Syriac Orthodox Church to Consider Relocation of Patriarchate

At the upcoming fall session of its Holy Synod the Syriac Orthodox Church will reportedly consider the transfer of the Antioch Patriarchate from its current seat in Damascus, where it has been situated since the 1950s, to Beirut in neighboring Lebanon due to the ongoing attacks in Syria on Syriac Orthodox Christians and their churches. There may also be discussion of the possibility of transferring the Patriarchate out of the Middle East entirely due to the large Suryoyo Diaspora in Western Europe and North America. (With or without the autonomous Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church in India, most Syriac Orthodox Christians reside outside of the Middle East now.) If this transfer were to take place it would be the first time in its history that the Antioch Patriarchate would relocate outside of its canonical territory in greater Syria. More here.

St. Joseph of Damascus

Joyous feast! St. Joseph the New Hieromartyr of Damascus was born in the Syrian city at the end of the 1700s under the Turkish Yoke. As a youth he became zealous for learning and quickly became well known by the Orthodox living in Damascus and so loved that in 1817 he was ordained to the priesthood at the age of twenty-four and assigned to the patriarchal cathedral in Damascus.

St. Joseph enjoyed the favor of both the patriarch who ordained him, Patriarch Seraphim of Antioch, and his successor Patriarch Methodius. He was also well loved by the Antiochian Orthodox faithful in Damascus thanks to his sermons, so much so that some called St. Joseph a new Chrysostom. When Damascus was struck by yellow fever the Saint worked tirelessly to comfort and care for the sick without regard for his own life and so became even more deeply loved by the Damascenes.

Because of his great learning St. Joseph attracted students desiring to study under him and eventually formed a patriarchal theological school in Damascus. The Saint also engaged in dialogue with the members of the then newly formed Melkite Catholic Church, bringing many of them back to the Orthodox Faith by strengthening them in their support of the Apostolic Faith and the Julian calendar when the Melkite Catholic Patriarch Clement forced the Gregorian calendar and various latinizations upon his flock. St. Joseph's influence within the Melkite Catholic Church was said to be so strong that had he not been martyred it would not have survived his lifetime because of the number of its member who were returning to Orthodoxy.

In 1860 a great persecution of all the Christians in Damascus and its region took place, with many of the Antiochian Orthodox taking refuge at the patriarchal cathedral. St. Joseph traveled along the city's rooftops from his home to get to the cathedral and strengthen the faithful there with both sermons and communion. When the cathedral was finally attacked St. Joseph was martyred together with the faithful gathered there on 10 July. For this reason we also commemorate today St. Joseph's companions in martyrdom, whose names are not known to us.

More on St. Joseph's life can be found here. May his blessing and prayers be with us all!

Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Returns to Syria

Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatios Zakka I (Iwas) of the Syriac Orthodox Church has returned to Damascus after traveling to Germany for medical attention. More (in Arabic) here.

Syrian Christians Call for Day of Fasting and Prayer for Peace

Representatives of the Orthodox Churches and other Christian organizations present in Damascus, Syria, met yesterday at the seat of the Syriac Orthodox patriarchate to call for a day of fasting and prayer for the return of peace and unity to the country. More (in Arabic) here.

Syriac Orthodox Patriarch to Remain in Damascus

In an interview Metropolitan Mor Gregorios (Yohanna) of Aleppo of the Syriac Orthodox Church has spoken against recent rumors that preparations are being made to transfer the seat of the Patriarchate of Antioch from Damascus to India or Turkey. More here. The rumors have developed as political unrest has spread in Syria, long a haven for the Middle East's Christians under the ruling al-Assad family.

Syriac Orthodox Catholicos in Damascus

Catholicos Aboon Mar Baselios Thomas I of the East of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church has begun a visit to the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate in Damascus. More here.

Metropolitan of Zahle Visits Damascus

Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I (Iwas) of Antioch received today Metropolitan Mor Yustinos and other representatives of the Patriarchal Vicariate of Zahle and Bekaa in Lebanon at his residence in Damascus. During the visit the the work of the vicariate in eastern Lebanon was discussed and Patriarch Mor Ignatius Zakka was invited to visit the area to bless its newest projects. More here.

Syriac and Greek Orthodox Primates Meet in Damascus

Archbishop Jerome II (Liapis) of Athens of the Greek Orthodox Church met today with Patriarch Ignatios Zakka I (Iwas) of Antioch of the Syriac Orthodox Church at St. Ephraim's Monastery in Ma'arat Saydnaya, Syria, to discuss potential areas of cooperation between the two Orthodox Churches. More here.