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Christians limit Easter celebrations to masses in honor of martyrs
Apr 20, 2014
Damascus, (SANA) For the fourth year now, Easter celebrations in Syria
were limited to holding prayers and masses as the country has been
burdened with terrorist acts that ravaged Muslim and Christian places
alike.
The examples of the historic Christian town of Maaloula in Damascus
Countryside and the Armenian-populated Kassab town on Syria's northern
border with Lattakia, where terrorists wreaked havoc and desecrated
Christian symbols and sanctities, are not too far.
Like the previous years since the outset of the crisis in Syria, the
Christian denominations once again refrained from showing any
manifestations of celebrations other than those of prayers that were
performed at the various cathedrals and churches.
They did so out of honor for the homeland's martyrs who fell for the
sake of defending Syria's dignity and preserving its national unity.
A mass was held at the Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarchate in Damascus
that was led by Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregory III Laham of Antioch
and All the East.
While glorifying the sublime meanings of Easter, Patriarch Laham
stressed in his sermon that `reconciliation among the Syrians is the
only salvation for Syria'.
He called upon the countries of the Arab and Western worlds `to leave
Syria for the Syrians to determine their own affairs by themselves'
and stop sending weapons and takfiri terrorists to it.
He reiterated that the only solution in Syria is the peaceful one,
calling upon the Syrians to remain as they have always been `the
people of resurrection and not the people of death'.
Patriarch Laham said peace is Syria means peace in the entire region,
urging the world to `take their hands off Syria' and work together for
maintaining peace.
Patriarch Laham also presided upon a mass at St. Thecla Church in
Maaloula, in which he thanked President Bashar al-Assad for visiting
the town earlier on Sunday.
`We came here to rejoice with the people of Maaloula and bless their
return to it,' he said, asserting that solidarity among Syrians is the
best image to present to the world, asserting commitment to serving
reconciliation, dialogue, solidarity and compassion among all Syrians.
In his Easter sermon following mass at St. George Church in Maaloula,
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All East, John X Yazigi,
expressed appreciation for President Bashar al-Assad for the visit he
paid to Maaoula.
The Patriarch also thanked the Syrian Arab army `which hoisted the
Syrian flag on this plateau and the land that is dear to all our
hearts.'
`We would like to send a message to the whole world that we want
peace, safety, security and coexistence for all citizens in this
country,'' he said.
Yazigi urged the international community to stop the flow of weapons
`that are sent to destroy our country, mosques, and churches, and to
displace our families.'
`The compatriots in this country, Christians and Muslims alike, will
live together in this land¦Reaching out to the other and coexistence
is the solution.'
Similar celebrations were held in other cathedrals and churches in
which patriarchs and clergymen asked God to protect the homeland and
its leader, people.
At Syriac Orthodox St. George Cathedral, a similar celebration was
held with the participation of Archbishop Paul al-Souqi and the
bishops Jean Qwaq and Matthews al-Khouri.
The National Angelic Church in Damascus also held a religious mass on
the occasion chaired by Priest Peter Zaour.
The Orthodox Armenian denomination also celebrated the Easter, where a
mass, chaired by Bishop Armash Nalbandian,was held at St. Sarkis
Church in Damascus.
Bishop Armash affirmed in his sermon the indications of this holy
occasion embodying amity, fraternity and tolerance, pointing out that
the unity of the Syrians strengthens Syria's stance in facing
pressures.
Celebrations were also limited to religious prayers and masses were
performed in the southern province of Sweida.
In the coastal province of Tartous, Archbishop of Lattakia and Tartous
Maronite Diocese Elias Suleiman highlighted the importance of
pondering the meanings of the Easter as it symbolized victory of
humanity over death.
Masses and prayers were also held in the churches of Lattakia, during
which virtues of Jesus Christ's resurrection were hailed.
In Idleb, the Christian communities in the province held prayers and
masses on this occasion at several churches.
In his sermon, Father Ibrahim Farah of the Greek Orthodox Church of
Virgin Mary said that all Christian communities have prayed for peace
and tolerance to prevail in Syria.
The Greek Melkite Catholic Archdiocese of Bosra and Horan and Jabal
al-Arab in Daraa also held a mass to mourn Syria's martyrs.
In Homs, another mass was held at the Greek Orthodox Church of St.
Ephraim in al-Adwiyeh neighborhood, withFather John Skaimi affirming
that Syria's wounds will heal, praying to God to fill the Syrian
hearts with amity and tolerance.
In Aleppo, Easter masses and prayers were held, with the heads of
Christian denominations in the province praying in their sermons for
God to preserve Syria and restore peace, security, and safety to it,
asserting that the forces of peace, good and compassion will remain
stronger than the forces of evil and darkness.
