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News & Events
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News & Events
Patriarchal Letters
Communiqué of the Assembly of the Catholic Hierarchy in Syria
(14 December, 2011)
The Assembly of the Catholic Hierarchy in Syria met in regular session from 12 to 14 December, 2011 at the Syriac Catholic Archbishopric of Damascus, and was chaired by H.B. Gregorios III, Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch, in the presence of H.B. Mar Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and Archbishop Mario Zenari, Apostolic Nuncio to Syria and the Catholic bishops of Syria.
The very reverend Fathers examined the documents on the agenda for the day and focused particularly on those presented by the ad hoc commission on Holy Scripture, the welfare committee (Caritas-Syria), the family and youth, and adopted the relevant decisions, recommendations and guidance.
Similarly, the very reverend Fathers examined the recommendations concerning the Eastern Catholic Churches, published by the Synod for the Middle East, held in Rome last October, and focused on those relating to inter-Church co-operation, Christian unity, Christian witness and Muslim-Christian dialogue.
The Assembly also studied the theme of “The New Evangelization,” which will be the subject of the Synod to be held in Rome in 2012.
V. C.
Patriarchs’ Message to their faithful and
to their fellow-citizens in Syria
(15 December 2011)
The three Patriarchs – H. B. Ignatius IV (Hazim), Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, H. H. Mar Ignatius Zakka I (Iwas), Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and H. B. Gregorios III (Laham), Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and Jerusalem – met at the Monastery of Saint Ephraim the Syrian at Ma’arrat-Saydnaya, on the morning of Thursday, 15 December 2011, and examined together what is going on in our beloved homeland, Syria, namely, the events that have been raging now for nine months.
They examined these events and their after-effects on the country and among the faithful: tragedies and sufferings on several levels. They expressed their deep pain at what has happened, and their sadness for the victims who have been killed, as well as their fear about the deterioration of the economic situation. They expressed their fervent wish for Syria’s wounds to be healed, for reconciliation among its people in love, tolerance, co-operation and wisdom, and for them to prefer the homeland’s welfare to any other interest, returning to their roots, heritage, conscience, trust in mutual exchange and in solving their problems by themselves.
The Patriarchs rejected any kind of foreign intervention from any source, and asked for the lifting of sanctions on Syria imposed upon whatever pretext.
Similarly, they rejected recourse to violence of any form whatever, and called for peace and reconciliation of everyone in the name of God and country. They encouraged the reforms and positive steps promulgated by the government, by appealing to respect for the principles of justice, freedom, human dignity, social justice and the rights of fellow-citizens.
Finally, they prayed fervently to Almighty God for him to have mercy on the slain, comfort the hearts of the afflicted, protect Syria and its leaders and guide them to a safe haven, peace, sovereignty and prosperity, and for them to ask everyone’s participation in unceasing prayer, and not to allow fear to take hold of anyone or for a hair of our heads to be touched save by the leave of God, our heavenly Father, as our Lord Christ taught us.
As we are in the period of preparation for the glorious Feast of the Nativity, we send to all our sons and daughters and to our fellow-citizens our cordial good wishes, asking our Lord Jesus, the pre-eternal God, become man for our salvation, to fill our hearts with the joy and peace heralded by the angels on the glorious night of Christmas, at the intercession of the Mother of God, the Ever-Virgin Mary, and of all the saints.
+ Ignatius Zakka I Iwas
Syriac Orthodox Patriarch
+ Ignace IV Hazim
Greek Orthodox Patriarch
+ Gregorios III Laham
Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Saydnaya, 15 December 2011
On Tuesday evening of 13 December, 2011, in the context of the session of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops in Syria, there took place in the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Cathedral in Damascus, an ecumenical prayer vigil for peace in Syria, with the participation of representatives of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches present in the country. The liturgical texts for this celebration, which was broadcast live on Syrian television, were taken from the seasonal cycle for the Nativity.
In his address, H. B. Patriarch Gregorios III, Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, affirmed loyalty to the Syrian homeland from all Christian Churches, and their unanimous wish to work for national unity and Christian-Muslim living together, and their rejection of any foreign intervention to resolve the current crisis.
SYRIA: CHRISTMAS 2011, GREGORIOS III (MELKITE),
"SOBRIETY OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE VICTIMS"
An invitation to live "this Christmas in moderation, away from outward lights, in the richness of inner Light" comes today from Damascus, where the Ordinary Assembly of the Catholic bishops of Syria, chaired by the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and Jerusalem, Gregorios III (Laham) has just closed. "For this Christmas,” said Gregorios III to SIR (Religious Information Service-Italy) “we have asked our faithful for sobriety, out of profound respect for the many Syrians who have lost their lives during the months of violence, and their families. Sobriety and silence must accompany the prayers of these days, which, I hope, may be rich with inner and not outward light. The homes of our people should become little caves of Bethlehem in which to pray and meditate."
These recommendations are contained in a letter which the Patriarch, just today, has had read out in all parishes. "Let us avoid Christmas decorations and give pride of place to meditation and prayer," reiterates Gregorios III, who recalls that "the liturgies of the Nativity will take place as usual in churches. We have never had trouble celebrating our masses and it will be the same this time. I think it's a sign of hope." The Assembly, which lasted three days, witnessed yesterday evening in the Melkite Greek Catholic Cathedral in Damascus, the celebration of an ecumenical prayer service "for Syria," which was attended by representatives of the various Syrian Orthodox and Catholic Churches. "For an hour,” the Patriarch said, “we prayed to ask for reconciliation and peace in our country. We are working for unity and dialogue. We want to reaffirm that Christians are Syrians and want to work for the country to which we reiterate our loyalty. We need freedom, and to heal divisions and recover the unity of all the Syrians, regardless of creed or ethnicity. This tragic situation has to end as soon as possible for the good of the people. Syrians are able to solve their problems and iron out differences on their own without any outside intervention." The ecumenical service was also broadcast live on television.
Translation from Italian V. C.
http://www.agensir.it/pls/sir/v3_s2doc_b.rss?id_oggetto=230723
http://orientecristiano.com/notizie/oriente-cristiano/siria-natale-2011.html
http://www.news.va/it/news/siria-gregorio-iii-invita-a-vivere-il-natale-con-s
Damascus, 15 November 2011
Call to Prayer and Fasting
On 15 November the Christmas Fast begins, according to the tradition of our Melkite Greek Catholic Church. Other Churches start it on 10 December.
In view of the tragic circumstances and dangers that beset our Arab world in general and Syria in particular, I am calling upon all our faithful in our Church, in Damascus and eparchies in Syria, to begin a voluntary fast, especially on Wednesdays and Fridays, from 15 November until the Feast of Christmas. Fasting should be accompanied by prayer, so that prayers go up in homes, churches, monasteries and convents, at the start of confraternity meetings and all parish activities.
In that way we shall be obeying the command of our Lord, who said, “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting,” (Matthew 17: 21) and fulfilling our national and Christian duty to our Arab homelands.
We beseech our Lord to preserve our homeland of Syria, all our countries and our fellow-citizens from the dangers of riots, conspiracies and divisions. We pray too for needful reforms and appropriate changes to be implemented at all levels, for a better future for Syria, our homeland, and for all Arab countries.
Further to this letter we suggest some prayers (litanies) be sung during the liturgy in monasteries, parishes and homes, asking for divine mercy and for God to preserve us from dangers and perils. We beseech the Virgin Mary, our Mother, to unite and reconcile all Syria’s sons and daughters in love, dialogue, harmony, concern and brotherhood.
With my affection and blessing,