Latest news with #Chaldean
The Hindu
6 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Chaldean Syrian Church Archbishop Mar Aprem Metropolitan laid to rest in Thrissur with State honours
The final rites of Mar Aprem Metropolitan, the Archbishop of the Chaldean Syrian Church of the East, was held in Thrissur on Thursday with full State honours. The funeral proceedings began at 7 a.m. with a Holy Mass at Marth Mariam Cathedral. The first phase of the funeral service concluded by 11 a.m. A ceremonial public homage procession (Nagari kanikkal) started from the cathedral at 11 a.m. and passed through High Road and Swaraj Round, returning to the church. The solemn procession featured banners, ceremonial umbrellas and crosses. Over 400 students from the Chaldean school marched with black flags as a mark of respect. Clergy, lay leaders, laity, and members of the public joined the procession. Final burial rites The final burial rites were held at Kuruvilaachan Church by 2 p.m. with State honours. Archbishop Mar Awgin Kuriakose led the service. Mar Aprem was laid to rest near the tombs of his predecessors in a specially prepared tomb. In accordance with ecclesiastical tradition, he was entombed in a seated position on his symbolic throne, adorned with the insignia of his office. A public condolence meeting was held at the church in the afternoon. Multifaceted personality Mar Aprem Metropolitan passed away on Monday (July 7) at the age of 85. A multifaceted personality, Mar Aprem was not just a spiritual leader but also a cultural icon, author, and researcher who guided the Chaldean Syrian Church for more than five decades. Renowned for his sharp wit and infectious sense of humour, he authored 68 books, many of them delightfully rooted in the genre of humour—an unusual but endearing trait for a Church patriarch. His legacy blends spirituality with intellect, laughter, and cultural richness. Born as George Davis Mooken on June 13, 1940, in Thrissur, Mar Aprem was educated in India, England, and the United States. He specialised in church history, a field in which he made significant scholarly contributions. He was consecrated as a bishop on September 21, 1968, and just eight days later, elevated to the rank of Metropolitan. From that day onwards, he led the Chaldean Syrian Church of the East in India, with his headquarters in Thrissur. Condolence meeting held A public condolence meeting was held at 3 p.m. as the community mourned the loss of a beloved religious and cultural figure. Messages of grief poured in from across the globe, including from Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Gewargis III Yonan of the Ancient Church of the East in Iraq and Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Syria. Major Archbishop Emeritus of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church Mar George Alencherry offered prayers and paid his last respects. Prominent ecclesiastical dignitaries and socio-political leaders also extended their condolences.
Lebanese Army
6 days ago
- Politics
- Lebanese Army
Visitors of the Lebanese Armed Forces Commander
Tuesday, 08 July 2025 The Lebanese Armed Forces Commander, General Rodolph Haykal, received in his office in Yarzeh MP Nicolas Sahnaoui. They discussed the general situation of the country. He also received with the head of the Chaldean community in Lebanon, Bishop Michel Kassarji, accompanied by the Episcopal Vicar of the Chaldean Archdiocese of Beirut, Monsignor Raphael Traboulsi, to discuss various matters.
