Armenians in Syria celebrate Christmas by holding masses and prayers

The Armenians in Syria, who follow the Eastern calendar, held prayers and masses on Saturday on the occasion of Christmas.

The divine mass, which was held in the Armenian Orthodox Church of Saint Marcerkis in Damascus, was presided over by Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Metropolitan of the Armenian Orthodox Diocese of Damascus.

Archbishop Nalbandian made the Christmas sermon in which he talked about the sublime meaning of Christmas, urging all to commit themselves to the values of amity, good, justice and peace called for by Jesus Christ.

Nalbandian pointed out that the past 2000 years were full of wars and conflicts and that many regions are witness to the pain, suffering and division caused by these wars, condemning the brutal Zionist aggression against Gaza and the Palestinian people.

He prayed to God help the families that were affected by the earthquake that hit Syri last February, stressing that “through our collective work and prayers we can create hope and work for a better world where peace and justice prevail.

The mass was attended by the Armenia Ambassador to Syria Dikran Kevorkian, representatives of the Armenian charitable and cultural societies and a number of representatives of churches in Damascus.

Similar masses were held in Saint John the Baptist Armenian Orthodox Church in Hasakah presided over by Pastor Arshak al-Ajajian, and in the Armenian Orthodox and Protestant churches in Aleppo. Prayers in these masses called for peace, amity and prosperity to prevail in all parts of the world. Worshipers also prayed for peace in Syria so it can rebuild itself and restore its important position.

Hamda Mustafa