Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
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Damascus, SANA – Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Gregory III Laham called on Christian states around the world to work towards put out the flames of war in the Middle East, particularly in Palestine, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
In a letter on the feast day marking the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven, Patriarch Laham said that church bells in Europe will toll on Saturday at noon (Syria time) for peace in Syria, Iraq, and the Middle East, beginning in Lyon, France.
He noted that this gesture came from an initiative by Archbishop of Lyon Philippe Barbarin, who said that this will be a call for prayer, friendship, fraternity, and seeking support.
Patriarch Laham added that Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, also supported this initiative, and he thanked the church of France and the churches of Europe for this initiative.
He hoped that the tolling of the bells will be heard by leaders around the world and that they will echo the world’s desire for peace and love instead of violence, terrorism, killing, destruction, bloodshed, and war.
Hazem Sabbagh
