We offer apostolic benediction, and benevolent prayers, to our brethren, His Beatitude Mor Baselius Thomas I, Catholicos of India, and their Eminence the Metropolitans, our spiritual children the venerable priests, monks, nuns, deacons and deaconess, and our venerated Syriac Orthodox people all over the world. May the divine providence embrace them through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, and St. Peter, the Head of the Apostles, and the rest of the Martyrs and Saints. Amen.

"Mar'an – a'tha. The Lord had come (and will come)" (1 Cor 6:22)  ·  "And those who were ready went in with him to the wedding" (Matthew 25:10)

It is a heavenly wedding when the victorious holy church is wedded to her groom and her redeemer our Lord Jesus Christ, at the end of ages. Yes indeed, in His first coming, the Lord did establish His kingdom on earth and called her, His church. He gave His apostles authority to teach and preach so that the sons of perdition will become the children of His kingdom, active members in His holy church founded on the rock of faith in Him as "the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16:16), the hope of all generations, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, who descended from heaven and was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and saved us from our three enemies: Death, Sin and Satan.

The Lord gave us many parables about His kingdom. The kingdom of God is like a man who sowed good seeds but with it tares appeared. In the church there are both true believers and those who are not truly following Christ. The Lord said: "Let both grow together until the harvest" (Matthew 13:24-30). The good shall inherit His heavenly kingdom and the bad shall be thrown to outside darkness to inherit hell.

We notice in the parable of the ten virgins that the foolish ones, even though they believed in the Lord, did not keep the oil of mercy, love and good deeds in their lamps. When their lamps ran out of oil, the wise virgins went into the wedding. The foolish ones stood outside knocking, but the bridegroom said, "I do not know you." As St. James says: "Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble" (James 1:27).

The Lord said, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice" (Matthew 12:7). St. James the Apostle wrote: "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? … Faith by itself, if it doesn't have works, is dead" (James 2:14 & 20). The Lord praised the Good Samaritan who showed mercy to the wounded man — proving that mercy deeds accompanied by faith find favor in the eyes of God.

My beloved, when Jesus ascended into heaven, two angels appeared and said: "This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). The early Christians greeted one another in Syriac-Aramaic: 'Mar'an – A'tha — Our Lord has come and shall come again.' The church has since stood alert, awaiting the second coming of Jesus. In His first coming He redeemed us and defeated our enemies: Death, Satan and sin. In His second coming He shall come to judge the world.

Let us be like the five wise virgins, holding dear to our doctrine of faith, walking in the light of Jesus, filled with the flame of faith. Real faith is accompanied by good works — otherwise it is a dead faith. And whenever He comes, He will find us ready and awaiting Him with lamps full of oil. He shall invite us to His wedding, and we shall enjoy His heavenly table forever.

May God accept your fasting, prayers and charity deeds. May He have mercy upon the souls of your beloved departed, and may He make you worthy to celebrate His glorious resurrection with spiritual joy, good health and prosperity. Aboun d' Bashmayo w'sharko (Our Father Who art in Heaven…), Amen.

Issued at our Patriarchal residence in Damascus, Syria, on the 21st day of January, in the year two thousand six, the 26th year of our Patriarchal reign.

We offer 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 venerable priests, monks, nuns, deacons and deaconess, and our blessed Syriac Orthodox people all over the world. May the divine providence embrace them through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, and St. Peter, the head of the apostles, and the rest of the Martyrs and Saints. Amen.

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep." (John 10:10-11)

In chapter ten of the Gospel of John, the Lord Jesus Christ summarized the ultimate goal for His Divine Incarnation. He first declared His mission when He entered the synagogue in Nazareth: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor… to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives… to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD. Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:16-21).

He is the Word of the Eternal God, described by John the Apostle: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:1-14). He is the wish of all generations, the hope of all nations, and the center of the Holy Bible from Genesis to Revelation. All prophecies of the Old Testament were fulfilled verbatim in the Lord Jesus Christ "at the fullness of time" (Galatians 4:4).

The goal of His Holy Incarnation was to save mankind from original sin and bring back the eternal spiritual life lost in Paradise. St. Paul said: "Just as through one man sin entered the world… much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many" (Romans 5:12-17). He became a sacrifice on behalf of Adam's descendants: "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21).

Jesus is the only true savior who descended and took flesh. He declared His authority over all kinds of death: death of sin, natural death, and eternal death. He is "the bread of life," and said: "Whoever eats My Body and drinks My Blood has everlasting life, and I will raise him on the last day" (John 6:54). He died on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day, giving us victory over Satan, death and sin. St. Paul wrote: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20).

The will of the Lord is to have His life lived through all believers. We must ask ourselves at every decision: what would Jesus do? This is when we feel that Jesus is really living in us. We must walk the way He provided, believe the facts of faith, and follow the golden rule: "Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them" (Matthew 7:12). He is Emanuel — God is with us.

The great Lent is the best occasion to repent and come back to God. Let us continue praying and giving charity so that God will have mercy upon us. When we do truly repent, God will give us back the robe of righteousness and we shall be counted among His flock, for He is the good shepherd who knows His flock by name, carries the stray on His shoulders, and brings it back to His yard.

