On January 22nd, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, John X, and the Head of the External Relations Department of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Anthony, inaugurated the Mar Georges Church in Irbin after its restoration.
On the occasion of the reopening of the church, a mass was held, presided over by Patriarch John X and Metropolitan Anthony.
Patriarch John X pointed to the importance and impact of this moment in which the members of the same Syrian family in the town of Irbin, Muslims and Christians, participated in the reopening of this church after it was burned and destroyed by terrorists.
Patriarch John X appreciated the joint work between the two Orthodox churches in Syria and Russia, which resulted in the reopening of this church again.
Patriarch John X praised the brotherly relations and cooperation between the two friendly countries and the Syrian and Russian churches.
The opening ceremony of the church was attended by the Governor of Damascus Countryside, lawyer Safwan Abu Saadi, Secretary of the Damascus Countryside Branch of the Arab Socialist Baath Party, Radwan Mustafa, the Russian Ambassador to Damascus Alexander Yefimov, the Russian delegation accompanying Metropolitan Anthony, and a host of social, economic, religious and popular activities in the town.
It is noteworthy that the church dates back to the year 1870, and was burned at the hands of terrorists.
- al-Mohammad