Youhanna Yazigi Elected New Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East

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Syria’s state-run news agency says Youhanna Yazigi was elected as the First Hierarch of the Damascus-based Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch and all the East. He replaces Patriarch Ignatius Hazim, who died earlier this month. Youhanna, 57, is from the Syrian city of Latakia, where he established the city’s first Christian music school. He has training as a civil engineer. It’s estimated that the Church has over a million adherents in Syria and neighbouring Lebanon. Youhanna’s predecessor split his time between the two countries.

17 December 2012

Associated Press

As quoted in the Seattle Times

http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2019922963_apmlsyriaorthodoxpatriarch.html?syndication=rss

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On Monday, Patriarch Youhanna Yazigi was elected as successor to the late Greek Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Hazim, who died earlier this month. The election came during a closed meeting of 18 bishops at Balamand Monastery, some 85 kilometres (53 miles) north of Beirut. Speaking following his appointment, Youhanna said that he’d do his best to keep on serving the Church and asked the Lord to give him strength in doing so.

Ignatius, who was born in the Syrian town of Mhardeh, in Hama Governorate, passed away 5 December at the age of 92 in a Beirut hospital, a day after suffering a stroke. Youhanna, 57, hails from Latakia in Syria, where he pursued studies in civil engineering. Throughout his studies, John had a pivotal role in establishing several spiritual programmes and trained choirs in Byzantine music. In 1978, Youhanna earned a bachelor’s degree in theology from the Institute of St John Damascus Faculty of Theology at the University of Balamand. Then, he earned a doctorate in theology in 1983 from the University of Thessaloniki in Greece. Youhanna became a deacon in 1979 and a priest in 1983. In 1981, he took up teaching liturgy at the St John Damascus Faculty of Theology at Balamand University where he had previously studied, assuming the position of dean of the faculty from 1988-1991 and 2001-2005. He became the superior of the Balamand Monastery from 2001 to 2005. In 2008, he became the Antiochian Metropolitan of Western and Central Europe.

17 December 2012

The Daily Star: Lebanon News

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Dec-17/198818-new-orthodox-patriarch-elected.ashx#axzz2FM8X2oil

Priest Killed in Syria Jamil Fadi Haddad was a Man of God, Trusted by All

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Fr Fadi Jamil Haddad (Local Church of Antioch and all the East) was born in the Syrian city of Qatana on 2 February 1969 to a Christian family. In 1994, he graduated from the University of Balamand; since 1996, he served in Qatana, a city with a mixed Muslim-Christian population, which before the war had 15,000 people. Fadi was ordained a deacon in the cathedral in Damascus, and, then, to the priesthood on 14 July 1995 by Patriarch Ignatius Hazim. Fr Fadi began serving in Qatana; he actively participated in the creation of Sunday Schools, and helped all the other priests who served in the area. Repeatedly, Fr Fadi negotiated the release of kidnapped people. Believers from all religions and confessions loved him. He refused to take sides in the current political conflict in Syria, gaining a reputation as “a man of God, trusted by all”.

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A few days ago, Fr Fadi acted as mediator for the release of a doctor from Qatana, who was kidnapped ten days before. Fr Fadi spoke with the kidnappers, who demanded a ransom of more than 50 million Syrian Pounds (22.8 million Roubles. 725,000 USD. 560,000 Euros. 450,000 UK Pounds) from the doctor’s family. He managed to reduce the ransom to 25 million SYP (362,500 USD. 11.4 million Roubles. 280,000 Euros. 225,000 UK Pounds), and went along with the father-in-law of the doctor to hand over the money. When they turned over the money, both men were kidnapped. For the release of the three victims, the kidnappers demanded 750 million SYP (343 million Roubles. 10.9 million USD. 8.4 million Euros. 6.8 million UK Pounds). Sadly, the perps shot Fr Fadi in the head; his body was found on the highway near the town of Druzha. According to Theorthodoxchurch.info, one of his parishioners, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “He was terribly tortured; they gouged out his eyes”. Syrian state television reported, “He was one of the most prominent figures urging national reconciliation and healing”. The Church of Antioch condemned the “savage crime” and denounced “attacks on civilians and religious leaders, who are trying to be ambassadors of peace in these difficult circumstances”.

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Patriarch Ignatius came to Fr Fadi’s funeral, along with many believers. Fr Fadi’s funeral was marred by violence. A bomb exploded at the funeral service at the church of St Elias in Qatana, the explosion killed two civilians and several soldiers. The Church of Antioch called on “all citizens, humanitarian organisations, and all people of goodwill to condemn the kidnapping, murder, destruction, looting, and attacks on the ordinary people’s security and well-being “. Syrian believers are calling Fr Fadi a New Martyr for Christ. Pray for the repose of the soul of the murdered priest Fadi. This is the second murder of an Orthodox priest in Syria this year. In January, Fr Basil Nassar was killed, whilst trying to bring succour to those wounded in the fighting.

