His All-Holiness and the Ecumenical Patriarchate stand by the Patriarchate of Antioch
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Hierarchs-members of the Holy and Sacred Synod, on the occasion of the latest tragic events of violence in Syria and the joint appeal addressed by His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and two Primates from the other Christian Churches in Syria, express, in their letter to His Beatitude Patriarch John of Antioch, the unanimous sympathy and fraternal support of the Ecumenical Throne towards him, the Hierarchy of the Church of Antioch and the plenitude of the ancient Church of Antioch, as well as towards all the Christians of Syria.
The letter expresses the prayer for all acts of violence and bloodshed to immediately cease, and that social peace will be preserved in the long-suffering country, and that civilians, as well as members of all religious and ethnic communities, will be protected.
“The most regrettable losses of human lives, the brutalities, the violent persecutions against the Christian population, as well as other religious and ethnic minorities, testify to the impasse to which individuals and peoples fall when peace and justice do not prevail. It was unfortunately then that Your Beatitude, our most beloved one, and the Most Holy Church of Antioch, would come to experience this painful martyrdom, undergoing calamity and suffering.
“Always, of course, but especially in times of storms and sorrows, the Church of Constantinople and we personally, stand with all our soul and mind beside Your Beatitude, your brother Hierarchs, the clergy and the blessed and beloved Orthodox people, in deep and unfeigned love and fervent prayer to the Lord of mercy, supplication and compassion, supporting the honourable arm of Your Love,” notes, among other things, His All-Holiness and continues:
“Therefore, following the events taking place in Syria, with unity of heart and with fraternal and supportive feelings towards Your Beatitude, we express by synodal decision the profound sympathy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and our Modesty, conveying to You the consistent experience of the Holy Great Church of Christ, which is also Your experience: “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (cf. John 14:27-28), for He who called you to this calling “overcame the world” (cf. ibid. 16:33).
In this spirit, we have urged the clergy and people in all the Eparchies of the Venerable Ecumenical Throne throughout the world to intensify their prayers to the Prince of Peace and God of Love to protect our Christian brothers and sisters and in general the civilian population of Syria. At the same time, we have expressed the hope that the leadership of the country will intervene to prevent further bloodshed and to protect the members of all those communities.”
It is recalled that His All-Holiness, who always and at every opportunity expresses the unwavering interest of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the Christians of the Middle East, had raised the issue of the situation of the Christians of Syria during his meeting last December with the President of the Turkish Republic, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. At that meeting, His All-Holiness had asked the President to exert all his influence to protect the lives and safety of the Christians and all minorities of Syria, referring also to the close historical ties between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Patriarchate of Antioch.
File Photo
