A meeting on Christmas at the Maryamieh church in…



2016-12-20
            
                   A meeting on Christmas at the Maryamieh church in Damascus, on the fourth anniversary of the death of the thrice- blessed His Beatitude Ignatius IV

                In an atmosphere of love and joy, their holiness and their Beatitude the patriarchs of Antioch John X , Gregory III Laham and Ephraim  II, besides the presence of the papal Ambassador in Damascus Cardinal Mario Zynari, and the general secretary of the East Church Council of Churches Rev. Michel Jalakh and their eminences the archbishops, bishops, priests, fathers, deacons, monks and nuns in Damascus, who all gathered in the large and vast Maryamieh Church with one heart meeting to congratulate one another on Christmas, on the feast of the meeting between God and Man , between the heavenly and the earthly. 

                     The meeting included some chanting with  meditation that highlighted the importance of the event of the divine birth in our lives. The event is an act of Love that came down to earth and became incarnate; Love that mixed with men in everything save sin; Love that preached salvation to Man.

                      In the end of the meeting his beatitude John X gave a Christmas message in which he wished that the birth of Christ would be the birth of joy and peace in our homeland, and in the hearts of all. He did not forget to remind those in need, of the divine help, and praying for the return of all the abducted on top of whom are the two bishops John Ibrahim and Paul Yazzigi, asking for the mercy of God on all the martyrs of Syria.

                       The meeting ended with the prayer for the resting of the soul of the thrice - blessed His Beatitude Ignatius IV on the fourth anniversary of his death. Then everyone participated in the table of agape in the patriarchal house in Damascu