26 October 2012

Pravmir.ru

http://www.pravmir.ru/ubityj-v-sirii-svyashhennik-fadi-dzhamil-xaddad-chelovek-bozhij-kotoromu-doveryali-vse/

Editor’s Note:

If this isn’t proof, even for the slow learners, that the Republican Party hates the Orthosphere and despises its Weltanshauung, this is it. As much as the present administration hates the Orthosphere, the Republicans hate it even more. They want unilateral military intervention in Syria, which would lead to a bloodbath of the Christian, Alawi, and Shiite population by the American-backed Islamists.

I would say to Fr Atty, in particular:

You should publicly apologise for supporting Willard Romney and the Republican Party. You should urge people to vote for the President on Election Day, to prevent a massacre of Christians in Syria. As you are Syrian yourself, this is your duty and obligation not only to God, but to your narod. If you don’t do so, you’ll answer for it on the Last Day. If you vote for the amoral monster Willard Romney, and if he wins (God willing, he won’t), I hope that all the Christians murdered by the Islamists accuse you at the Judgement. You’ll have been an accessory in their murder, sir. Their blood will be on your hands and on your soul. The Republicans are NOT for morality… they’re for greed and power. If you can’t see this, you’re blind, and there’s nothing that I, or anyone else, can do to help you. Repudiate Romney from the ambo, sir… it’d wipe away the sin of having supported Republican amorality and cupidity in the past.

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I’m not holding my breath… the Republican supporters amongst us are sunk deep in prelest and can’t see that the GOP wants to “bomb the world” and that such a hegemonic scheme is against not only God’s Will, but against the self-interest of the USA. As a priest-friend of mine wrote:

To think that the Antiochians in the USA are full of rightwing Protestant “converts”… I hope that they learn from what the CIA is doing to the real Church of Antioch.

That’s it in a nutshell… the Orthosphere is under attack by the American hegemonists, and the Republicans are WORSE than the Democrats are. Don’t forget, Willard is a fanatic Mormon, and American Exceptionalism is a dogma of their cult. That is, he truly believes that America is better than the rest of the world is. That’s sinful and against everything that Christ and His Church taught… we call it phyletism and Sergianism, don’t we? Fr Fadi is a New Martyr… of the Godless American Yoke… and Willard wants to worsen it. Never forget, those who make a pretence of religion are far worse than common-garden atheists are. However, the worst are those in the Church who encourage the spread of godless ideologies from cultists and sectarians in our midst… do ponder that.

The Prez ain’t perfect, and his Party isn’t a friend of the Orthosphere, but the GOP is far worse… vote for Obama on Election Day.

BMD

UN Chief Says No Military Solution to Syrian Crisis

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UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that there’s no military solution to the Syrian crisis. The BBC quoted Ban as saying in a press conference to mark the UN General Assembly’s new session, “Government and opposition forces seem to be determined to seek an end by military means. I think military means won’t bring an answer. That should be resolved through political dialogue”.

Fighting continued in the Syrian capital of Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo. The Syrian conflict has claimed up to 20,000 lives according to estimates by various Syrian opposition groups. The UN estimates the death toll at over 18,000 people. The Syrian authorities say 8,000 were killed. The West is pushing for President Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, whilst Russia and China are trying to prevent outside interference in Syria, saying that the Assad régime and the opposition are both to blame for the bloodshed.

20 September 2012

RIA-Novosti

http://en.ria.ru/world/20120920/176076157.html

Assad Sez Syria “Determined To Crush Rebels”

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Syria is determined to crush the current terrorist insurgency, whatever the cost, as it understands that such is a foundation for stability in the Middle East. At a meeting in Damascus on Sunday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad discussed this topic with leading Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi. Mr Boroudjerdi said that a stable Iran is unthinkable without a stable Syria, so, Iran supports Syria’s struggle. At a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Tehran next Thursday and Friday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad shall unveil a new settlement plan for Syria. Syrian Prime Minister Wael Nader al-Halqi is to lead a delegation to that meeting.

Mr Boroujerdi announced the above in Damascus Sunday after emerging from talks with President Assad. Importantly, he had also met with Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa, who was earlier reported by opposition sources to have defected to Jordan. Mr Boroudjeri said that his country supports Syria’s efforts to crush the terrorists. Vice President al-Sharaa was seen by the press entering his Damascus office to meet with a parliamentary delegation from Iran.

26 August 2012

Voice of Russia World Service

http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_08_26/Syria-determined-to-crush-rebels-Assad/