Patriarch John of Antioch and All the East, met with clergy and association leaders from the regions of Antioch, Iskenderun, and Mersin at the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology in Balamand.
The meeting was attended by Metropolitan Athanasios Fahd of Latakia and its Dependencies, and Metropolitan Ephraim Maalouli of Aleppo, Iskenderun, and Dependencies.
During the gathering, the Patriarch discussed the situation of parishes and churches in these historic regions of the Patriarchate of Antioch. He listened to the concerns and challenges facing pastoral work there and emphasized that the Antiochian Church takes great pride in its tangible, authentic, and enduring presence in these lands.
For their part, the clergy and association leaders highlighted the importance of solidarity and cooperation to preserve the region’s ancient Christian presence and to strengthen pastoral life, especially in light of recent challenges, including the devastating earthquake of early 2023.
