Opening of the 6th Suryoyo Youth Global Gathering (SYGG)

On July 20, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II officially inaugurates the 6th Suryoyo Youth Global Gathering in Lebanon at the Patriarchal Residence in Atchaneh – Lebanon.

The opening was attended by their Eminences: Mor Anthimos Jack Yakoub, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education, Mor Theophilos George Saliba, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, Mor Justinos Boulos Safar, Patriarchal Vicar in Zahleh and Beqaa, Mor Dionysius John Kawak, Patriarchal Vicar in the Archdiocese of Eastern USA, Mor Chrysostomos Mikhael Shemoun, Patriarchal Vicar and Administrator of the Patriarchal Benevolent Institutions in Atchaneh, Mor Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf, Archbishop of Mosul, Kirkuk, Kurdistan and Environs, Mor Severus Roger Akhrass, Patriarchal Vicar for Syriac Studies, Mor Cyril Babi, Patriarchal Vicar for the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Damascus, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director.

The participants in SYGG are more than 300 youth coming from the different countries around the world. The theme of this year’s gathering is “to be one”.

The gathering is organized by the Suryoyo Patriarchal Youth Department (SPYD) under the auspices of His Holiness the Patriarch, and will take place from 20 to 25 July, 2022.

His Eminence Mor Anthimos Jack Yacoub welcomed the youth thanking the Lord for His grace and for the opportunity to meet during this 6th SYGG where the youth from different dioceses are meeting together bringing with them their various cultures and backgrounds. The love and faith of the church unites them. His Eminence assured the youth that the church will continue to support them so they should not be afraid to go forth and proclaim the gospel. He pointed out that rediscovering the church’s history and heritage is very important to preserve its spiritual wealth and traditions. He invited the participants to fulfill the Lord’s command to be united, hoping that they will enrich their spiritual experiencr in the gathering and transmit it to their homes and parishes.

In his speech, His Holiness welcomed the youth and wished they will enjoy their meetings and lectures as well as the participation in missionary work which is a special feature of this year’s gathering. He hoped that they will receive blessings and go forth as ambassadors carrying the message of the unity of the church and strengthening their relations with the church. He added that the church is a mother who needs her children as well as they need her. The church is not complete without the youth who are her heart. His Holiness thanked the youth who came from all over the world and despite many travel restrictions and difficulties. He encouraged the participants to deepen their relationship with the church and to learn about its history and faith. He pointed out that this gathering is an opportunity to interact, especially with the charity work that they will participate in. This will be a new experience which will spiritually impress the participants and bring them closer to the reality of other people’s lives and thus they will become true disciples of Christ. He concluded his speech repeating that the church will not be complete without the youth; he asked them to be prepared to transmit the faith to the generations to come.

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