Yazeji on Easter: Dialogue, Coexistence Help Syrians Surpass Crisis

DAMASCUS, (ST) – Patriarch Youhanna X Yazeji of Antioch and All East for Greek Orthodox has stressed that national dialogue and coexistence are main principles to get Syria out of the crisis.

During a religious mass held  at the Mariamat Cathedral in Damascus marking Easter, Patriarch Yazeji said “We hope on Jesus Christ Resurrection Day that Syria will overcome the ordeal and that peace and amity will be restored to Syrians as in old days.”

On the occasion of Easter, which coincides with the homeland’s Martyrs Day, Patriarch Yazeji urged the Syrians to cling to the principles of dialogue and coexistence to rid the country from the ongoing tragic events. 

The Patriarch hoped that the Greek Ortodox Metropolitan of Aleppo and Iskenderun, Bishop Paul Yazeji and the Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo, Bishop John Ibrahim, who were kidnapped by an armed terrorist group in Aleppo countryside while carrying out humanitarian activities, will soon return safe.   

“We share the Aleppo Parish its tragedy and share every family its sadness, but we must transform this sadness into a strong determination to withstand the crisis and  into an occasion to announce our faith in resurrection.” Said Patriarch Yazeji, confirming the church’s keen efforts to get the kidnapped archbishops released and to attain peace in Syria.

Yazeji urged more unity, amity and strong faith among the Syrians, stressing that “we can reach resurrection when we bridge gaps between each other and keep hand in hand to build our homeland.”

“Let’s be brave as Jesus Christ who didn’t even fear being crucified in order to lead us to resurrection,” Yazeji said, calling on the Syrians to be patient and put solidarity and unity as a priority.

Concluding his statement the Patriarch urged the Syrian expatriates to play a more effective role in alleviating the suffering of their fellow citizens in Syria by extending every possible helping hand.   

H. Mustafa