From December 4 to 8, His Beatitude Msgr. Ignace Joseph III Younan, the Patriarch of the Syriac Catholics, made his pastoral visit to his small flock in the Holy Land. The Syriac Catholic community is made up of some one hundred families spread over Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Its pastor is Msgr. Grégoire Pierre Melki, the patriarchal exarch of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. During his visit, His Beatitude had many encounters with his faithful as well as with the other representatives of the Churches in the Holy Land and with the civil authorities.
During those four days, there were two intense times. The first occurred in Bethlehem in the parish of Saint Joseph, where His Beatitude, who came from Jerusalem in a procession of cars, made his entry and was welcomed by all the Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant heads of Churches in the Holy Land.
The status quo with its subtleties did not allow him to make a solemn entry into Bethlehem or the Holy Sepulcher, but His Beatitude certainly did not lose in the deal, for no solemn entry can be made before such an audience of religious dignitaries and moreover in such a relaxed and cordial atmosphere.
The beauty of the Syriac liturgy, His Beatitude’s warm voice, and the fervor of the parishioners enabled the assembly to experience a particularly beautiful and moving Eucharistic celebration. The reception that followed showed everyone how welcoming the Syriac Church is and how good relations are between the Syriac Catholics and Orthodox.
The second intense moment was on Monday, December 7, in Jerusalem at the Syriac Orthodox monastery of Saint Luke. At the monastery’s threshold, His Excellency Msgr. Swerios Malki Mourad, the archbishop of the Syrian Orthodox patriarchate in Jerusalem, surrounded by priests, had his pastoral staff and his episcopal cross given back to His Beatitude Msgr. Ignace Joseph III Younan and had him clothed in the liturgical vestment. Together, they entered the small church to the sound of Aramean hymns; there they continued their prayer. It was His Beatitude who gave the blessing to the small gathering.
There would not have been much more splendor and cordiality if the Syriac Orthodox had been welcoming their own patriarch. In an interview given to the |Custody’s news program, Msgr. Ignace Joseph III explained that the two Orthodox and Catholic patriarchs are going resolutely towards their unification. A beautiful lesson in unity given by the Syriac Church!
Three Franciscan friars from the Custody could rejoice and accompany this visit in a special way, since they themselves are Syriac Catholics; these are Friars Haitham, Sébastien, and Nerwan. êmes syriaques catholiques, il s’agit des frères Haitham, Sébastien et Nerwan.
Mab
During those four days, there were two intense times. The first occurred in Bethlehem in the parish of Saint Joseph, where His Beatitude, who came from Jerusalem in a procession of cars, made his entry and was welcomed by all the Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant heads of Churches in the Holy Land.
The status quo with its subtleties did not allow him to make a solemn entry into Bethlehem or the Holy Sepulcher, but His Beatitude certainly did not lose in the deal, for no solemn entry can be made before such an audience of religious dignitaries and moreover in such a relaxed and cordial atmosphere.
The beauty of the Syriac liturgy, His Beatitude’s warm voice, and the fervor of the parishioners enabled the assembly to experience a particularly beautiful and moving Eucharistic celebration. The reception that followed showed everyone how welcoming the Syriac Church is and how good relations are between the Syriac Catholics and Orthodox.
The second intense moment was on Monday, December 7, in Jerusalem at the Syriac Orthodox monastery of Saint Luke. At the monastery’s threshold, His Excellency Msgr. Swerios Malki Mourad, the archbishop of the Syrian Orthodox patriarchate in Jerusalem, surrounded by priests, had his pastoral staff and his episcopal cross given back to His Beatitude Msgr. Ignace Joseph III Younan and had him clothed in the liturgical vestment. Together, they entered the small church to the sound of Aramean hymns; there they continued their prayer. It was His Beatitude who gave the blessing to the small gathering.
There would not have been much more splendor and cordiality if the Syriac Orthodox had been welcoming their own patriarch. In an interview given to the |Custody’s news program, Msgr. Ignace Joseph III explained that the two Orthodox and Catholic patriarchs are going resolutely towards their unification. A beautiful lesson in unity given by the Syriac Church!
Three Franciscan friars from the Custody could rejoice and accompany this visit in a special way, since they themselves are Syriac Catholics; these are Friars Haitham, Sébastien, and Nerwan. êmes syriaques catholiques, il s’agit des frères Haitham, Sébastien et Nerwan.
Mab