Ishtartv.com –orthodoxtimes.com

Aug 22, 2025

Patriarch John of Antioch received Mar Awa III, Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, at the Patriarchal Residence in Balamand.

Present at the meeting were Metropolitan Mar Meelis Zaia, head of the Assyrian community in Lebanon, His Eminence Ghattas Hazim, Metropolitan of Baghdad, Kuwait, and their dependencies for the Greek Orthodox Church, Father George Youkhanna, parish priest of Hadath, Father Ninos Aude, parish priest of Sadd el-Bouchrieh; and Judge Issam Al-Asaad, President of the Ecclesiastical Court.

Patriarch John warmly welcomed Patriarch Mar Awa and the accompanying delegation, highlighting the deep-rooted and authentic role of Christianity in the East. The meeting addressed the Christian presence across the region and the challenges amid ongoing regional and international developments.