Patriarch Yazigi officially enthroned in Damascus
DAMASCUS,(ST)_Patriarch John X Yazigi is officially enthroned as the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.
Speaking in the inauguration ceremony held on Sunday at the Holly Cross Church in Bab Touma in Damascus, Patriarch Yazigi said: “We are sure that Syria would find the way to salvation through dialogue and peaceful political solution.”
He added: “ Our message is to work together for the welfare of humanity and we will pray for unity.”
In this context, Patriarch Gregory III Laham of Antioch and All the East for Melkite Catholic said: “ we will keep working to preserve Christian-Islamic unity in Syria in order to end the crisis in Syria.”
The ceremony was also attended by Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai, who said: “We came to voice solidarity with the Syrian people and to tell churches all over the world and in Syria that we are holding the Bible of peace , fraternity, reconciliation and dignity.”
He sees that what is being said about the so-called reforms, human rights and democracy do not compensate for shedding the blood of one innocent person.
John Yazigi was born in 1955 in Latakia province, Syria. He studied civil engineering at the University of Tishreen, Syria.
In 1978, he got a degree in Christian theology from St. John of Damascus Institute in University of Balamand, Lebanon.
John X also got a PhD in Christian theology from Thessaloniki University, Greece in 1983.
He replaces Ignatius Hazim as the Eastern Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East. Hazim died in December.
B. Qaddour