Ceremonies took place mainly at Arbeen village on Sunday April, 29, where H.B. Patriarch Ignatius was received at the village and St.Georgios church  entry with  expressions of joy and love by a large number of faithful, the church pastor, Father Daniel Nehmeh, and by administration figures of the region, in addition to the parish council members.

This visit took place during the period (April 10-17, 2007), in order to participate in the consultative committee of Balamand University.

The visit program of Patriarch Ignatius included the following items:

On Monday, December 25, President Bashar al-Assad participated in Christmas celebrations and exchanged congratulations with Christian clergymen and people at the Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, in old Damascus.

Actual projects:

-         Equipping the kitchen in St Gregorios for  the Orphans and the Elderly

-         Upgrading and restoring patriarchal manuscripts

-         Equipping kindergartens in Hama and dormitory in Horan archdiocese

 

·        Activities of the Ecumenical Relations and Development Office, headed by eng. Samer Laham:

·        Celebration of the foundation of St. Ignatius Sisterhood on Sunday, November 12, 2006, at St.. IGNATIUS Church ( Russian Church), Malki, with the benediction and attendance of H.B. Patriarch Ignatius, Archimandrite Alexander, representative of the Patriarchate of Moscow, Father George Makdissi, church pastor , number of clergy and faithful. Patriarch Ignatius spoke in his sermon on the values of Diakonia.

H.B. Patriarch Ignatius received Rev. Pastor Joan Brown on the head of a delegation of different religious figures in the USA. The delegation agenda, scheduled from November 8-12, included visiting Mr. the President of the Syrian ArabRepublic, and Islamic and Christian Leaders. This visit was called for by Ms. Dena Merriam, head of “ Women Initiative for Comprehensive Peace”.

H.B. spoke on the atmosphere of joint Islamic-Christian living prevailing in this country.     

·        St. Archangels Feast was celebrated on Tuesday, November 7,   2006. at St. Michael Church, Tijara, with the benediction and attendance of H.B. Patriarch Ignatius, who focused in his speech on the deep meanings of Prayer, how and when prayer is a true orientation towards God.

Lettre de Sa Béatitude Ignace IV

Patriarche grec orthodoxe d'Antioche et de Tout l'Orient

 

A

 

Sa Sainteté le Pape Benoît XVI

 

N° 663/3

17 septembre 2006

 

Votre Sainteté le Pape Benoît XVI,

A Message from His Beatitude Ignatius IV (Hazim)

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East

to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

 

 

No. 3/663

17^th September, 2006-09-18

 

 

To Your Most Venerable Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

Salutations and best wishes for your health:

 

During the visit of Rev. Jessie Jackson,  Chief of  U.S.A. African Civil Rights, to Patriarch Ignatius, on August 27, 2006,  details of the humanitarian task of Rev. Jackson  to the victims of violence in both Lebanese and Palestinian territories, were highlighted.

On August 19, His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All the Greece visited the Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, in a kind gesture reiterating the solidarity and sympathy of the  Church of Greece towards the suffering of the Lebanese people from the Israeli aggression on Lebanon.

On Tuesday, August 08, 2006, the Patriarchal Vicar Bishop Ghattas and Engineer Samer LAHAM, Director of Ecumenical Relations at the Patriarchate, called for a meeting with Damascus and Countryside clergy members, sisterhood and youth bodies members, at the Patriarchate,

In an interview by a Greek media institution, on 10-8-2006, H.B. Patriarch Ignatius provided his vision on several issues in conjuncture with actual circumstances:

His Beatitude Patriarch Hazim is calling upon archbishops and parishioners of
the Holy Antioch See in homeland and overseas to continue providing aids to
their brethrens in Lebanon.

 the Patron Saint of His Beatitude Ignatius IV, was celebrated  on the eve of  Dec. 19, during the vespers prayer at St. Ignatius Church- Malki_Archimandrite Alexander , representative of Moscow Orthodox Patriarchate in Damascus, headed the service, assisted by the church Russian choir. Speeches were exchanged highlighting the excellent cooperation between the two sister churches .

