Patriarch of Moscow’s representative in Damascus greets Patriarch Ignatios as Church of Antioch celebrates the memory of its founders
On June 29, 2011, the Orthodox Church of Antioch celebrates the memory of its founders, the First Apostles Peter and Paul (according to the New Julian Calendar). This year the celebrations took place in a situation of continued disorders in Syria’s public and internal political life.
Among the worshippers at the Divine Liturgy celebrated at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Damascus was His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatios IV of Great Antioch of All the East. The celebrant was Bishop Mousa of Daraya, vicar of the Metropolis of Damascus. He was assisted by Archimandrite Alexander (Yelisov), representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to the Patriarch of Antioch, and the clergy of the city.
The website of the Damascus Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church reports that after the liturgy Archimandrite Alexander greeted His Beatitude Ignatios on the occasion of the event and the approaching anniversary of his enthronement. His Beatitude thanked Archimandrite Alexander for his participation in the celebration and told him about the Bishops’ Synod of the Orthodox Church of Antioch that took place last week at the Balamand Monastery in Lebanon. The Synod elected 12 new vicar bishops for dioceses both in Syria and Lebanon as well as overseas.
DECR Communication Service