Meditation and Intercessory Prayer – Feast of the Annunciation

On March 24, 2020, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II attended the spiritual meditation which was prepared on the occasion of the Feast of the Annunciation. The meditation was held at the Grotto of the Belt of the Virgin Mary, at Mor Aphrem Monastery in Maarat Saydnaya. The monks and seminarians of Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary participated in the spiritual meditation and the prayers which were offered to the Virgin Mary seeking her intercession to stop the pandemic spread of Corona virus.

Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Yacoub Babawi, Patriarchal Vicar for the Affairs of Monks and the Administration of Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary, Mor Anthimos Jack Yacoub, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education, and Mor Boutros Kassis, Patriarchal Assistant, also attended the prayers and meditation.

At the beginning of the meditation, His Holiness gave a spiritual talk encouraging the clergy and faithful to pray for God seeking His mercies, especially in these difficult times that we are living in. He also hoped that everyone will seize the opportunity of the Feast of the Annunciation to ask for the intercession of the Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, to stop the pandemic spread of the Corona virus which is threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world. His Holiness also prayed for the medical teams throughout the world who are helping the patients infected with this virus. He offered prayers for the recovery of all the sick, especially the patients who were infected with the virus.

The monks and seminarians offered prayers and chanted hymns while some read excerpts from the writings of Mor Aphrem and Mor Yacoub of Sarough, inspired by their poems on the Annunciation.

At the end of the meditation, His Holiness offered the intercessory prayer for the Virgin Mary (Shahroyto) for the recovery of the sick and the protection of all people from Corona.

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