Herald Malaysia
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Iraq archbishop warns of the grave consequences of conflict
Christianity's disappearance from its birthplace irreversible without action now, says Bashar M. Warda of Irbril Jun 24, 2025 Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Bashar M. Warda of Irbil. (Photo: Youtube) By Gina Christian, OSV News A Chaldean archbishop told OSV News June 23 that he has been unable to contact his fellow bishop in Iran, following recent strikes by the US and Israel on various sites in that nation. Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Bashar M. Warda of Irbil, Iraq, said he has been attempting to call fellow Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Imad Khoshabeh of Tehran over the past few days, but without success. "I cannot reach [him]. I tried many times, and I will keep calling," said Archbishop Warda. He also warned of the grave consequences of conflict, speaking from direct experience. In 2014, Islamic State group fighters launched a devastating wave of attacks against religious minorities in northern Iraq, seizing Mosul and the surrounding Nineveh Plains. Christians and Yazidis, an ancient Indigenous community, fled toward Irbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, with thousands of Yazidi women and girls who were sexually enslaved by IS militants. Now, as Israel and Iran trade strikes amid the former's "Operation Rising Lion" -- and with the US launching June 21 attacks on three of Iran's nuclear facilities -- Archbishop Warda pleaded for an end to the escalating violence. "As someone who has witnessed firsthand the devastation that war leaves behind -- how it empties villages, scatters families, and deepens the wounds of identity and trust -- I cannot help but echo the words of Pope Leo XIV in his recent appeal for peace," Archbishop Warda said. "His voice is a beacon of conscience in a world increasingly deafened by the noise of weapons." The archbishop added, "War has never brought us lasting peace. "We know this by heart. Here in Iraq, we carry the memory of shattered cities and displaced people," he said. "Each new conflict reopens old wounds and threatens to erase what remains of our fragile presence [as a Christian minority] in this land." Instead, said Archbishop Warda, "It is time to stop the war machine. Time to return to dialogue, to diplomacy, to the hard but hopeful work of negotiation." The Middle East, ravaged by conflict for centuries -- with continuous clashes over the past half century in particular -- "does not need more destruction," said Archbishop Warda. "It needs healing. It needs space for its people to breathe again, to believe again, to build again." He clarified that he was speaking "not just as a bishop, but as a man from this wounded land [of Iraq]," which although an overwhelmingly Muslim majority nation has been home to Christian communities for some 2,000 years, having been evangelized by St. Thomas the Apostle and his disciples. Iraq was "a land where Christians once thrived, where faith and culture were deeply woven into the soil," said Archbishop Ward. "Today, that soil is dry and cracked, not only by the heat of the sun, but by the fire of violence and fear." "Our prayers are with -- and for -- all civilians caught in the crossfire of this conflict … the innocent who fall daily, dead or wounded … the displaced who have been forced to leave behind their homes, their dreams, their loved ones," he said. "As Christians, we do not pray only for our own, but for every human being whose dignity is being crushed under the weight of war." He cautioned that "if the world does not act now, if the international community does not insist on peace, the slow disappearance of Christianity from its birthplace may become irreversible." At the same time, said Archbishop Warda, "We are not without hope. Hope is what we teach our young people here every day. Hope is what gives our families the courage to stay. And hope is what I choose to hold on to now." He added, "Please pray with us. And if [you] can be a voice for peace -- through prayer, advocacy, or solidarity -- I would be deeply grateful."--
Shafaq News
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Patriarch Sako meets Lebanese President, calls for peace and state building
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, Chaldean Catholic Patriarch, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Baghdad to discuss the region's unfolding crises. The Chaldean Patriarchate announced that Sako called for empowering the Church's role in assisting impoverished families by developing housing complexes that uphold human dignity and provide a decent life, affirming the vital role that religious and political authorities can play in promoting a culture of peace and coexistence in a region facing mounting challenges. Both sides stressed the importance of joint efforts to build a 'strong state governed by the rule of law, rooted in inclusive citizenship, with arms confined solely to the state and firm action against all forms of corruption,' the statement read.
Shafaq News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Chaldean Archbishop hails President Barzani's Christian support in Iraq
Shafaq News/ Chaldean Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda praised Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani for his continued support of Iraq's Christian community. Speaking at the opening of the Church Endowment Administration Conference in Erbil on Monday, Warda, who also chairs the Catholic University's Board of Trustees in Erbil, described Barzani's presence as a 'powerful gesture' of solidarity and respect for Christian heritage. 'This is a pivotal moment in preserving Christian identity in Iraq, particularly in the Kurdistan Region,' he said, highlighting church endowments as 'vital links' to the community's historical roots and crediting the Region's leadership with protecting religious freedoms and fostering coexistence. Referencing scripture, Warda framed the Church's role as one of responsible stewardship and pointed to Article 43 of the Iraqi Constitution, which guarantees religious groups the right to manage their institutions—affirming their authority to protect and sustain their legacy.
