Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate issues a statement on situation in Syria

DARAMSUQ —  After the fall of the authoritarian Assad regime and the liberation of the Syrian people from its oppression, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate issued a statement to public opinion on the situation in Syria.

The Patriarchate aimed at sending messages of reassurance by the leadership of the Syrian Revolution to the Christians, regarding the security and living aspects, since the Christians are an essential ethnic component of the beloved Syrian people.

The statement highlighted the issue of the two kidnapped archbishops of Holeb (Aleppo), and it directed following up this issue with the competent authorities to reach the truth about their disappearance.

The Patriarchate statement highlighted the following points:

1- Urging the members of the Church to persevere in prayer and fasting seeking peace from the King of peace, for prayer and fasting are important spiritual means that instill tranquility and wisdom in the hearts of the believers.

2- This sensitive period in the history of our homeland Syria raises many serious questions for the people of the country in general, and for the Christian Church and its children in Syria in particular, regarding their existence, future, religious freedoms and practicing their rites, in addition to their constitutional, civil and legal rights to manage their endowments, educational, medical, and social institutions, as well the implementation of the special personal status law that the Churches enjoyed. These questions need official answers from the leadership of the country. The Church affirms its continuous support for its children at this stage, as it always did. The Church will not spare any effort in supporting its children and advocating for their rights. The Church will not accept any form of mistreatment or abuse of their rights. The Church calls upon civil and international bodies to follow up these procedures and steps that lay the foundation for a new Syria. At the same time, the Church stands ready to engage with all Syrians and to cooperate with all those who seek the good of the country, and extends a helping hand to all to contribute towards the reconstruction of the country.

3- Demand the preservation of the rights of the different ethnicities which constitute the fabric of Syrian society, in the new constitution, in a way that preserves their ethnic identity and their different languages. This will increase our country’s strength and stability in the face of challenges, and present a civilized image of Syria.

4- Encourage those who serve in the police and army to benefit from the settlement process announced by the General Command.

5- Encourage all members of the Church who wish to engage in public affairs, civilly and politically, to play their important role in emphasizing the active Christian presence in the service of the society and the country.

6- Affirm the role of the Syriac charitable organizations and institutions in Syria to serve all the citizens of this country and cooperate for its reconstruction.

7- The necessity to preserve the unity and integrity of the Syrian territory and preserve the security of its inhabitants, stressing that the Syrian Gozarto (Jazirah) in North and East Syria and the Golan heights are an integral part of Syria, and likewise condemn the Israeli repeated violation of the sovereignty of Syria.

8- Offer sincere thanks to the members of the Syriac church living abroad for their great love towards Syria and for their continuous support for their Syrian brothers and sisters throughout the crisis and war.

9- Call upon governments and the international community to help in the humanitarian situation in Syria and urge them to work on lifting the sanctions, and to start supporting the reconstruction of Syria and the return of the refugees.