The First Day of Patriarch’s visit to the Patriarchate of Antioch
Damascus: The City which hosted Saul, and gave birth to Paul (photo gallery)
His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej arrived to Beirut in early morning on Saturday, 1 June 2019. The Serbian Patriarch was welcomed by some members of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Patriarchate of Antioch: Metropolitan Silouan of Lebanese Hills, Metropolitan Anthony of Zahlia, Vicar Bishop Luke, abbot Roman of the Balamand Monastery, protopresbyter Nectarius and many priests and monks, as well as by the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Lebanon H.E. Mr. Emir Elfic.
Beirut is the capital and the biggest city and the port in Lebanon. It relies on a mountain range that is commonly referred to as the Mount Lebanon and is located at the shore that overlooks the Mediterranean. The larger and famous cities north of Beirut are Byblos and Tripoli, and on the south are Sidon and Tyre.
Beirut is a three-hour drive from Damascus, where the headquarters of the Antiochian Patriarchate is. Damascus was also the last destination of the delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Immediately after the Serbian Church delegation crossed the border, a routine checking was carried out at the very border crossing from Lebanon to Syria.
Damascus is the capital and the largest city of Syria. It is located at the Barad River, at the eastern foot of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains, 80 km from the eastern coast of the Mediterranean, on a height of about 680 m above sea level. The climate is semi-desert due to shady rains from the Anti-Lebanon Mountains.
Upon their arrival in Damascus and a short rest, the delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church, headed by Patriarch Irinej, went to the Cathedral church of the Most Holy Theotokos in Damascus, known also as Mariamite Cathedral.
An unforgettable welcome was prepared for the Serbian Patriarch. In addition to a large number of the faithful, Orthodox Christians – estimates say more than four thousands - on the square in front of the church, Patriarch Irinej was also greeted by a large number of children holding flags and flowers. Their mothers and wives, mostly, shouted to us some unknown welcoming words. Later on we found out their meaning. They blessed the one who come in the name of the Lord.
The meeting of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej with His Beatitude Patriarch John of Antioch and All East at the entrance to the Cathedral church was very touching, brotherly. With a shouting of ladies, sounds of drums, trumpets and a loud chanting of the clergy we felt for a moment to experienece the times of the holy Apostles.
The doxology rite was attended by hierarchs of the Patriarchate of Antioch as well as by representatives of the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches as well as by many statesmen and political personalities.
Sightseeing of the ancient city of Damascus
After the addresses of Patriarchs John and Irinej, delegations visited several landmarks of Damascus, the capital of Syria. They visited the Umeyada mosque or the Great mosque of the city of Damascus, one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world. It is located in the most important part of the ancient district of the city. It has a great architectural and archaeological value. The mosque in its interior has a tomb where, as it is believed, the head of St. John the Baptist abides, a saint whom both Christians and Muslims respect. The head was found during the excavations while constructing the mosque. The construction of the mosque was started between 706 and 715, on the site of a Christian temple dedicated to St. John the Baptist.
Thereafter, the delegation walked through the city and in the Christian quarter visited the church of St Ananias, an ancient underground building in Damascus, which is claimed to be the remains of the home of Ananias from Damascus, where Ananias baptized Saul, who became Apostle Paul. Remains of a Byzantine church from the 5th or 6th centuries were found during archaeological excavations in 1921, adding a physical evidence which supports a local tradition that the chapel has an early Christian origin.
Official talks of the two delegations
In the evening of the same day, Patriarch Irinej along with his delegation and the hosts returned to the Residence of the Antiochian Patriarch, where fraternal talks with Patriarch John and the hierarchs of the Orthodox Church of Antioch were held. The talks lasted long and related to many topics, among which, relations of the Patriarchate of Antioch with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem as well as the current crisis in Ukraine.
