The Church of Dormition of the Virgin Mary re-opened in Zabadani after restoration

Damascus Countryside (ST): The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, John X, and the Head of the External Relations Department of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Anthony, inaugurated the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary in the city of Zabadani, in the Countryside of Damascus, after its restoration.

On this occasion, Patriarch John X and Metropolitan Anthony presided over a prayer of thanksgiving in the church.

Patriarch John X said in a speech: Today is a day of joy par excellence, as we were able to reopen this church in Zabadani after its restoration, with the help of the Russian Church and the concerted efforts of the people of this city, Muslims and Christians.

Patriarch John X indicated that despite all the destruction and devastation that Zabadani was subjected to, its people insisted on rebuilding it in rejection of terrorism, indicating that the restoration of this church is part of this desire and will to rebuild the city. He affirmed that the Syrian people love to live in their homeland with love and harmony.

Patriarch John X expressed his thanks to the Russian Orthodox Church, sister of the Antiochian Orthodox Church, and to the Russian people, government and leadership, stressing that the people of the Church are rooted in their land, and no one will be able to uproot them from their roots.

In his turn, Metropolitan Anthony stressed in his speech the importance of the participation of the Russian Church in reopening these churches that were destroyed by terrorism, as an expression of the common desire of the Russian and Syrian churches to strengthen relations of friendship and cooperation, hoping that the restoration of this church would be the beginning of the reconstruction of the entire city that was subjected to terrorism.

The priest of the parish of Zabadani, Archimandrite Ibrahim Daoud, indicated that the people of Zabadani are happy today with the reopening of their church and erasing traces of terrorism from it, stressing their determination to continue restoring beauty and peace to their city.

K.Q.