Saint
Ephrem Universal Syriac Orthodox Medical Mission
by Shroro Editorial Board
The grand opening of the Saint Ephrem Universal Syrian Orthodox Medical Mission, the social ministry of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch was held at the Saint Ephrem Seminary in Ma’raat Saidnaya, Damascus, Syria.
A Holy Eucharist was celebrated July 7th at the St. Ephrem monastery in Ma’arrat Saidnaya on the occasion of the inauguration of the St. Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Universal Medical Mission. This historic and important event was headed by the president of the missionary, His Eminence Archbishop Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan, Patriarchal Vicar of the US Western Archdiocese. His Eminence was assisted by Bishop Mor Gregorius Joseph, Bishop of
Kochi in India, and representative clergy members from different churches.
During the opening ceremony His Eminence Archbishop Mor C. Eugene Kaplan presented a sermon in which he stressed upon the agenda of this mission, which includes; establishing a human medical institution to secure a healthy, scientific, educational, and servicing organization, in addition to physicians who would offer their human services free of charge, adding that this mission will have branches worldwide and wherever anybody needs this free service. He also added that it will facilitate the ways by which it could medically educate people and also eases moral and financial burdens especially during natural disasters or many other human tragedies.
His Eminence emphasized the vital role His Holiness Mor Ignatius Zakka 1 Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, the spiritual head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church who has called for greater lay participation in the life and mission of the Church. His Holiness expressed his adoption to this new missionary in being spread worldwide in order to bring together the Syriac fabric through a human institution that offers medical services free of charge, by securing the needed finance and in supporting the scientific and educational activities among which offering medical scholarships for specializing in this human servicing field.
The Holy Eucharist service was attended by bishops, priests, and representatives of the Christian denominations, as well as the Pope’s ambassador in Damascus, a group of monks, nuns and laity and a number of physicians who are involved in this field from Damascus, Homs, and other countries around the world.
During the Holy Divine Liturgy His Holiness Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I, lit the lamp symbolically to inaugurate the medical mission organization. In the inaugural address His Holiness stated the symbolization of the lamp which brightly shines for others and our burning and grateful love for God. Furthermore, His Holiness addressed that this new organization should reach out to every poor, destitute, deprived and sick person with help. He said that serving such unprivileged and the wounded is equal to providing services to Jesus Christ and following the Scripture teachings. Soon after, His Holiness lighted the candles in celebration of the grand opening of this missionary worldwide, asking God to bless this medical work and the Universal Medical Missionary for the benefit of humans and humanity.
It is worth mentioning that St. Ephrem the Syriac was the first to establish such a wide spread missionary in the region in the fourth century. And following in his footsteps and in his blessed name, this missionary carries his name to imitate his work and his sacrifices universally. He was the first one to raise funds from the wealthy and purchase homes and provide beds where all plagued people were gathered in Urhoy (Edessa, Urfa in the modern Turkey). He himself was later plagued and departed to his Lord as being a victim to this human service.
At the banquette that followed the Eucharist, the president of the Medical Mission, Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan in his welcoming speech expressed his gratitude to all the attendees. Dignitaries at the banquet included diplomatic representatives of several countries:
Deputy Health Minister of Syria, Apostolic Nuncio, Moramdimi John Baptist; various church heads, and the Mayor of Damascus attended the function: Mor Gregorios Joseph, Fr. Babu Peringol, and Dr. Abraham Edathara who spoke on the goals of the mission. Dr. Suhail Savaro, Dr. Susan Jacob and Dr. George Hanna spoke on the social and medical mission pertaining to Christianity, and Lony Thomas gave the Vote of Thanks.
This inauguration comes after several meetings that were held on Saturday in St. Ephrem monastery, blessed by His Holiness the Patriarch Mor Ignatius Zakka Iwas the supreme patron, and His Beatitude Mor Baselius Thomas I, the patron of the Mission. The meetings were headed by His Eminence Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan, the president of the Mission along with the participation of the executive committee members of this mission who came from North America, India, and Europe as a step in supporting the decision of establishing this mission and apply our Lord Jesus Christ's doctrines of faith and ethics to medical science and practice throughout the world for serving humanity.
