Maronite Catholic Patriarch Expresses Concern Over the 'Arab Winter'

Maronite Catholic Patriarch Beshara (Rai) has expressed his concern over the ongoing unrest in Syria and much of the Middle East, saying that the so-called 'Arab Spring' may in fact lead to a 'winter' for the region's Orthodox Christians, Eastern Catholics, and Assyrian Christians, as has been the case in Iraq and increasingly seems to be the case in Egypt. More here.

First Hierarchs of Ancient Orthodox Churches Gather in Constantinople

A synaxis of the ancient Local Orthodox Churches in the Middle East bringing together Patriarch Bartholomew (Arhondonis) of Constantinople, Pope Theodoros II (Horeftakis) of Alexandria, Patriarch Theophilos III (Giannopoulos) of Jerusalem, Archbishop Chrysostomos II (Demetriou) of Nea Justiniana, and a representative of Patriarch Ignatios IV (Hazim) of Antioch, Bishop Isaac of Apamea, has been held at the patriarchal Church of St. George in Constantinople. During the meeting the assembled hierarchs discussed issues relating to the life of the Orthodox Church in the Middle East and Africa as well as the preparations for a general council of the Local Orthodox Churches. More (in Greek) here and here.

Hierarchs of Middle Eastern Orthodox Churches Meet in Amman

Patriarch Theophilos III (Giannopoulos) of Jerusalem and the Holy Land; Archbishop Chrysostomos II (Demetriou) of the Cypriot Orthodox Church; Metropolitan Nikolaos of Hermopolis of the Alexandrian Orthodox Church; Metropolitans Aristarchos (Peristeris) of Constantina, Venediktos (Tsekouras) of Philadelphia, and Dorotheos (Leovaris) of Avila of the Jerusalemite Orthodox Church; and a clergyman representing the Antiochian Orthodox Church have met in Amman, Jordan, to discuss the current state of the Local Orthodox Churches based in the Middle East, inter-Orthodox issues in the Middle East and abroad, and ongoing political developments in the Middle East. More (in Greek) here.

Antiochian, Russian Orthodox Hierarchs Meet in Moscow

Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev) of the Russian Orthodox Church yesterday received Metropolitans Antonio of Mexico City, Damascene of Sao Paulo, and George of Homs and Archbishop Niphon of Philippopolis of the Antiochian Orthodox Church at his residence in Moscow. During their meeting the hierarchs discussed relations between the Antiochian and Russian Orthodox Churches as well as the significant pastoral work undertaken by the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Latin America, which is the largest of the Local Orthodox Churches present in the region, and the issues facing the Orthodox Churches in the Middle East in our times. More here.

Coptic, Syriac, and Armenian Orthodox Meet in Cairo to Discuss Political, Ecumenical Issues

The standing committee of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East, comprised of representatives of the Coptic and Syriac Orthodox Churches and the Armenian Orthodox Church of Cilicia, has met in Cairo, Egypt, to discuss their relations and their shared positions in Middle Eastern and global ecumenical dialogues. More (in Arabic) here and here.

"Arab Christians and their Rights"

An excellent article explaining the reasoning behind the ancient Orthodox Churches' defense of the Middle Eastern dictatorships they have found themselves in over the last few decades can be found here.

Heads of Middle Eastern Churches to Meet this Summer

It has been announced that Patriarch Bartholomew I (Arhondonis) of Constantinople, Pope Theodoros II (Horeftakis) of Alexandria, Patriarchs Ignatius IV (Hazim) of Antioch and Theofilos III (Giannopoulos) of Jerusalem, and Archbishop Chrysostomos II (Dimitriou) of Nea Justiniana will meet this summer to discuss the ongoing political upheaval in the Middle East, the state of the region's Orthodox Churches, and how the ancient churches can work together to strengthen their position and that of the Oriental Orthodox Churches. More (in Greek) here.

Ethiopian Migrant Workers Return from Middle East

A number of Ethiopian migrant workers deported as political unrest and economic uncertainty sweep through Yemen and the rest of the Middle East have been returned to Ethiopia, many with stories of mistreatment and abuse. More here.

Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Meets with US Ambassador to Syria

Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatios Zakka I (Iwas) of Antioch met yesterday with the US ambassador to Syria in Damascus to discuss the state of the Syriac Orthodox Church and the situation of the Middle East's Christians in Syria and throughout the region. More here.

King of Jordan Visiting Russia

King Abdullah II bin Hussein of Jordan is on a state visit to the Russian Federation to discuss relations between the two countries, the ongoing unrest in the Middle East, and Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. More here.

Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Affirms Support for President al-Assad

Patriarch Ignatios Zakka I (Iwas) of the Syriac Orthodox Church has called for an end to the political unrest in Syria to avoid the disunity, sectarian violence, and general regression that has plagued many of the Middle East's states in recent years. More here.

Antiochian Orthodox Representative in Moscow Meets with Metropolitan Hilarion

This past Friday Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk met with Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, the representative of the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Moscow, to discuss relations between the Antiochian and Russian Orthodox Churches as well as the political situation in Syria and the Middle East. The charge d'affaires of the Syrian Embassy in Russia was also present at the meeting. More here.

Arab League to Discuss Christian Minority

At its upcoming summit the Arab League will be discussing the state of Christianity in the Middle East and what can be done to protect the region's Christian minorities. More here.

Damascus Conference Calls on Christians to Remain in Middle East

A recent Muslim-Christian conference in Damascus has called on the Middle East's Orthodox Christians and Eastern and Roman Catholics to remain in the region so that their homelands will not be completely devoid of any Christian presence. Life for Christians in Syria is far better than in the rest of the Middle East and Orthodox and Catholics together comprise roughly 10% of the population. More here.