The opening of Mar Elias Cathedral in Aleppo, after rebuilding due to the damage caused by terrorism

On July 20, the inauguration of Mar Elias cathedral was celebrated in the city of Aleppo after its rebuilding and restoration from the damage caused by the terrorist organizations’attacks.

The celebration included the presentation of a short film on the damage caused to the cathedral by terrorist attacks and efforts made to restore it, which included restoration of the construction of some of the damaged walls and wooden ceiling.

The Archbishop of Aleppo of the Maronites Archbishop Mar Youssef Toubaji said that the rebuilding of the cathedral is a message to the world that life is stronger than death and that goodness overcomes evil and peace triumphs over war.

The Grand Mufti of the Syrian Arab Republic Dr. Ahmed Badr Al-Din Hassoun emphasized that the rebuilding of the cathedral is a challenge to terrorism that targeted the places of worship of mosques and churches.

Hassoun said: “Syria will remain the cradle of the heavenly religions and a  source of  light to the world. The years of war on Syria destroyed the stone but it could not destroy our faith .”

In a televised message, the Head of the East Action Association, which has contributed to the restoration of the cathedral, Pascal Gorniche, said that the cathedral is being reborn today and is a sign of hope that helps in believing in the future.

Gorniche called on Christians in Syria to take an exceptional role in building the future of Syria in order to achieve  peace.

The Deputy of the Diocese of Aleppo Father Elias Adas stated that the diocese has a unique and distinctive place in the history of Syria and in the heart of the ancient church.

Archbishop of Beirut Bishop Youssef Matar read the message of Cardinal Mar BisharaBoutros Al-Rahi, Patriarch of Antioch and the Rest of the East to the Maronites, in which he emphasized the brotherhood in humanity.

Matar said: “This great scene today in the cathedral gives a message that Christians and Muslims are sons of this land as brothers in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan and our destiny is one.”

The Papal Ambassador in Damascus Mario Zinari, during his reading of the Pope’s message, conveyed his congratulations on the reopening of the cathedral.

He stressed that the reopening of the cathedral that rose from under the rubble sends a message to the world that war is not an inevitable destiny but peace is the source of life.

Dr. Mahmoud Akkam, the Mufti of Aleppo, said that the reason for the recovery of this prominent religious landmark in the city of Aleppo is due to the heroism of the Syrian Arab Army and the blood of the martyrs that provided security and safety to Aleppo and its people.

The opening ceremony was attended by Hussein Diab, Governor of Aleppo, Secretary of the Aleppo branch of the Ba’ath Arab Socialist Party, Ahmed Mansour, Commander of the Governorate Police, and a number of Islamic religious scholars and Christian clerics.

O. al-Mohammad