A celebration of the inauguration of Saint Peter, as a bishop of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo
On October 15th, the inauguration of Saint Peter Kassis as Metropolitan of the Diocese of Aleppo and its Dependencies for the Syriac Orthodox was celebrated, in succession to Bishop Youhanna Ibrahim.
During a ceremony at Saint Ephrem the Syriac Cathedral in the Sulaymaniyah neighborhood, presided over by His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church in the world.
In a statement to reporters, Patriarch Ephrem II explained the importance of this event, which is a joy for the people of Aleppo, with the inauguration of a new bishop for the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo, who was known for serving the church with dedication and sincerity for several years as a patriarchal delegate in the absence of the kidnapped former Metropolitan Youhanna Ibrahim.
Patriarch Ephrem II said: “Our presence today is a message of condolence to the hearts of believers in light of the difficult circumstances we live in, and a message of hope that our lives will continue here despite the harsh siege we suffer and the destruction and devastation that befell the city of Aleppo.”
In turn, Bishop Mar Boutros Kassis said: “The church witnessed a tragic event, which was the kidnapping of Archbishop Youhanna Ibrahim in 2013, and based on the pastoral need, I was elected Metropolitan of the Diocese of Aleppo and its dependencies in Raqqa, Idlib and Latakia, and this spiritual ceremony par excellence constitutes a message that life is preserved from death.”
Archbishop Kassis added: “Syrian people are a living people and have achieved victory thanks to the heroism and sacrifices of the Syrian Arab Army and the wise leadership of President Bashar al-Assad.”
The inauguration ceremony was attended by the papal ambassador to Syria, Cardinal Mario Zenari, some members of the People’s Assembly, a number of heads of Christian denominations in Syria, and a number of Islamic clerics.
- al-Mohammad