Homs, SANA- The ceremonies of the Feast of Saint Elian concluded on Friday in Monastery of Saint Elian in Old Homs with a Mass headed by Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All The East John X Yazigi.
A crowed of Christian clergymen and families of Homs neighborhoods attended the Mass, holding prayers for peace in Syria and for the repose the martyrs’ souls who made great sacrifices for their homeland.
“Homs families are here today to tell the world that they are steadfast despite all the damage done to their houses and sanctities,” Patriarch Yazigi said in a statement to SANA reporter.
The participants expressed pleasure over celebrating the Feast of Saint Elian in his Monastery in the old city, vowing to rebuild the damage and rehabilitate the neighborhood and religious places.
The Church of Saint Elian is an ancient old church in Homs old city. It contains the remains of St. Elian, a native of Homs, who was martyred for his refusal to renounce Christianity in 284 CE at the hands of his father, a Roman officer.
Manar al-Frieh/Manal Ismael