Patriarch Irinej of Serbia Visits Syria.. Takes Part in Prayers for Peace in the Country

DAMASCUS, (ST)- Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, heading  an ecclesiastical delegation,  arrived in Syria on Saturday on an official visit that will last until June 7th.

During the visit, Patriarch Irinej  will hold meetings, ecclesiastical, official and popular activities in addition to visiting  a number of holy places.

 Following a solemn reception, Patriarch Irinej participated in prayers held at the Mariamite Cathedral in Damascus along with Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All East John X Yazigi, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All East and Supreme Leader of the Syriac Orthodox Church, Mar Ignatius Aphrem II and Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church Joseph Absi and heads of the Christian denominations in Syria, SANA reported.

In a speech, Patriarch Irinej of Serbia expressed pleasure over the solemn reception on “this holy land” and the visit of the deep-rooted Antiochian Cathedral.

He prayed for God to give the Syrian people strength for enduring pain and that peace would prevail the country.

On his part, Patriarch Yazigi welcomed the guest saying “We receive you today as Christians and Muslims to see the right image of coexistence and fraternity among all the Syrians.”