23 Oct’13

Apostolic Bull

Mandatory Fasting for the Freedom of the Two Abducted Bishops and Safety for our Beloved Sadad

IN THE NAME OF THE SELF – EXISTANT

SEMPITERNAL OF NECESSARY EXISTENCE THE ALMIGHTY

IGNATIUS PATRIARCH OF THE HOLY SEE OF ANTIOCH AND ALL THE EAST

SUPREME HEAD OF THE UNIVERSAL SYRIAC ORTHODOX CHURCH

ZAKKA I, IWAS

No.E213/13

23-October-2013

We offer our apostolic benediction and benevolent prayers to our brethren, His Beatitude Mor Baselius Thomas I, Catholicos of India, and Their Eminences the Metropolitans, our spiritual children the Patriarchal Vicars, monks, priests, nuns, deacons and virtuous deaconesses, and our blessed Syriac Orthodox People worldwide. May the divine providence embrace them through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and St. Peter the head of the Apostles, and the rest of the saints and martyrs. Amen.

Enquiring your welfare, we say: With our steadfast hope in the love of God to His Holy Church and His work within it for the benefit of its children, we offered our prayers and supplications to God the Almighty on behalf of our beloved land Syria the first and last land for the Syrians and for all our sons and daughters in Syria beseeching the Lord to spread His peace in Syria and keep it safe from all kinds of wars. We have also prayed for our dear brothers Mor Gregorios Youhanna Ibrahim, Archbishop of Aleppo and environs, and Mor Boulos Yazigi, Metropolitan of Aleppo and Alexandretta for the Greek Orthodox Church who became victims of terrorism some six months and we have since been exerting all efforts to secure their release. We offer thanks giving to God the Almighty who allowed for the channels of communications to be opened with the responsible parties and due to the confidentiality of the situation we are in no position to elaborate further at this stage and can only thank those who have worked with us. Today, our dearly beloved in Christ, we write to you with great sorrow within us regarding the great and beloved city of Sadad which came under attack from an unknown armed group and our people in Sadad have suffered great dangers as a consequence. We have called upon the international community to help ease the situation and help our Syrian people from the vicious attacks preserving and protecting this historical and great city. To help us secure the release of the two Archbishops and to protect “the mother of the Syrians” Sadad and its residents, and for peace to prevail in Syria we declare a three day fasting beginning on Thursday 24th October to Saturday 26th October concluding with the Holy liturgy in all our churches worldwide on Sunday.May God the Almighty accept your fasting and prayers. Amen

We extend our Apostolic Blessings to you. May the grace of God be with you all. ܐܒܘܢ ܕܒܫܡܝܐ ܘܫܪܟ