay tuned for more updates from the Eastern Churches in the weeks to come!
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