Syriac Maronite Patriarch al-Raï receives Lebanese Culture Minister Mohammed Mortada and Bishop Youssef Soueif

BETH KERKE, Lebanon — Syriac Maronite Patriarch Mor Beshara Boutros al-Raï met with the Lebanese Minister of Culture, Mohammed Mortada, and discussed the issue of the explosion of the port of Beirut, the judicial investigator and the minister’s position on the issue. They also discussed the current reality of Lebanon and the repercussions of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the economic situation in the country and the steps the Lebanese government can take to confront these effects.

Minister Mortada also invited the Patriarch to attend the feast of Our Lady of the Annunciation, which will include a sophisticated musical theatrical performance that reflects the Christian–Islamic dialogue and evokes the famous historical meeting that took place between St. Francis of Assisi and Sultan Kamel, who is considered an important figure in the history of Christian–Islamic dialogue.

The Patriarch also received the liturgical committee headed by Bishop Youssef Soueif. During the meeting, the book The Readings of the Old Testament was presented for the first time in the history of the Syriac Maronite Church to be read at Mass on Sundays and holidays, starting from the glorious Resurrection Sunday, provided that the readings of the Old Testament are in harmony with the message and the Holy Gospel.

Among the visitors to the patriarchal headquarters was candidate for president from the Maronite League Khalil Karam, members of the Rooting and Resilience list, and a delegation from the Cedar Revolution Council.