A Divine Mass is held on the occasion of New Year’s Day in the Marian Cathedral in Damascus

On January 1, 2020, a Divine Liturgy was held on the occasion of New Year’s Day at the Marian Cathedral in Damascus, headed by His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch and the whole East of the Greek Orthodox.

In a New Year Sermon, Patriarch Yazigi talked about the sublime meaning of the birth of Jesus Christ saying “we, as Christians, should convey the herald of salvation through our good works, cohesion and amity.”

“We, pray for a unified Syria from East to West and from North to South,” added the patriarch, stressing that the Syrians are strong-willed people who love life and adhere to their land which they will never leave whatever difficulties they face and despite all the suffering they have been experiencing during the terrorist war on them.

Patriarch Yazigi called for lifting the unfair economic siege imposed on the Syrians, condemning  the  so-called “Caesar Act” which targets the dignity of the Syrian people.

“Today, we also pray for each displaced person, orphan or homeless persons and for the kidnapped, including the kidnapped Aleppo archbishops Youhanna Ibrahim  and Boulous Yazigi who were abducted seven years ago,” the patriarch said.

“We pray for the occupied Syrian Golan, occupied Palestine, the Palestinians, Beit Lahem and al-Quds which will continue to be the capital of Palestine and the Mecca of both Christians and Moslems. We also pray for peace  in Lebanon and Iraq.”

O. al-Mohammad/ Hasmda Mustafa