Reception for a Delegation from the UK

The Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch hosted a formal reception in honor of a delegation from the United Kingdom.

The delegation is on a visit to Syria upon the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II.

It included members of the House of the Lords: Baroness Caroline Cox, Lord Raymond Hylton, Lord Carey of Clifton, Mrs. Eileen Carey, as well as religious leaders from the Anglican Church: Rev. Andrew Ashdown, Rev. David Thomas, in addition to Mrs. Nasrin Sharifi, and Mr. Samuel Mason.

His Holiness welcomed the delegation and told them that they will be “our voice in the United Kingdom”. He added that this visit will help the members of the delegation to better understand the circumstances under which the Syrian people are living. The visit is a sign of solidarity between the members of the delegation and the Syrian people.

Baroness Cox, head of the delegation, thanked the Syrian people for being in the front line defending religious freedom. She expressed the willingness of the delegation to listen to what the Syrian people are going through and help them think of a better future as well as rebuild their land.

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey expressed his joy to visit Syria again, this time being with the Syrian people in their crisis. He assured that the delegation will do its best to offer help to the Syrian people.

His Eminence Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Patriarchal Vicar of the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Damascus, attended the reception, as well as Christian leaders, dignitaries from the civil society, representatives from the Syrian Ministry of Endowments and Muslim Sheikhs.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.