ALEPPO, Syria (Asbarez)—His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, celebrated Christmas Mass on Jan. 6, with hundreds of community members from this city besieged by war flocking to St. Mary’s Armenian Church in the heart of the city.
“Let the all the children of our nation, who are dispersed around the world, know that our people in Syria and Aleppo have suffered, but, today they stand tall and have woven a rainbow of peace over Aleppo,” said the Catholicos in his sermon.
“For centuries, we have lived in peace here [Aleppo] with Christians and Muslims alike, with the spirit of cooperation and mutual love and respect. Let the world know that Aleppo is a city of Christian-Muslim coexistence,” said the Catholicos who added that some have attempted to distort Aleppo’s essence and image. However, he added that “Aleppo continues, and must continue, to live with its Christian-Muslim coexistence with renewed will and determination.”
The pontiff also ensured parishioners that Armenians around the world stood in solidarity with the people of Aleppo.
“The Armenians of Syria have played a crucially unique role in our national reality. We are confident that with renewed vigor and determination they will continue their important role in the lives of our people,” said the Catholicos.
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According to Aleppo-based Armenian news outlet Kantsasar, among the participants of the Mass were members of the Prelacy Executive and Religious councils; leaders of community organizations; members of the Syrian Parliament representing Aleppo; the chairman of the Syrian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee; a delegation from France; local government officials; journalists; high-level political officials; and Armenia’s Deputy Consul General to Aleppo Armen Gevorkyan.
The Mass was celebrated by the Catholicos who was joined on the altar by the Prelate of Peria (Aleppo) Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, Bishop Norayr Ashekian, and clergy from Aleppo. A choir comprised from all four Armenian Apostolic Churches performed the religious songs, under the conductorship of Sarkis Isgenian.
Following the Christmas Mass, the Catholicos received Christmas greetings from government officials, organizational leaders and community members.
