News from the Orient – May 31, 2024

This week’s News from the Orient:

Major Archbishop Thattil in Europe

On May 13, His Beatitude Raphael Thattil concelebrated Mass with Pope Francis, a crucial step in his role as the new Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.

In January, His Beatitude Thattil was elected head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in India by its Synod.

After confirmation by Pope Francis, he became the fifth Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church.

His Beatitude Thattil continued his journey in Europe by visiting France, where he met with the Foreign Missions of Paris and L’Œuvre d’Orient.

Destruction of Church of the Holy Ascension

The Church of the Holy Ascension in Lachin, Nagorno-Karabakh, has been completely destroyed.

This was revealed by satellite images released on May 11, 2024, by Raffi Kortoshian, director of the Foundation for the Study of Armenian Architecture.

The destruction follows the recent demolition of the St. John the Baptist Church in Shusha and its cemetery.

In addition to these two churches, numerous other destructions have been recorded since the 44-day war in 2021.

Celebration for the Marian Month in Lebanon

In this month of May, Catholics celebrate the Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In Lebanon, on the first day of the month, thousands of pilgrims headed to Our Lady of Lebanon on the rock of Harissa, topped with a monumental statue of the Virgin Mary.

Mid-month, several boats traveled to the shores of Bouar to create the largest floating rosary, visible from the sky.

Finally, on the last Sunday of the month, thousands of people gathered at Our Lady of Lebanon to honor the Virgin Mary.

The Lebanese army even dropped flower petals on the statue of the Virgin.