MELKITE - GREEK
CATHOLIC PATRIARCHATE

On Tuesday evening of 13 December, 2011, in the context of the session of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops in Syria, there took place in the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Cathedral in Damascus, an ecumenical prayer vigil for peace in Syria, with the participation of representatives of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches present in the country. The liturgical texts for this celebration, which was broadcast live on Syrian television, were taken from the seasonal cycle for the Nativity.
In his address, H. B. Patriarch Gregorios III, Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, affirmed loyalty to the Syrian homeland from all Christian Churches, and their unanimous wish to work for national unity and Christian-Muslim living together, and their rejection of any foreign intervention to resolve the current crisis.

"SOBRIETY OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE VICTIMS"

An invitation to live "this Christmas in moderation, away from outward lights, in the richness of inner Light" comes today from Damascus, where the Ordinary Assembly of the Catholic bishops of Syria, chaired by the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and Jerusalem, Gregorios III (Laham) has just closed. "For this Christmas,” said Gregorios III to SIR (Religious Information Service-Italy) “we have asked our faithful for sobriety, out of profound respect for the many Syrians who have lost their lives during the months of violence, and their families. Sobriety and silence must accompany the prayers of these days, which, I hope, may be rich with inner and not outward light. The homes of our people should become little caves of Bethlehem in which to pray and meditate."

These recommendations are contained in a letter which the Patriarch, just today, has had read out in all parishes. "Let us avoid Christmas decorations and give pride of place to meditation and prayer," reiterates Gregorios III, who recalls that "the liturgies of the Nativity will take place as usual in churches. We have never had trouble celebrating our masses and it will be the same this time. I think it's a sign of hope." The Assembly, which lasted three days, witnessed yesterday evening in the Melkite Greek Catholic Cathedral in Damascus, the celebration of an ecumenical prayer service "for Syria," which was attended by representatives of the various Syrian Orthodox and Catholic Churches. "For an hour,” the Patriarch said, “we prayed to ask for reconciliation and peace in our country. We are working for unity and dialogue. We want to reaffirm that Christians are Syrians and want to work for the country to which we reiterate our loyalty. We need freedom, and to heal divisions and recover the unity of all the Syrians, regardless of creed or ethnicity. This tragic situation has to end as soon as possible for the good of the people. Syrians are able to solve their problems and iron out differences on their own without any outside intervention."  The ecumenical service was also broadcast live on television.

Translation from Italian V. C.

http://www.agensir.it/pls/sir/v3_s2doc_b.rss?id_oggetto=230723
http://orientecristiano.com/notizie/oriente-cristiano/siria-natale-2011.html
http://www.news.va/it/news/siria-gregorio-iii-invita-a-vivere-il-natale-con-s

Call to Prayer and Fasting

On 15 November the Christmas Fast begins, according to the tradition of our Melkite Greek Catholic Church. Other Churches start it on 10 December.

In view of the tragic circumstances and dangers that beset our Arab world in general and Syria in particular, I am calling upon all our faithful in our Church, in Damascus and eparchies in Syria, to begin a voluntary fast, especially on Wednesdays and Fridays, from 15 November until the Feast of Christmas. Fasting should be accompanied by prayer, so that prayers go up in homes, churches, monasteries and convents, at the start of confraternity meetings and all parish activities.

In that way we shall be obeying the command of our Lord, who said, “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting,” (Matthew 17: 21) and fulfilling our national and Christian duty to our Arab homelands.

We beseech our Lord to preserve our homeland of Syria, all our countries and our fellow-citizens from the dangers of riots, conspiracies and divisions. We pray too for needful reforms and appropriate changes to be implemented at all levels, for a better future for Syria, our homeland, and for all Arab countries.

Further to this letter we suggest some prayers (litanies) be sung during the liturgy in monasteries, parishes and homes, asking for divine mercy and for God to preserve us from dangers and perils. We beseech the Virgin Mary, our Mother, to unite and reconcile all Syria’s sons and daughters in love, dialogue, harmony, concern and brotherhood.

