His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II laid the Foundation Stone for a New Church in the name of the Virgin Mary in Lattaqia.
The ceremony took place at the location of the new church and was attended by the Governor of Lattaqia Mr. Ibrahim Al-Salem, the Secretary of the Baath Party in Lattaqia Dr. Mohammad Shrayteh and other dignitaries.
His Holiness presided over the special prayer for the laying of foundation. He spoke about the important role this church center will have for the region.
His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences Mor Theophilus George Saliba, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, Mor Selwanos Boutros Al-Nehmeh, Archbishop of Homs, Hama and Environs, Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Patriarchal Secretary, His Grace Bishop Mor Georges Kourieh, Dean of St. Aphrem Theological Seminary in Maarat Saydnaya, Very Rev. Raban Boutros Kassis, Patriarchal Delegate in the Archdiocese of Aleppo and Environs, Very Rev. Raban Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, and Deacon Esia Bahdi.

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