ASIA/SYRIA - Orthodox Patriarch Yohanna X extends his hand to Syria's new political leaders: "our Cross will remain embracing the Crescent of tolerance"

Damascus (Agenzia Fides) - "We extend our hand to work with you to build the new Syria, and we are waiting for Mr. Al-Sharaa and his new administration to stretch out their hand to us in turn", said Yohanna X, Greek-Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, in the long sermon he delivered on Tuesday, January 1 during the celebration of the New Year Mass in the Greek-Orthodox cathedral in Damascus.

In his speech, the Patriarch wanted to send explicit messages of willingness to cooperate with Ahmed al-Sharaa, alias Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), the Islamist acronym that led the offensive that culminated in the overthrow of the Bashar al Assad regime. It is precisely al Sharaa who is now also credited by international political and media circles as the ‘strong man’ of the ‘New Syria’.

In his sermon at the beginning of the year, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch again resorted to striking images and phrases to recall the indigenous nature of the Christian communities in Syria: "Ages upon ages have passed. Kingdoms and empires have risen and fallen. Yet the essence of our enduring presence here lies in a faith passed down from the mouths of the Apostles". Yohanna X particularly wished to claim the involvement of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch in all the historical attempts of a nationalist matrix that after the end of the Ottoman Empire aimed at establishing in Syria an Arab political sovereignty based on fraternal cooperation between Christians and Muslims, emancipated from any neo-colonial interference exercised by external potentates. "We," the Patriarch recalled, among other things, "are from the Church of Patriarch Elias IV Mouawad, “Patriarch of the Arabs,” who, half a century ago, in February 1974, spoke on behalf of every Arab at the Islamic Summit in Lahore, Pakistan. His voice echoed across the earth, representing Muslims and Christians alike at that summit dedicated to Jerusalem."
In the new phase Syria is going through, "Yohanna X continued, "the drafting of a ‘modern Constitution’ appears fundamental, encouraging the participation of all in its drafting, overcoming the logic of dialectics between minorities and the majority on a sectarian basis. "Our Cross," the Patriarch reiterated, "will remain embracing the Crescent of tolerance in this land. It will embrace every soul of goodwill that seeks the gladness of the Almighty Lord in this blessed land, where His right hand had planted us to live together."
The Patriarch also recalled the sufferings of ‘crucified Palestine’ and the tribulations of Lebanon, asking the politicians in the Country of the Cedars to "elect a President of the Republic as soon as possible". The Patriarch's last prayer was dedicated to the two Metropolitans of Aleppo, Syrian Orthodox Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim and Greek Orthodox Boulos Yazigi (brother of Patriarch Yohanna X himself), who were kidnapped in 2013 and never found.
On Tuesday, January 1, according to information released by the new ‘Syrian General Command’, HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa met with representatives of the Christian communities present in Syria, circulating photos of the meeting through their social network channels. (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 2/1/2025)

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