Syriac Patriarch Mar Ignatius Joseph III Younan celebrates the ordination of Bishop Aphram Samaan

BEIRUT — During the Divine Liturgy held at Saint Ignatius Antiochian Church in Beirut, Syriac Patriarch Mar Ignatius Joseph III Younan, the Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, celebrated the ordination of Bishop Aphram Samaan who had been elected as Bishop of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Holy Land, and Jordan, in preparation for his episcopal ordination on 15 August. The ordination was attended by a number of priests, nuns, deacons, and a number of believers.

In his sermon, His Beatitude the Patriarch noted that, “The rank of the bishop is not a priesthood rank. It is added to the rank of the newly ordained Father Aphram. It is an ecclesiastical rank that urges the bishop to live the priestly invitation to which the Lord has called him.”

After the speech, His Beatitude the Patriarch granted the rank of bishop to Father Aphram Samaan, in addition to a cross and a ring, and handed him the parental crutch.

Bishop Aphram Samaan delivered a speech in which he thanked the Patriarch, pledging to be trustworthy. He also thanked all the attendees, especially his family and relatives, calling on everyone to pray for him so that the Lord would bless his new service.

After the Divine Liturgy was over, the attendees joyfully extended their congratulations to the newly ordained Bishop.

Bishop Samaan had visited the Patriarch Mar Ignatius Ephrem II, accompanied by Archbishop of Baghdad, Mar Ephrem Youssef Aba and Secretary of the Patriarchate of Antioch of the Syriac Catholics, Father Habib Murad, at the Patriarchal headquarters in Atchane, Lebanon. The aim of the visit was inviting the Patriarch to attend his episcopal ordination.