B. Mousa/ H. Said / H. Sabbagh
http://sana.sy/eng/21/2014/04/20/540037.htm
Apr 20, 2014
Damascus, (SANA) For the fourth year now, Easter celebrations in Syria
were limited to holding prayers and masses as the country has been
burdened with terrorist acts that ravaged Muslim and Christian places
alike.
The examples of the historic Christian town of Maaloula in Damascus
Countryside and the Armenian-populated Kassab town on Syria's northern
border with Lattakia, where terrorists wreaked havoc and desecrated
Christian symbols and sanctities, are not too far.
Like the previous years since the outset of the crisis in Syria, the
Christian denominations once again refrained from showing any
manifestations of celebrations other than those of prayers that were
performed at the various cathedrals and churches.
They did so out of honor for the homeland's martyrs who fell for the
sake of defending Syria's dignity and preserving its national unity.
A mass was held at the Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarchate in Damascus
that was led by Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregory III Laham of Antioch
and All the East.
While glorifying the sublime meanings of Easter, Patriarch Laham
stressed in his sermon that `reconciliation among the Syrians is the
only salvation for Syria'.
He called upon the countries of the Arab and Western worlds `to leave
Syria for the Syrians to determine their own affairs by themselves'
and stop sending weapons and takfiri terrorists to it.
He reiterated that the only solution in Syria is the peaceful one,
calling upon the Syrians to remain as they have always been `the
people of resurrection and not the people of death'.
Patriarch Laham said peace is Syria means peace in the entire region,
urging the world to `take their hands off Syria' and work together for
maintaining peace.
Patriarch Laham also presided upon a mass at St. Thecla Church in
Maaloula, in which he thanked President Bashar al-Assad for visiting
the town earlier on Sunday.
`We came here to rejoice with the people of Maaloula and bless their
return to it,' he said, asserting that solidarity among Syrians is the
best image to present to the world, asserting commitment to serving
reconciliation, dialogue, solidarity and compassion among all Syrians.
In his Easter sermon following mass at St. George Church in Maaloula,
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All East, John X Yazigi,
expressed appreciation for President Bashar al-Assad for the visit he
paid to Maaoula.
The Patriarch also thanked the Syrian Arab army `which hoisted the
Syrian flag on this plateau and the land that is dear to all our
hearts.'
`We would like to send a message to the whole world that we want
peace, safety, security and coexistence for all citizens in this
country,'' he said.
Yazigi urged the international community to stop the flow of weapons
`that are sent to destroy our country, mosques, and churches, and to
displace our families.'
`The compatriots in this country, Christians and Muslims alike, will
live together in this land¦Reaching out to the other and coexistence
is the solution.'
Similar celebrations were held in other cathedrals and churches in
which patriarchs and clergymen asked God to protect the homeland and
its leader, people.
At Syriac Orthodox St. George Cathedral, a similar celebration was
held with the participation of Archbishop Paul al-Souqi and the
bishops Jean Qwaq and Matthews al-Khouri.
The National Angelic Church in Damascus also held a religious mass on
the occasion chaired by Priest Peter Zaour.
The Orthodox Armenian denomination also celebrated the Easter, where a
mass, chaired by Bishop Armash Nalbandian,was held at St. Sarkis
Church in Damascus.
Bishop Armash affirmed in his sermon the indications of this holy
occasion embodying amity, fraternity and tolerance, pointing out that
the unity of the Syrians strengthens Syria's stance in facing
pressures.
Celebrations were also limited to religious prayers and masses were
performed in the southern province of Sweida.
In the coastal province of Tartous, Archbishop of Lattakia and Tartous
Maronite Diocese Elias Suleiman highlighted the importance of
pondering the meanings of the Easter as it symbolized victory of
humanity over death.
Masses and prayers were also held in the churches of Lattakia, during
which virtues of Jesus Christ's resurrection were hailed.
In Idleb, the Christian communities in the province held prayers and
masses on this occasion at several churches.
In his sermon, Father Ibrahim Farah of the Greek Orthodox Church of
Virgin Mary said that all Christian communities have prayed for peace
and tolerance to prevail in Syria.
The Greek Melkite Catholic Archdiocese of Bosra and Horan and Jabal
al-Arab in Daraa also held a mass to mourn Syria's martyrs.
In Homs, another mass was held at the Greek Orthodox Church of St.
Ephraim in al-Adwiyeh neighborhood, withFather John Skaimi affirming
that Syria's wounds will heal, praying to God to fill the Syrian
hearts with amity and tolerance.
In Aleppo, Easter masses and prayers were held, with the heads of
Christian denominations in the province praying in their sermons for
God to preserve Syria and restore peace, security, and safety to it,
asserting that the forces of peace, good and compassion will remain
stronger than the forces of evil and darkness.
B. Mousa/ H. Said / H. Sabbagh
http://sana.sy/eng/21/2014/04/20/540037.htm