Armenian Orthodox Churches Celebrate Christmas
GOVERNORATES,(ST)_ A divine mass was held yesterday St. Sarkis Armenian Orthodox church celebrating Christmas , birth of Jesus Christ, messenger of love and peace presided over by Bishop Ermash Nalbandian of the Armenian Orthodox church for Damascus .
Participated in the Mass were His Holiness Patriarch Mar Ignatius Aphrem II Kareem of Antioch and All the East, President of the Syrian higher Orthodox Church in the world and representatives of Christian communities .
Bishop Nalbandian gave a sermon on the glorious occasion , reading a message of His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II, Catholicos of the Armenian Pan-Christmas , recited in all Armenian churches throughout the world.
Bishop Nalbandian talked about the sublime meanings conveyed by the Christmas, calling for following the example of the values advocated by Jesus messenger of love and peace for the sake of human salvation .
He denounced what is happening in Syria of acts of killing and violations, emphasizing that Syria will be always the minerate of nations in promoting the spirit of brotherhood and awareness as a guarantor to emerge victorious against conspiracies.
Bishop Nalbandian indicated that the Armenian people , as a result of genocide suffered at the hands of the Turks, lost over one and a half million of its citizens, while others were left displaced from the land of their ancestors , they inhabited for thousands of years .
He also pointed to what the Syriacs and Chaldeans, Orthodox communities had suffered of acts of killing and displacement at the hands of the Turkish atrocities , noting that this year is announced to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the Republic of Armenia and by the various immigrant Armenians all over the world .
In Aleppo , prayers were held on the occasion in Beit Ebel for Armenian Protestants church and Prophet Elias Armenian Orthodox church, where heads of Christian communities said that they are Syrian brothers and partners in the homeland , appealing to the God Almighty to protect Syria leader , army and people, and to restore its security , safety, stability and peace.
Senior governorate officials including deputy speaker of the People’s Assembly Dr. Fahmi Hassan and Aleppo Governor, Dr. Mohamed Marwan offered congratulations to Christian communities in the city, stressing that Syria , the land of heavenly messages and religions enjoys coexistence among all its people..
Similar masses were held in Hassaka churches , commemorating the glorious occasion and its sublime meanings .
T.Fateh