In this week’s news from the Eastern Churches, produced in collaboration with L’Œuvre d’Orient: Cardinal Lavigerie is remembered, Syria’s Archbishop Jacques Mourad receives a prize, and an ancient Armenian church is reconsecrated.
In this week’s news from the Eastern churches:
Mass in honour of Cardinal Lavigerie
On 18 October 2025, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over a Mass at Saint Henné Church in Jerusalem to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of Cardinal Charles Lavigerie.The founder of the White Fathers and first director general of L’Œuvre d’Orient, Cardinal Lavigerie was an architect of solidarity between East and West. In the 19th century, he travelled throughout the Ottoman Empire to distribute aid, particularly after the massacre of Christians in Lebanon and Syria in 1860. His commitment remains a model of charity and faith in the service of the peoples of the East.
Archbishop Jacques Mourad honoured
On October 18, at the Vatican, Archbishop Jacques Mourad, Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Homs, received the Saint John Paul II Foundation Award for his commitment to peace and reconciliation in Syria. During the ceremony, attended by Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Apostolic Nuncio to Damascus, Archbishop Mourad emphasized that “interreligious and intercultural dialogue is not optional but a vital necessity for our time.” The Archbishop was held prisoner by ISIS in 2015, and now devotes his ministry to promoting healing and unity in a country ravaged by war.
Consecration of Saint George’s Church in Herher
On October 18, the Armenian village of Herher in the Vayots Dzor region joyfully celebrated the consecration of the recently restored Saint George’s Church. This place of worship, a symbol of the village’s spiritual revival, had been converted into a grain storage facility during the Soviet era. The renovation was made possible through the Diocese of Vayots Dzor, the NGO Community Development, and support from the French association L’Œuvre d’Orient. The festivities continued with the traditional “Popok” festival, adding a warm and colorful touch to the day.
