News

ISIS Destroys 5th Century Assyrian Monastery in Syria

Photos posted on ISIS social media sites show the destruction of Mar Elian monastery in Qaryatain, Syria, which is near Homs. Qaryatain fell to ISIS on August 6. An estimated 1,400 Syriac Orthodox and 400 Syriac Catholic Assyrians lived in Qaryatain before it fell to ISIS.

Spotlight on the Eastern Churches: The Syriac Orthodox Church

Resilient best describes the Syriac Orthodox Church. Persecuted by Byzantines, murdered by Mongols, massacred by Ottoman Turks and caught in the Kurdish-Turkish crossfire, Syriac Orthodox Christians [also known as Assyrians and Chaldeans] have managed to endure, preserving their legacy while enriching the entire church.

Priests Ordained at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On July 26, with the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, the sacrament of ordination and consecration of priests was offered in the Mother Cathedral.

Divine Liturgy at St George Patriarchal Cathedral in Damascus

His Holiness Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II celebrated the Holy Qurobo at St Georges Patriarchal Cathedral in Damascus.  In his sermon, he thanked the Lord for saving the cathedral and the patriarchate headquarters from a fire yesterday. He also thanked those who helped to extinguish the fire.

Archaeolgoists Find Medieval Procession Cross, Bulgarian, Ottoman Coin Treasures at Black Sea Fortress Kastritsi

The archaeologists excavating the Late Antiquity and medieval Byzantine and Bulgarian fortress Kastritsi, which is located in the Euxinograd Residence of the Bulgarian government near the Black Sea city of Varna, have discovered medieval Christian artifacts as well as a treasure of Bulgarian and Ottoman coins.

\The newly found Christian artifacts from Kastritsi are a church procession cross and a medallion with the image of the Holy Mother of God, i.e. the Virgin Mary, Prof. Valentin Pletnyov, Director of the Varna Museum of Archaeology (Varna Regional Museum of History) has told Radio Focus Varna.

Chinese Catholics and Protestants Unite in 'Carry Crosses Everywhere' Campaign to Protest Massive Government Crackdown on Churches

Roman Catholics and Protestants in the Chinese province of Zhejiang have launched a campaign aimed at making crosses and carrying them everywhere in response to the Communist government's continued crackdown on churches.

Asia News reported on Tuesday that the campaign, seeking to protest against the government in a legal and peaceful manner, has been met with great success.