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Mother Catherine Abou-Haidar died on Dec. 19., 2005, after long years of service as Head of Our Lady of Saidnaya Monastery. The funeral service took place at the Monastery church, headed by H.E. Metropolitan Elias Kfouri (of Tyr, Sidon and Marja’youn) assisted by Metropolitans Georges Abu Zakhem (of Hom), Saba Esber (of Bosra and Horan), Bishops Mousa Al Khoury (of Daraya, Patriarchal Assistant), Louka Khoury, (of Saydnaya, Patriarchal Assistant), and Ghattas Hazim, (of Qara, Patriarchal Vicar), in addition to numbers of monks and nuns. High tribute was paid to the late Mother Catherine, for the merit in promoting the nuns education and developing the Saydnaya monasteries facilities

(in anticipation of Christmas festivities), on Dec 15, by Bishop Ghattas, representing Patriarch Ignatius, with the attendance of the church sisterhood, its commission and Sunday school members, accompanied by the performance of the Protocol fanfare.

• St. John Damascene feast, was celebrated on Dec. 3,  at the ancient church of St. John Damascene, during vespers service presided over by Patriarch Ignatius, assisted by Bishops Mousa and Louka and a number of clergy. H.B. spoke on the importance of this feast and the historical role of St. John Damascene. He blessed the wheat before offering it to the faithful attending. Next morning, a Divine Liturgy was served on this occasion, headed by Bishop Ghattas.

· St Nicolas feast was celebrated, on Dec. 5, at St. Nicolas Church- Mazzeh- with the blessing and attendance of Patriarch Ignatius, during vespers prayer served by Bishop Mousa, assisted by Bishops  Louka and Ghattas. Patriarch Ignatius spoke about our role as Christians to be realized through deeds , not through words.

With the blessings of H.B. Patriarch Ignatius and his attendance, St. Archangels feast was celebrated during the Divine Liturgy headed by H.G. Bishop Louka Khoury, (of Saydnaya, Patriarchal Assistant), on November 7, 2005, at St. Michael Church- Tijara. Also attended H.G. Bishop Ghattas Hazim, (of Qara, Patriarchal Vicar). Number of Damascus clergy assisted in the celebration service.

In his sermon, Patriarch Ignatius outlined the special features of celebrating the Holy Sacraments in our Orthodox Church, where we are not merely recalling historical events or learning lessons in books, but living a concrete reality, living the truth of the Incarnation of Our Lord..

With the blessing of H.B. Patriarch Ignatius IV, and among manifestations of joy and happiness from the faithful crowd, the consecration of the new church of Katana, named after its patron saint, “Saint Elias Church”,  was achieved.

With the blessing of H.B. Patriarch Ignatius IV and his attendance, St. Dimitrius  church celebrated its patron saint feast in the Divine Liturgy served by Bishop Ghattas, the patriarchal Vicar, assisted by  Father Boutros and F ather Makdissi. Also attended Bishop Louka and Bishop Mousa , the patriarchal assistants. In his sermon, Patriarch Ignatius focused on the meaning of the sainthood and the ways it is manifested. He paid tribute to the long years of service by Father Boutros who dedicated his efforts during decades for developing the church life.

On the occasion of undertaking his responsibility as Grand Mufti of the Republic, Dr. Ahmad Hassoun paid a visit to H.B. Patriarch Ignatius on Oct. 18, at the Patriarchate. Conversation highlighted the brotherhood ties between Muslims and Christians in Syria and the necessity to promote ethical values as key factor of the special characteristics of the Syrian people.

Patriarch Ignatius congratulating the best graduates from Al-Assieh school in official secondary studies exams: when receiving them at the Patriarchate, where he expressed his satisfaction about the high marks obtained and distributed gifts on  the graduates, memorizing those moments in a picture taken with them.

