Patriarchs of Middle Eastern Churches exchanges Christmas greetings
BEIRUT / DARAMUSQ — Syriac Catholic Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan exchanged Christmas greetings with Melkite Greek Catholic Church Patriarch Youssef Absi and Armenian Catholic Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian at the Holy See’s seat in Lebanon, the Apostolic Vicariate of Beirut.
During the visit, Patriarch Younan extended heartfelt congratulations to Patriarch Absi on the occasion of Christmas and the New Year, wishing him continued success in caring for the Church. They also discussed the general situation in the countries of the Middle East, especially Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, and the challenges facing the Christian presence there.
Patriarch Younan also met with Armenian Catholic Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian.
During the meeting, the Patriarchs exchanged congratulations and blessings on the occasion of Christmas and the New Year, hoping that these blessed days will bring goodness, peace, and stability to the entire region.
They also touched on the fraternal relations that bind the two Churches and the repercussions of the various crises on the Christian people in the East.
Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II attended a Gregorian recital presented by the Patriarchal Choir of Mor Ephrem. The evening, titled “Christ was Born, Glorify Him”, was held in the Cathedral of St. George in Bab Touma, Daramsuq (Damascus), Syria.
The recital included various Christmas hymns performed by the choir in more than ten different languages and cultures. In a speech to him, His Holiness thanked the choir for its outstanding performance, wishing all believers blessed holidays and days.
Last week, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Aphrem II, Syriac Catholic Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Maronite Patriarch Mor Bechara Boutros al-Rai, Catholicos-Patriarch of Assyrian Church of the East Mar Awa III, and Chaldean Patriarch Mor Louis Sako all met for the first time.
I have the honor of hosting the Patriarchs of the Syriac Churches who meet for the first time ever. #SyriacOrthodox #SyriacCatholic #SyriacMaronite #AssyrianChurchoftheEast #ChaldeanCatholic pic.twitter.com/g73CfbfJoK
— Mor Aphrem II (@MorAphremII) December 16, 2022