Statement of the Holy Synod of Antioch

His Beatitude JOHN X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, called for an emergency and extraordinary session of the Holy Synod of Antioch. The meeting, presided by His Beatitude, was held on October 8, 2024, at the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology-Balamand, in the presence of Their Eminences, the Metropolitans: Elias Aude (Beirut); Elias Kfoury (Tyre and Sidon); Silouan Moussi (Mount Lebanon); Basilios Mansour (Akkar); Ephrem Kyriakos (Tripoli and Koura); Silouan Oner (Britain); Antonios Soury (Zahle and Baalbek) Athanasius Fahd (Lattakia); Jacques Khoury (Argentina); Ephrem Maalouly (Aleppo and Alexandretta); Nifon Saikali (Philippopolis); Gregorios Khoury (Homs); and Antonios Saad (Hauran). The Synod Fathers discussed the current situation in the region and issued the following statement:

The Synod Fathers express their great pain at the magnitude of the catastrophe that has befallen Lebanon as a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression and the destruction and human losses it has caused, including the assassination of Hezbollah Secretary General Sayed Hassan Nasrallah and his senior aides.

The Fathers condemn the ongoing madness of violence and criminality and call on the international community to take immediate action for a ceasefire and to implement the international resolutions.

The Fathers call on the Lebanese Parliament to fulfill its national role in electing a new President of the Republic after a long wait and much suffering, especially since the critical circumstances that the country is experiencing require tangible national solidarity and commitment to the constitutional and legislative provisions that have always been a source for safeguarding Lebanon in times of crisis.

The Fathers commend the efforts made by the official authorities and the medical sector in facing the challenges of displacement and treating the wounded people, despite the difficult economic conditions.

They applaud the spontaneous popular solidarity shown by people in areas not affected by the conflict in receiving the displaced families and providing them with protection away from destruction. They thank the Army, security forces and civil society for their efforts. They call on the international community to support these efforts and work to achieve the safe and dignified return of the displaced to their areas.

The Synod Fathers affirm that the Church stands by Her people in these difficult circumstances. They call on the faithful throughout the Church of Antioch to support the relief and social efforts, and to intensify prayers for Lebanon to emerge from its current ordeal and for the return of security, peace, and dignity to this dear country.

Finally, the Fathers lift up their prayers to the Father of Lights to send His peace to comfort souls, have mercy on the martyrs, heal the sick, strengthen the medical and ambulatory teams, and to balm human hearts with the sweetness of His divine consolation.