Activities being held on the centenary of the construction of the Cathedral Saint Ephrem in Aleppo

ALEPPO, JUN.15, (ST)-Yesterday, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and head of the Syriac Orthodox Church in the world, Mar Ignatius Aphrem II, opened the activities for the centenary of the construction of the St. Aphrem the Syrian Cathedral and the migration of the Syriacs from Edessa to Aleppo.

The activities began with a celebration that included speeches, artistic performances, and documentary films that reflect the Syriac heritage and the roots of the Syriacs in Syria as a safe haven for them after they were subjected to massacres in their historical cities at the hands of the Ottoman authorities.

In his speech, the Patriarch Aphrem II, talked about Syria’s role in reviving the souls of Syriacs fleeing where they shared with the components of Syrian society the difficulties and prosperity over the years, and they continue with the same approach until Syria restores its former glory.

He said that the centenary is an opportunity to renew the pledge of loyalty to roots, belonging, and the homeland, and to express it through several initiatives included in the anniversary activities, with the aim of spreading knowledge about the church’s spiritual role.

For his part, the Governor of Aleppo, Hussein Diab, spoke about the role of Aleppo as the cradle of all human civilizations, pointing out that the centenary of the construction of the Cathedral of Saint Ephrem and the  migration to Aleppo is only a vivid picture of the reality of  Aleppo despite all that it has been exposed to during successive eras of wars and sieges, earthquakes and destruction.

Moreover, Patriarch Aphrem II opened the library of the forcibly disappeared Bishop John Ibrahim next to the Cathedral of St. Aphrem the Syrian, which includes 35,000 titles in various fields and for several ages and in more than 28 languages.

The Syriac satellite studio was also opened with the aim of preserving the Syriac language and presenting it to the new generation. It will begin broadcasting from Aleppo.

Basma Qaddour