Resurrection Holy Qurobo – Damascus

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II celebrated the Holy Qurobo on Easter Sunday at St. Georges Patriarchal Cathedral in Bab Touma Damascus.

Their Eminences Archbishop Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Patriarchal Vicar in the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Damascus, and Archbishop Armash Nalbandian, Armenian Orthodox Archbishop of Damascus, assisted His Holiness in the Holy Qurobo.

His Excellency Mr. Hammouda Sabbagh, Speaker of the Syrian Parliament, attended the Qurobo along with his family.

In his sermon, His Holiness declared to the faithful that “Christ is truly risen to give us victory against our spiritual enemy, and to assure to all of us that we are no more enslaved to Satan, but came back to the level of children of God as we were in the Paradise.” He then emphasized that “the importance of resurrection is in being an act of God; it is an initiative from heaven unlike what humans are used to in their various religions, i.e. trying to please God in order to receive His blessings for their lives.”

His Holiness considered that the freedom we receive through the Resurrection of Christ is a “responsible freedom, in which we lead a life of holiness moving closer to God; at the same time, it is a freedom which reminds us of our responsibility towards our all humans, and through which we see them as children of God and brothers and sisters for us no matter what differences are there between us.”

His Holiness added that celebrating the Resurrection of Christ is a chance for us to “forget those things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead, by renewing ourselves through good deeds, not turning back to our old deeds, thus do not hate anyone but love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who spitefully use us and persecute us.”

At the end of his sermon, His Holiness also prayed for peace in Syria and in the Middle East.

During the Holy Qurobo, His Holiness led the procession of the Cross as well as the special prayers for the Resurrection.

The Holy Qurobo was followed by a performance of the Syriac Patriarchal Scouts.

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