wfn.org | MECC participates in Patriarchal Silver Jubilee Celebrations

[mecc <mecc@cyberia.net.lb>]

The Syrian Orthodox Church dedicated the month of September to commemorate
and celebrate the Silver Jubilee (25) of His Holiness Mar Ignatius Zakka I
Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Universal
Syrian Orthodox Church. Four main events took place at the Saint Aphrem
Syrian Orthodox Monastery in Ma¹arrat Saydnaya, Damascus, Syria, including
the Jubilee Day on September 14, 2005. The program of the day included Holy
Liturgy, a concert organized by the International Syrian Orthodox Scouts¹
Orchestra, a pilgrimage from St. Mary¹s Church in Saydnaya to St. Aphrem
Monastery and a Scouts¹ parade.

Heads of Churches and officials from the region attended the Jubilee Day.
Among them were H.H. Pope Schenouda III, H. B. Patriarch Ignatius IV Hazim.
A delegation from the Catholicossate of Cilicia, other church
representatives, Muslim religious leaders, government officials, ambassadors
and members of the Syrian Orthodox Church. MECC General Secretary, Mr.
Guirgis Saleh attended the event and gave an address, congratulating H.H.
Patriarch Zakka.  H.H. Pope Schenouda gave an overview of the life and
achievements of H.H. Patriarch Zacca.

Festivities included a Youth Day, a Day for exhibitions, Charity Bazaar and
the Church Choir Concert, and a final Concert by the St. Aphrem Patriarchal
Choir.

The MECC warmly congratulates H.H. Patriarch Ignatius Zakka Iwas I on this
occasion wishing him a long and healthy life.

Middle East Council of Churches
Office of International Ecumenical Relations
P.O. Box 5376, Beirut, Lebanon

Guirgis Ibrahim Saleh, General Secretary
mecc@cyberia.net.lb or guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb

+961-1-353-938
http://www.mec-churches.org/