Archdiocese Bishops Meet with Patriarch IGNATIUS IV in Damascus
The following statement and photographs have been released by The Offices of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East in Damascus, Syria, courtesy of Archimandrite Ibrahim Daoud, Secretary to the Patriarch:
On Tuesday, June 2, 2009, the Most Blessed Ignatius IV, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, received as his specially invited guests from the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, Their Graces, Bishop Antoun, Bishop Joseph, Bishop Basil, Bishop Thomas and Bishop Mark. He had previously met with Bishop Alexander when His Grace was visiting his family in the region during the month of May. Over the next several days (June 2-4) His Beatitude met with each Bishop individually as well as with them as one group in order to better understand the current situation in the Archdiocese of North America. His Beatitude listened carefully to the concerns of the Bishops, and the Bishops recognized that His Beatitude was indeed already well aware and understanding of the situation in North America. The Bishops expressed to the Patriarch the importance of clear lines of communication and their profound gratitude for His Beatitude’s invitation to come to Damascus. Patriarch Ignatius asked each Bishop to communicate to their clergy and people his paternal love and blessings.
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