Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Levant and Antioch Youhanna X Yazigi stressed on Sunday on the national unity between Muslims and Christians, saying they are partners in fate and country building.
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Levant and Antioch Youhanna X Yazigi stressed on Sunday on the national unity between Muslims and Christians, saying they are partners in fate and country building.
Following his inauguration ceremony, which was attended by Lebanon’s Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East Cardinal Beshara Boutros al-Rahi and other Syrian officials, Patriarch Yazigi hoped that the Syrian crisis would peacefully end.
He said that were not only partners in fate, but they built together the civilization of the country that should be preserved.
Yazigi thanked the Syrian President Bashar Assad along with other officials and said: “We hope that Syria would find a peaceful political solution so that violence ends and peace and stability prevail in the country”.
He also saluted the Lebanese President Michel Sleiman and said that anything that harms Lebanon or Syria would be harming both countries deeply.
The ceremony took place at the Church of the Holy Cross in Syria’s Qassaa , in the heart of Damascus.
Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad participated in the inauguration ceremony and he and Rai exchanged few words according to reports coming from Damascus.
Presidential Affairs Minister Mansour Azzam, a key adviser to Bashar Assad, was among ministers representing the embattled government.
Gregorios III Laham, Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, was also among the top spiritual officials present at the mass.
TV footage showed al-Rahi and Laham speaking with Mekdad as h
e entered the church to attend the ceremony.
RAHI REJECTS FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN SYRIA
Earlier on Saturday, Patriarch al-Rahi said that the reform in Syria is reached through internal efforts and dialogue, explaining that it cannot be imposed by any foreign interference.
“Reform is needed in every country but it should be pursued through internal cooperation.”
“Any role for the international community should not contradict with this,” al-Rahi said.
“We came to pray for Syria's citizens and for the return of the refugees to their country,” he added.
"We pray each day for the end of war and violence and that a unanimous peace may be achieved through cooperation,” the Patriarch stated.
