An Audience with Holiness Mar Awa III, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East

On Wednesday, 9 October 2024, members and supporters of the Assyrian National Council-Australia (ANCA) and The Young Assyrians (TYA) gathered to welcome His Holiness Mar Awa III, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East. His Holiness Mar Awa III, accompanied by a distinguished delegation of clerical leaders, graced the ANCA Centre with his presence.

Among those accompanying him were His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia, Metropolitan of Australia, New Zealand, and Lebanon; His Grace Mar Benyamin Elya, Bishop of Victoria and New Zealand; His Grace Mar Elias Temras, Bishop of Baghdad; and Reverent Fathers Ramen Youkhanis and Shlemon Dinkha. The warm welcome extended by the members of the ANCA and the broader community was a reflection of their deep respect for the Church and its leadership.

As His Holiness entered the Centre, he was met with smiles and words of admiration, his presence symbolising the unbroken spiritual and cultural bond shared between the Assyrian faithful in Australia and their ancient homeland. The reception was marked by moments of prayer and reflection, as His Holiness offered his blessings to the gathered faithful.

The visit of His Holiness, alongside such esteemed spiritual leaders, was a profound reminder of the Church's enduring strength and the importance of faith in uniting the Assyrian people across the world. This gathering not only celebrated the arrival of the Church's highest authority but also served as an inspiration to continue striving for unity, progress, and the preservation of Assyrian cultural heritage.