News from the Orient – May 17, 2024

This week’s News from the Orient:

Protests in Armenia   

Several streets in Yerevan have been blocked since the morning of Monday, May 13, at the urging of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

He is also leader of the "Tavush for the Homeland" movement and is protesting against the Armenian government's decision to allow Azerbaijan to retake possession of four villages in Tavush, in the country’s northeast.

Archbishop Galstanyan led a four-day protest march from Tavush to Yerevan, before calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Several thousand people participated in the week's gatherings, and more than 150 protesters were arrested by law enforcement.

196th Anniversary of St. Charbel

On Thursday, May 8, Lebanon celebrated the 196th anniversary of the birth of Saint Charbel, the patron saint of Lebanon.

He dedicated his life to God through self-denial and prayer. St. Charbel is considered one of the most miraculous saints in the history of Christianity. His influence extends from Lebanon to the East and throughout the world.

Several processions took place to celebrate his feastday, including one with a replica of his tomb, made with the same wood as his original tomb.

New Monastery in Karamless

On Wednesday, May 15, three brothers of the Holy Cross set up residence in the Saint Mary Church of Karamless, in Iraq.

Archbishop Najeeb, Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul and Akre, celebrated Mass to mark the occasion. He then blessed the new monastery where the brothers will now reside.

The three monks will spend half of each week at the monastery, praying and working with wood, and the other half visiting villagers in the diocese.

Also present at the celebration was the female branch of the congregation, the Sisters of Jesus Crucified, who have two sisters at the Saint Barbara Sanctuary in Karamless and two in Basra.