ASIA/SYRIA - The five Patriarchs of Antioch in Damascus: no to the disintegration of Syria

Tuesday, 9 June 2015

Damascus (Agenzia Fides) - The only path to follow to try to get out of the Syrian crisis is a "political solution", accompanied by the commitment of regional and global powers to counter the jihadist of the Islamic State, or at least to suspend all kind of support to their advantage. These are some of the key points contained in the statement issued by the five Patriarchs, who carry the title of Antioch, at the end of the summit that saw them gathered on Monday, June 8 in Damascus, the seat of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.
The presence of the five Patriarchs in the Syrian capital - the Maronite Bechara Boutros Rai, the Greek-Orthodox Yohanna X, the Greek-Catholic Grégoire III, the Syrian Orthodox Aphrem II and the Syrian-Catholic Ignace Youssef III - was warmly welcomed by Christians in Damascus, who filled the part of the Old City of Bab Tuma and Bab Sharqi, where the Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate is situated and where many other churches are concentrated.
The final statement, sent to Agenzia Fides, reiterates the urgent need to counter any fundamentalist ideology with an adequate religious education, according to the perspective - say the Patriarchs - also supported by the vast majority of Muslims.
In the document Syrians are invited to defend the unity of Syria and their right to "freely determine their own future, beyond any foreign interference". The names of the Bishops of Aleppo Boulos Yazigi (Greek Orthodox) and Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim (Syrian Orthodox) are also recalled, listed together with that of Fr. Jacques Murad in the list of those abducted and of whom we have no news. The five Eastern Patriarchs, among other things, condemned "the racist and sectarian designs, alien to our culture" who foment ethnic-religious cleansing campaigns implemented in various areas of the Middle East.
Eloquent words are also dedicated to the exodus of Christians from Countries plagued by conflict and sectarian rifts: "We do not condemn those who choose to go away", write the Patriarchs "but we remind Christians that being steadfast in faith often passes through many tribulations". (GV) (Agenzia Fides 09/06/2015)


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