The feast of the Antiochian Seat

The feast of the Antiochian Seat

on June 29 - 2016 – Balamand

With the impressive Vespers and the Divine Liturgy, the Orthodox Antiochian Church officially celebrated the feast of her founders Sts. Peter & Paul at the patriarchal monastery – Balamand.

His beatitude John the patriarch of Antioch and the entire east, presided the service with the participation of their eminences:

* His eminence Georges Khodr (of Mount Lebanon).

* His eminence Antonios Shidrawi (of Mexico).

* His eminence Damaskinos Mansour (of Brazil).

* His eminence Georges bou Zakhim (of Homs).

* His eminence Ephram Kiryakos (of Tripoli).

* His eminence Ignatius Alhoshy (of France).

* His eminence Joseph Zihlawee (of N. America).

* His eminence Gattas Hazim (of Iraq & Kuwait).

* His eminence Silouan Oner (of Britain).

The following bishops were also present:

* Bishop Mousa Khoury.

* Bishop Costa Kayyal.

* Bishop Athanasius Fahid.

* Bishop Gregorios Khoury.

Besides a group of the fathers, priests and deacons. The choir that chanted in the service was conducted by rev.fr. Nicolas Malek.

After blessing the breads (Artoclasia), during Vespers, his beatitude John X delivered a sermon in which he emphasized the fact that the face of Antioch is the face of the founders Sts. Peter & Paul; it is the face of meeting with the other person.

His beatitude assured that the church of Antioch is the church of humans before it is of stone. She is the church of firmness on earth no matter how hard the circumstances are. He also assured that what is going on in the east is the moving terror from one place to another which is refuted. He also said a word of consolation and solace to the people of Al Qaa (east Lebanon) asking for the divine consolation and comfort, besides mercy, to them and to everybody in pain. He spoke of the Antiochian role in the Christian evangelism. His beatitude said: If Bethlehem is the cradle of Christianity, Antioch is the cradle of the Christian thinking with the saints Peter & Paul with the rest of the holy apostles who set forth from Antioch. His beatitude addressed the children of the antiochian seat at home and abroad, especially the children of Antioch in the city of Antioch and all those who are interceded by the saints Peter and

Paul among whom are his eminence Paul Yazzigi (of Aleppo), and his eminence Paul (of Australia).

On Monday morning his beatitude presided the Divine Liturgy with participation of the archbishops and bishops; and chanting was performed by the choir of Balamand.

After reading the holy gospel, his eminence Met. George Khodr delivered a sermon in which he spoke on the rock of faith which is based on confessing the Lord & God Jesus Christ. He hinted to the role St. Paul had played in spreading the good tidings to the whole world; he too emphasized the dimension established by Christianity, i.e. Love and said that God himself is Love.

After the Divine Liturgy his beatitude saluted the faithful in the hall of the monastery.