All churches bearing the name Lady Virgin Marie of the Dormition celebrated their patron saint feast on 14-15 August, 2005:

Thousands of people gathered at  the football stadium in the UOB campus to attend the graduation ceremony   to that took place on the 22nd of July 2005.                         The  number of graduates reached (626) in different  fields of specialties ( Theology, Arts, Literature, Science, Engineering, General Health, Medical Specialties, General Medicine) and diplomas were distributed in different grades : Baccalaurius,  Higher Studies, Msc. and PhD.

The best students results , having the highest marks at Assieh School are the following:

 

(Details can be read in the next issue of "Al-Nashra")

 

-         15/7/2005, Metropolitna Elias (Kfuri) said , in a press conference: "…We strongly denounce the violent attempts that occurred lastly…and we thank God for Minister Elias Al-Murr safety... "

-         31/7/2005, Metropolitan Elias (Kfuri) paid high tribute to the memory of late Metropolitan Boulos Khoury, on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his trespassing.

 

Here are the headlines of those activities, (more details could be read in the next issue of “Al-Nashra”):

-         10/7/2005: Laying the foundation stone of a school building in Tartouss

-         9/7/2005: Laying the foundation stone of a spiritual retreat center (camps building)

-         7-8/7/2005: Consecration of the renewed building of St. Peter and St. Paul Church, Safita

-         2-3/7/2005: transfer of parts the remains of St. Kosmas and St. Damian from Greece to the Church bearing their names in Safita

Under the blessings of H.B. Patriarch Ignatius, Deacon Hanania Hakimeh was elevated to the Holy Priesthood during the Divine Liturgy celebrated at the Holy Cross Church and presided over by Bishop Louka Khoury

This was the periodical meeting, (the 38th), of the Holy Synod  of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, held at the St. John Institute of Theology, Balamand, during July 7-8, 2005, and presided by H.B. Patriarch Ignatius.

The celebrations took place on Tuesday, June 28, at St. Paul Vision Monastery -Tal Kawkab- where more than (3000) thousand people attended the Vespers and Five Breads prayers, presided over by H.B. Patriarch Ignatius, assisted by Metropolitan Elias Kfouri (of Tyr, Sidon and Marja’youn), Bishops Mousa,  Louka and Ghattas. The guests of honor were the members of the Russian delegation who were the main actors of the achievement and erection of St. Paul Memorial masterpiece, which took place at the end of last May.

In his speech, Patriarch Ignatius outlined the very special atmosphere prevailing in this region, where one can breathe the spiritual scents emanating from the event which took place here, at the beginning of the Christianity.

Upon an invitation extended by the Delegation of the European Commission in Syria,  a Seminar on diversification and dialog, titled “Promoting  closer relationships between Syrian  and European societies”  was held on June 15, 2005, at Mar Moussa Al- Habashi (the Ethiopian) Monastery – Al Nabek_

With the blessings of the Almighty Lord, H.B. returned back safely to Damascus on Monday, May 30, at the end of a successful visit to USA where he achieved a series of medical check-up examinations at St. Paul hospital, Houston- Texas- and was positively briefed as to the results of these examinations.

On Saturday, May 21, surrounded by an important gathering of clergy and faithful, Bishop Ghattas presided the founding meeting of  “ Our Family” Committee, created as a branch of  “St. Gregorios Orthodox Association for orphan education and elderly care”. The ceremony opened with “Christ Is Risen” prayer, followed by speeches from Bishop Ghattas, who pointed out the importance of this project which will spread its humanitarian, social, cultural, entertaining and health care  activities through involving youth and parents. The Association chairman spoke on the importance of supporting “a society for all ages” and presented a briefing on the association projects, especially the achievement of the compound building for the elderly.

The Sunday School band participated in the musical entertaining part of this ceremony.