11 Martyrs of Damascus Canonized

This past Sunday, Pope Francis canonized the 11 Martyrs of Damascus, honoring those who lost their lives in a tragic massacre in the Syrian capital in 1860.

These martyrs, including eight Franciscans and three Maronite laypeople, were brutally murdered by Druze out of hatred for their Christian faith. Their beatification by Pope Pius XI almost a century ago recognized their sacrifice.

The devastating event not only led to a French expedition to Lebanon but also marked the beginning of the migration of Eastern Christians to Europe in search of safety.

Orthodox Divisions in Ukraine

Tensions are high in Cherkasy, Ukraine, as violence erupts over control of St. Michael’s Cathedral.

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which declared independence from the Moscow Patriarchate in 2019, has now taken over the cathedral that was previously under the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church aligned with Moscow.

A clash ensued when a Ukrainian military chaplain announced plans to convert the cathedral into a “garrison church,” leading to confrontations with parishioners barricaded inside and resulting in 14 injuries.

These conflicts follow a recent ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church connected to the Moscow Patriarchate, citing concerns over Russian influence.

Mar Toma Church in Mosul to Regain Its Bells

The sound of bells will soon echo through the streets of Mosul once again, as the Syriac Orthodox Mar Toma Church prepares to receive a newly crafted bell.

Destroyed during the ISIS occupation of the city, the bell has been meticulously reconstructed in Villedieu-les-Poêles, France. Embellished with intricate designs and inscriptions, including the powerful words “The truth will set you free” from the Gospel of John, the bell serves as a symbol of hope and resilience.

Featuring the silhouette of Mar Toma on one side and the crest of the Syriac Orthodox Church on the other, the bell is expected to arrive in Mosul this December and ring out in March 2025, marking a significant moment of renewal for the community.