Shroro

The Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest - May, 2005

Syriac Orthodox Church Celebrates Easter

By SOCM News Bureau

Syriac Orthodox Christians (excluding the Malankara Archdiocese) who follow the Julian calendar on Sunday celebrated Easter by holding masses and performing prayers.

At the Saint Georges Syriac Orthodox Church, Damascus, Holy Qurbono was celebrated by His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch and All The East, the Supreme spiritual leader of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church.

H.H performed the Easter sermon and talked about the meanings of sacrifice and the Christ's noble principles of amity, fraternity and peace. He also touched upon the sublime values of Easter and the divine message conveyed by Christ for salvation of humanity as a whole.

Patriarch Iwas referred to the sufferings of the Iraqi and Palestinian peoples living under the occupation.

H.H extended congratulations to President Bashar Al Assad. H.H also extended similar greetings to President Emile Lahoud and to the brotherly people of Lebanon.

In this respect President Bashar delegated Minister of Presidential Affairs, Ghassan Laham to congratulate the Christian denominations that follow the Julian Calendar on the occasion of Easter.

Laham visited H.H and conveyed to him President Al –Assad’s felicitations and best wishes.

Laham paid a similar visit to Patriarch of Roman Orthodox, Patriarch H.B Ignatius IV

Religious affairs Minister, Ziyad Eddin al-Ayyoubi also visited the spiritual leaders of the Christian sects and offered them his congratulations on the occasion of Easter.

During the meeting both sides exchanged talks on sublime meanings of feasts and its role in deepening the religious fraternity, enhancing the national unity and spreading love and peace among all peoples.

Photo Source: AP