His Beatitude Ignatios IV celebrated his name day in Damascus

His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatios IV of Antioch and All East celebrated his name day on the eve of the feast of his heavenly protector St. Ignatios the God-Bearer, First Hierarch of the Antioch Orthodox Church, on December 19, 2005.

Celebrations started from the Great Vespers in the Church of St. Ignatios at the representation of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Great Antioch and All East. Many Orthodox Syrians, Byelorussians, Greeks and Ukrainians prayed at the Divine service. Among the participants also were His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatios, Bishop Moises of Daragia, Bishop Gattas of Kars and representatives of diplomatic corps. The prayers were said both in the Arabic and Russian languages.

After the Great Vespers, Archimandrite Alexander, representative of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Great Antioch and All East, read our the greeting address of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and handed over the Icon of the Mother of God and the holy panagia.

Archimandrite Alexander also conveyed His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatios a greeting message from Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. The Representation gave a reception to honor His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatios.

The celebrations continued at the Cathedral of Assumption on December 20. His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatios celebrated the Divine Liturgy in concelebration of hierarchs and priests who came to Damascus from various dioceses to congratulate the Primate on his name day.