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The Ancient Armenian Orthodox Church of Forty Martyrs in Aleppo Destroyed

The 15th-century Armenian Apostolic church located in the old Christian quarter of Jdeydeh has been destroyed in bombings. Reports suggest that explosives were placed underneath the structure through some underground tunnels. This historic church was the center of the Armenian orthodox Community in Aleppo. The Church has a historic status

Armenian Catholic Cathedral Our Lady of Pity (also known as St. Rita), was partially bombed four months ago.  In 2014, terrorists destroyed the Armenian Genocide Memorial Church in Der Zor, Syria as well.

Prior to the beginning of the Syrian Crisis in 2001, between 60,000-70,000 Armenians lived in Syria. The Armenian communities are often seen in places like Aleppo, Latakia, Homs, Qamishli, Hasakeh, Yaqubiye, Raqqa, Kessab, and Damascus.

Patriarch of Jerusalem welcomes deans of Anglican Church

On the morning of Tuesday the 8th/21st of April 2015, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem welcomed a group of fifty Deans of the Anglican Church. The Deans were accompanied by their spouses and Dean Hosam of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem.

The members of the group had visited the Holy Land in order to gain knowledge of the city and work towards improving the position of Christians in the Holy Land.
In the context of this visit, His Beatitude spoke of the Holy Shrines, the Church of the Resurrection, the Basilica of Bethlehem and other shrines as providing an indestructible roof of protection for Christians and a wall safeguarding their Christian identity and residence in their paternal homes.

Pope to visit Cuba in September

The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, has confirmed that Pope Francis will visit Cuba ahead of his visit to the United States in September 2015.

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, Father Lombardi said, "I am able to confirm that the Holy Father Francis, having received and accepted the invitation from the civil authorities and bishops of Cuba, has decided to pay a visit to the island before his arrival in the United States for the trip announced some time ago."

Turkey invites pope to Expo pavilion

 Turkey's Deputy Economy Minister Adnan Yildirim said Monday that Pope Francis will be welcome to visit his country's pavilion at Milan Expo 2015, which runs for six months and kicks off Friday. The pope's recent comments in which he described the mass killing of Armenians under Ottaman rule during World War I as genocide infuriated Turkey, with Ankara calling back its ambassador to the Holy See for consultations.

Home Eighteen thousand police officers will participate in security operations during Pope Francis’ visit

 Last Tuesday, minister of the Interior José Serrano informed that 18,000 police officers from the National Police will be part of the security operations during Pope Francis’ visit to the Andean country, which will take place during three days (July 6 to 8).

“18 thousand police officers will be part of the citizen security system in Quito and Guayaquil, as well as 6 helicopters, 100 men of the cavalry, 200 GIR members, 400 GOE members, 150 police dogs,” Serrano informed through his Twitter account.

Syriac Aramean Genocide Monument Unveiled in Sweden

A genocide monument honoring the the Syriac Aramaic victims of the genocide instigated by Ottoman Turkey during the World War One was erected 26 april 2015 in Botkyrka, a suburb of 20 km southwest of Stockholm, Sweden.
 
It is the first Syriac Aramaic memorial in Sweden and one of the first in the world honoring arameans. The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Energy Ibrahim Baylan, European Parliamentarian Lars Adaktusson, and Syriac Orthodox archbishop Benjamin Atas.