{"id":35827,"date":"2015-04-13T09:45:34","date_gmt":"2015-04-13T06:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sana.sy\/en\/?p=35827"},"modified":"2015-04-14T08:19:52","modified_gmt":"2015-04-14T05:19:52","slug":"ester-celebrations-start-with-prayers-and-masses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.sana.sy\/en\/?p=35827","title":{"rendered":"Easter celebrations kept to a minimum due to current events, Patriarch Aphrem II: The Syrians’ will to live will triumph-Video"},"content":{"rendered":"

Damascus, SANA – Christian denominations in Syria,\u00a0who follow the Eastern calendar, have only held prayers and masses in celebration of\u00a0Easter in respect for Syria’s martyrs.<\/p>\n

Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II Karim, Patriarch\u00a0of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox church,\u00a0presided over a Mass at the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch on Sunday, during which\u00a0he stressed the sublime meanings of Easter, the feast that commemorates the\u00a0Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the messenger of love and peace.<\/p>\n

The Patriarch implored God to protect Syria and\u00a0its people, army and leadership and bestow patience upon all of the Syrians,\u00a0particularly those who have lost loved ones during the ongoing terrorist war in the country.\"Afram1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“The evil which Syria is now facing will not last\u00a0as the Syrian people’s will to live is much stronger,” said Patriarch Karim.<\/p>\n

“And so is the faith binding the hearts of the\u00a0homeland’s people, Muslims and Christians,” he added.<\/p>\n

The Patriarch unveiled the new memorial of the\u00a0Syriac martyrs who perished at the hands of the Ottoman Turks in 1915 in horrible massacres\u00a0against Armenians, Syriacs, Assyrians and Chaldeans.<\/p>\n

The Christian clergymen affirmed that Easter is the feast of resurrection and movement from darkness to light, noting that prayers today are for peace and love to prevail in Syria and to implore God to protect Syrian Army who will achieve victory and restore security and stability to the homeland.<\/p>\n

The clergymen implored God to protect Syria’s army, leadership and people who form together a unique texture, urging the Syrians to be united to confront terrorism.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oWfDiLKrAwo<\/p>\n

The worshippers stressed the importance of following the principles of Jesus Christ as a path to rescue Syria from the universal conspiracy targeting it, indicating that this occasion is a chance to renew the mission of love and forgiveness of Jesus.<\/p>\n

They prayed for the repose of the souls of martyrs who sacrificed themselves for Syria.<\/p>\n