ishtartv.com
On
Thursday August 18, 2016, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II
received His Excellency Mr. M.J. Akbar, Indian Foreign Minister, at the
Patriarchal Residence in Atchaneh, Bikfaya – Lebanon. Foreign Minister Akbar is
on an official trip to Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.
His
Holiness congratulated His Excellency on the occasion of the seventieth
anniversary of India’s independence and on his new appointment to this delicate
office. He also exchanged with his guest on matters of religious conflicts in
India as well as the issues of democracy in the country. He mentioned the
historical relations that connect the Syriac Church to India, especially to the
southern region of Kerala.
His
Holiness further discussed the situation in the Middle East, especially in
Lebanon, Syria and northern Iraq. He hoped that peace can prevail in these countries
and that all citizens can live in harmony. His Holiness asked Minister Akbar’s
help in the matter of the abduction of the two Archbishops of Aleppo Mor
Gregorius Youhanna Ibrahim and Boulos Yaziji.
His
Excellency thanked His Holiness for receiving him and said that his visit to
the Head of the Syrian Orthodox Church is a blessing to him and of great
importance to better understand the conflicts of the region, especially in
areas where Christians are suffering from wars or conflicts.
Their
Eminences Archbishops: Mor Theophilus Georges Saliba, Archbishop of Mount
Lebanon, Mor Dioscoros Kuriakose, Metropolitan of the Simhasana Churches and
Malecuriz Dayro, Mor Justinos Boulos Safar, Patriarchal Vicar in Zahleh and
Beqaa, Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh, Metropolitan of Beirut, Mor Philoxenos
Zachariah, Metropolitan of Idukki, Mor Chrysostomos Mikhael Shemoun,
Patriarchal Vicar of the Patriarchal Benevolent Institutions in Atchaneh, Mor
Timotheos Matthew, Patriarchal Secretary for Indian Affairs, and Very Rev. Raban
Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, also attended the
meeting.
|