Youhanna X from Balamand: We'll Keep Seeking Christian Unity, Coexistence with Muslims
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Youhanna X al-Yazigi arrived Wednesday at the Our Lady of Balamand Monastery, on the first visit to Lebanon after his enthronement as the new Greek Orthodox leader.
The patriarch was welcomed by official and popular delegations.
“Patriarch Youhanna X will stay in Lebanon for a week and will preside over a mass at the St. Nicolas Church on Sunday ahead of taking part in a lunch banquet thrown in his honor by Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Beirut Elias Audeh,” LBCI television reported.
“I salute His Excellency President Michel Suleiman and salute you all from the Our Lady of Balamand Monastery,” the patriarch said.
“We will keep seeking the longed-for unity among Christians and we will work together with our Muslim partners in order to consolidate coexistence with them,” Youhanna X stressed.
He called on all Lebanese to “cooperate in building a country that does not accept diktats from abroad.”
“The concerns of the Lebanese citizen will be our concerns because we cannot prosper on our own and our goal is everyone's prosperity,” the patriarch added.
Youhanna X met on Monday with Syrian President Bashar Assad, a day after the newly-enthroned leader appealed for dialogue and peace in war-torn Syria.
On Sunday, the patriarch voiced hope that "Syria, the government and the people, will find the gate of salvation through dialogue and a peaceful political solution to avert violence and re-establish the stability and peace Syria has always known."
Youhanna X's enthronement took place on Sunday in the Syrian capital Damascus, in a ceremony attended by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.
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