Masses and prayers held to celebrate the New Year

Damascus – Christian denominations in Syria held on Sunday masses and prayers to celebrate the New Year.

In the Greek Orthodox Mariamite Cathedral in Damascus, a mass held headed by Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East John X Yazigi, who called in a sermon for dialogue, peace, and building Syria, affirming that Syria will remain unified and that all other Syrian areas will return to Syria’s embrace just as Aleppo has returned, SANA reported.

He called on the major powers in the world to lift the economic blockade which deprives Syrians of their livelihoods and which doesn’t protect them from shells fired by terrorists.

In turn, Syria’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, who was attending the mass, affirmed that Syria was and will remain the land of love, peace, and coexistence, pointing out that the defense of these values is the biggest response to those who carry weapons and kill and destroy the homeland.

For his part, the head of a delegation from the Australian Anglican Church, Rev. David Smith, affirmed that the presence of Syria’s Grand Mufti and Islamic figures in the New Year mass at the Mariamite Cathedral is a great thing as believers from different religions stand together in the face of the international terrorism that is attacking Syria.

Smith pointed out that such cooperation were to take place in Europe, America, and Australia, then maybe there will be more peace in the world, adding that he will convey the truth about tolerance and fraternity among Syrians to his country.

Masses and celebrations were also held across the Syrian provinces in the occasion of the New Year.