Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Antioch (Agenzia Fides) - Conflict between Turkey and the Iraqi Kurdish region would be a disaster for the peoples of the whole region of the Middle East, especially people in southern Turkey, Syria and northern Iraq. With a growing threat of another conflict, Christian minority communities in Turkey and Syria are praying for peace. Fears of stronger winds of war call to mind past suffering, exile and pain.
Christians in Aleppo and Antioch came together to pray on the occasion of the anniversary of the death of St John Chrysostom 407 AD. Some 330 Christians of different confessions, including 12 Catholic Sisters, Missionaries of Charity, travelled from Aleppo to Antioch for special Marian Prayer in the city's Orthodox Church presided by the Greek Orthodox Metropolita Paul Yazici of Aleppo. The celebration included a procession with a precious Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary and an icon of St John Chrysostom with details including the River Oronte which flows through Antioch and St Peter's Grotto on Mount Silpio where the Saint lived as a hermit.
Six bishops were present at the Liturgy: four from Aleppo, Greek Orthodox, Melkite, Maronite and Armenian Catholic; Sergio Habit Greek Orthodox Bishop of Chile, who was born and studied in Antioch and Archbishop Luigi Padovese the Vicar Apostolic of Anatolia, accompanied by the secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Turkey Fr. Mauro Pesce. In his address the Orthodox Bishop of Aleppo said: “We are gathered to remember St John Chrysostom. Let us strive for unity that we may all be called simply Christians, in peace and unity”. The Bishops present said the different communities were determined to work for peace in the Middle East and all over the world. The Liturgy ended with the recitation of the Our Father and a Blessing to seal the ecumenical endeavours of the Christian communities of Antioch and Aleppo, to promote solidarity and communion and to pray or peace in the Middle East. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 5/11/2007 righe 28 parole 279)
