Provinces, SANA -Christmas celebrations in Syria this year have been limited to prayers and masses only due to the events taking place in the country and in respect of the souls of the martyrs who scarified their souls to defend the dignity of Syria.
Prayers and masses were held on Tuesday in all churches and worship places across the country, with sermons stressing that the awareness of the Syrian people is the factor in achieving victory over the conspiracy targeting all Syrians.
In the Syriac orthodox church in Aleppo, a mass was held led by Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All East Mar Ignatius Aphrem II Karim.
In his sermon, Patriarch Aphrem II Karim emphasized that the Jesus Christ’s message of love and peace will be the illumination for humanity and will draw victory’s features, victory of right over obsolete and enlightenment over darkness.
He called for protecting Syria, its army and leader President Bashar al-Assad and for the release of the two kidnapped bishops.
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, John X Yazigi, led a mass at the Greek Orthodox church of Mar Elias in Aleppo.
Patriarch Yazigi said that in this day, the Syrians are seeking to be endowed God’s love as the birth of Christ is a massage for peace, amity and sacrifice for all humanity.
He prayed for Syria to restore calm, peace and security by the unity and coexistence of all its citizens.
Patriarch Yazigi prayed for God to keep Syria safe and enhance the resilience of its people, army and leader in the face of terrorism and that peace and security to prevail over the country.
He also prayed for realesing the two kidnapped archbishops who have been kidnapped by the armed terrorist organizations in Aleppo more than two years ago.
In the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate for Antioch and All the East at the Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus, a mass was held chaired by his Grace Bishop Efraim (Malouli) of Seleucia, Patriarchal Vicar – Secretary of the Holy Synod.
Malouli delivered a letter by his Beatitude Patriarch Yazigi in which he talked about the great meanings of this occasion.
Patriarch Yazigi said .. “the international community’s silence towards what is going on in Syria and its ignorance of the calls for peace, stopping violence and releasing the kidnapped didn’t intimidate us as we born in this land and we will stay in it.”
He called on everyone under the current events Syria is witnessing to commit to the values of this occasion and to unify in the face of the conspiracy.
A huge mass was also held at the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Cathedral (Al-Niyah) in Damascus led by Archbishop Joseph Absi Patriarchal Vicar in Damascus.
Archbishop Absi affirmed that Syria will overcome the crisis due to the awareness and unity of its people.
He prayed for protecting the Syrian people, army and leader President Bashar al-Assad.
Prayers and masses were also held across the country, in which speeches hoped that Syria will get out of the plight and restore security and Safety by the awareness and unity of its people
The sermons prayed for Syria to remain safe, steadfast and stable in the face of the plights.
H. Zain/ Barry