Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate calls for unity and peace in Syria after fall of Assad regime

The Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East issued a statement after the fall of the authoritarian Syrian regime, saying that Syria stood at a critical juncture in its history. The Church reaffirmed its commitment to advancing justice and peace among all citizens during this pivotal time.

The statement urged adherence to divine teachings that promote wisdom, mercy and faith, and called for a society built on tolerance, understanding and cooperation. It appealed to all Syrians to uphold their national duty by safeguarding public and private property, respecting neighborly relations, and refraining from violence or the use of weapons under any circumstances, a call to peacemaking in a tense season (Matthew 5:9).

Archbishop Hanna Jallouf, Apostolic Vicar in Holeb (Aleppo) and head of the Latin Church in Syria, reflected on the unexpected fall of Holeb to opposition forces and on the rapid political changes that reshaped Syria within days. He said he had initially felt fear and uncertainty because the situation was unfamiliar.

He noted, however, assurances from opposition factions that Christians would remain an integral part of Syria’s cultural mosaic, with guarantees that churches and Christian properties would be protected.

In Al-Suqaylabiyah, a town in the Hemto (Hama) countryside, Christian clerics congratulated the Syrian people on the fall of the regime. They emphasized the unity of the Syrian people and called for collective efforts to rebuild Syria as a nation of fraternity that could serve as a model of coexistence for the world.

The clerics also urged displaced Syrians to return to their homeland and to take an active part in the nation’s reconstruction and its future as a pluralistic society.

Source: Read the original report