Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Damascus, SANA- Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi said on Sunday, while heading a mass at the St. Anthony Cathedral “Maronite Catholic Archeparchy of Damascus”, the Orient is facing an arbitrary war aimed at wreaking havoc and destruction, but all persons who have good will and pure hearts are praying for peace to prevail in the region.
He demanded to put an end to this war on Syria and bring back the displaced people to their houses, condemning acts of the sides which are supporting and arming terrorists to commit crimes and vandalism in the country.
Al-Rahi said Christians and Muslims have been living together for 1,400 years and they have a common culture, adding that “this war aims at destroying our material civilization but it will never destroy our mental or moral one that lies in our hearts and souls.”
Minister of Endowments: Syrian Muslims and Christians committed to their country, national unity
Minister of Awqaf (Religious Endowments) Dr. Mohammad Abdul-Sattar al-Sayyed said that the Syrian Muslims and Christians alike are committed to their country and national unity.
Heading a delegation from Damascus Scholars in a visit to Patriarch al-Rahi, Dr. al-Sayyed said that Damascus is still firm in the face of terrorism.
He said that Virgin Mary Mosque in Tartous stresses the unity of religions in Syria and responds to the acts of the Takfiri terrorists in their war on Syria.
Earlier on Sunday, Patriarch al-Rahi said, during his visit to the French Hospital in Damascus, that he is confident peace will eventually have the upper hand in Syria.
Al-Rahi had arrived earlier at Jdaidet Yabous border crossing in Damascus countryside on a visit to Syria to take part in a religious meeting scheduled for Monday at the Mariamite Cathedral in Damascus.
Al-Rahi said that he is passionately defending Syria wherever he goes because Syria is targeted by an “unjust war”, saying that “the world conscience” is numb to the tragedy of the Syrian people because “major powers only care for their economic and political interests.”
He said that he came to Syria “to pray for peace,” adding that Christians have their roots running deep in the Syrian land side by side with their “brothers from the other faiths”.
M. Nassr/Mazen/ Manal/ Barry
