“We bring you the love of the Church of Antioch and ask your prayers for peace in the East.”
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East John X, accompanied by a delegation, arrived at Bose Monastery in northern Italy. He was received by the monastery’s Prior, Father Sabino, the brotherhood of themonastery, and the participants in the patristic conference hosted by the monastery, which gathers Orthodox representatives from various churches.
Following the reception, His Beatitude presided at Vespers in the monastery church. He expressed the deep bonds uniting the Church of Antioch with the Bose monastic community. He also highlighted the importance of the conferences organized by the monastery over the years in building bridges of encounter and dialogue between Eastern and Western Christianity.
Accompanying His Beatitude on his visit to Italy and to the Apostolic See are Metropolitan Ignatius Al‑Houshi of France and Western & Southern Europe, Metropolitan Antonios Al Soury of Zahle and Baalbek, Archimandrite Parthenios Al Lati, Archimandrite Meletios Shtathi (Director of the Department of Ecumenical Relations and Development at the Patriarchate), Deacon Hilarion Beshara, and Mr. Michel Nseir.