With my affection and blessing,

Note: The litanies can be found in the Arabic language liturgy book.

 Gregorios III

Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
Of Alexandria and of Jerusalem


 

CALL TO PRAYER AND FASTING
FROM HIS BEATITUDE GREGORIOS III

PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH AND ALL THE EAST, OF ALEXANDRIA AND OF JERUSALEM

On the occasion of the Fast of Our Lady, Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary among Eastern Christians and that of the beginning of the blessed fast of Ramadan among our Muslim brethren, we should like to address these spiritual words particularly to our sons and daughters of our Damascene Patriarchal Eparchy.
We congratulate them upon this holy Marian month and invite them to practise fasting and abstinence for the first fortnight in order to prepare themselves for the greatest of feasts of Our Lady, the Virgin Mary, the Feast of her Dormition and Assumption body and soul to heaven.
We are glad to address our Muslim brothers and sisters who are approaching God through the practice of fasting, prayer and alms-giving, wishing this month to be a source of good and blessing for them all.
What a wonderful symbolic circumstance that we Christians and Muslims are fasting together during this month of August/Ramadan and in churches and mosques are raising our invocations to the Most High, to accept our prayers, actions, fasting, repentance, alms-giving, good works and charity as sweet-smelling incense in his sight, and are hearing the call of bells and muezzins; better still, are hearing the words of God addressed to us through the Holy Gospel and the venerable Qur’an, calling us to faith, hope, love, mutual help, solidarity, brotherhood and to rejection of hatred and bitterness, violence, discord, confrontation, ruin and destruction.
We are a single country! A single people! We share the same history! Our present is shared by us all as is our future!
We invite all our parishes to celebrate every evening the prayer of the Paraclesis or Intercession of the Virgin Mary, and for petitions to be selected especially for our homeland of Syria, for its security, preservation and stability and for the solidarity of all its children. And God is powerful to dispel this dark cloud and guide Syria on the road of justice, freedom, democracy, dignity and mutual respect, working together for a better future for this beloved homeland with all its citizens and denominations, and for Syria to remain, under the guidance of our President Dr. Bashar al Assad, strong, prosperous, secure, and victorious in the unity of all its sons and daughters.
And on the occasion of Army Day (1) we remember our brave army in our prayers and supplications! May God protect it and protect all citizens and enable our beloved country to avoid more bloodshed in its ranks and among all citizens. We pray for all the victims of the army and security forces and for the victims of these disastrous days in our beloved country.
With my love, blessing and prayer,

1 Note: This article appeared in Arabic in Al Rai on 15 June, 2011      

+ Gregorios III
 

Patriarch Gregorios III’s Appeal to Western Leaders

In view of the tragically difficult times that the whole Middle East, and especially Syria, is going through, H. B. Patriarch Gregorios III wrote a letter on 20 April 2011 to Western leaders, asking them to help boost social and political evolution in the region. He stressed that the current revolutions are unlikely to benefit Christians, and may even result in more Christians being attacked and obliged to flee the unrest. He believes that Western support is very important for the Christian presence in the Arab region, for the communion and witness of its Churches to be maintained and for the aims of the recent Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops to be fulfilled.

V. C.

Happy Feast of Pascha 2011

Way of the Cross: way of Resurrection

Once again this year all our Churches of East and West are together celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord God and Saviour. We shall do all in our power to continue to celebrate together in the years to come! One Faith! One Church!
Our Arab world is still walking along the way of the cross in several of our countries. We are especially anxious about the situation in Syria, where our patriarchal see is situated.
We are praying and asking all our friends to pray for peace, security, national unity and calming of minds. May our government be able to cope with this situation calmly, firmly and successfully.
Thank you for your good wishes for the feast.
We wish you and all our dear friends an abundance of earthly and heavenly blessings! May Christ arise in our world, our hearts and our societies, and in our Eastern Churches, so we may continue our mission in “Communion and Witness.”
Happy and Holy Feast!
Christ is risen!    He is risen indeed!
 

+ Gregorios III
Patriarch of Antioch and All the East,
Of Alexandria and of Jerusalem