Patriarch of Antioch and All the East received a delegation from the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches, composed of representatives from various churches and countries of Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand.
The delegation included Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos and Patriarch of the Armenian Catholics of Cilicia and head of the Catholic family within the Council, the Secretary General of the Council Dr. Michel Abs, and other members of the Executive Committee representing churches from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, and Cyprus.
The delegation extended to His Beatitude the condolences of the Middle East Council of Churches for the martyrs of St. Elias Church in Douilaa—Damascus, expressing solidarity with His Beatitude through words that summarize and embody the Council’s stance in condemning the tragic event.
The Middle East Council of Churches affirmed that the blood of the martyrs is one, and that the crime is deplorable. It does not only target Christians, but also every component of this region, along with the principles of coexistence among the diverse communities of its countries.
The gathering was an opportunity to emphasize the importance of genuine coordination and collaboration among churches, church-related institutions, and organizations across different ecclesial families, underscoring the need to implement such efforts into tangible realities—not mere slogans—amid these difficult and critical circumstances.