May God accept your fasting, prayers, alms, and true repentance, and make you worthy to celebrate His resurrection with purity, holiness, and joy. Aboun d' Bashmayo w'sharko (Our Father Who art in Heaven…), Amen.

Issued at our Patriarchal residence in Damascus, Syria, on the 25th day of February, in the year two thousand five, the 25th year of our Patriarchal reign — and, by the Grace of God, the year of our Patriarchal Silver Jubilee.

We offer apostolic benediction, benevolent prayers, and greetings to our brethren, His Eminence Mor Baselius Thomas I, Metropolitan of India, and their Eminences the Metropolitans, our spiritual children the venerable priests, monks, nuns, deacons and deaconess, and our blessed Syrian Orthodox people all over the world. 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 Martyrs and Saints. Amen.

In response to the call by Holy Bible institutions of the world, our Holy Antiochian Syrian Orthodox Holy Synod decided in September 2003 that the year 2004 would be considered the Year of the Holy Bible — to urge the faithful to have faith that the Holy Bible in its original languages is the exact same text written by the prophets and apostles, delivered to our ancestors without any addition or omission.

All Christians have agreed that God inspires the Holy Bible. St. Paul says: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The center of gravity in the Holy Bible is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. As St. John writes: "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:31).

The Holy Bible has a special high rank in our Syriac church as the first and most important source of our doctrine of faith. It was said that if the Holy Bible written in Syriac were somehow lost, it could be reconstructed entirely from the writings of St. Ephraim the Syriac, compiled from Scripture in the fourth century. Our fathers carried the torch of the Holy Gospel to many areas of the world, and our monasteries and churches were filled with biblical manuscripts in the holy Syriac language — the oldest and most important copies found in museums today.

According to our Syriac tradition, a decorated podium is set in the center of the altar on which the Holy Gospel is laid. Its cover is gold or silver-plated with the four apostles and a cross carved upon it. The faithful kiss it for blessing when they enter and leave the church. A special deacon's prayer calls on the faithful to stand and listen with fear and wisdom to the word of salvation while the fragrance of incense fills the air. The Holy Church urges clergy and faithful to study the Holy Bible: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105).

My beloved, it is a golden opportunity that we have in the upcoming great Lent. Let us come closer to Jesus Christ, setting His life and mission on earth as our example. Let us learn from Him about fasting and prayers — for He fasted forty days and forty nights and defeated Satan by the words of Holy Scripture, saying: "This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting" (Matthew 17:21). We should meditate on the Holy Bible especially during the quietness of the night, listening with faith, hope and love to His holy words. The Almighty spoke to us through His Only Begotten Son — "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14) — and the Heavenly Father commands us: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him" (Matthew 17:5).

May God bless you and make you worthy to renew your spiritual relation with Him. May He accept your fasting and prayers, and make you worthy to celebrate His resurrection with purity, holiness, and joy. Aboun d' Bashmayo w'sharko (Our Father Who art in Heaven…), Amen.

Issued at our Patriarchate in Damascus, Syria, on the 30th day of January, in the year two thousand and four, the 24th year of our Patriarchal reign.

We offer apostolic benediction, prayer, and greetings in the Lord to our brethren, their Eminencies the Metropolitans, our spiritual children the venerable priests, monks, nuns, deacons, deaconesses, and our blessed Syrian Orthodox people. May the divine providence embrace them through the prayers of the Virgin Mary the Mother of God, St. Peter the head of the apostles, and the rest of the Martyrs and Saints. Amen.

LET US ANSWER THE CALL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-30)

In the hardship of life in this world, after the fall of man in sin and his dismissal from Paradise, humanity wandered aimlessly burdened under the yoke of the accursed Devil. As St. Paul says, "For all have sinned and are short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Mankind became badly in need of the Savior whom God the Father promised. St. Paul writes: "But the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son… to redeem them who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Galatians 4:4-5).

The Lord Jesus sensed practically, during His public ministry, the misery of mankind in their bitter clash with their enemy the Devil. St. Peter warns us: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaming lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith" (1 Peter 5:8-9). How often the Devil used natural factors to destroy souls! How many did he deceive, causing them to leave the house of the Heavenly Father like the prodigal son, squandering their graces and wallowing in sin. As the prophet Isaiah says: "Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you" (Isaiah 59:1-2).

Once the Lord Jesus commanded His disciples to cross to the other side of the lake and fell asleep at the stern of the boat. A great windstorm arose. The waves beat into the boat almost sinking it. The disciples awakened Him saying, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" Then He rose and rebuked the wind: "Peace, be still!" And there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" (Mark 4:38-41). The mighty power of the Lord over the forces of nature was manifested. The devil had seized the opportunity of the Lord's sleep, but the Lord is mighty guard of His followers.

In this crooked generation, we who have received the grace of Holy Baptism often become worried when faced with misfortune, forgetting that the ship will never sink as long as the Lord is on board. The holy church, which resembles a ship in the high seas, will never shake no matter how small, as long as the Lord is with us. Christ is with us and He promised: "Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them" (Matthew 18:20). He is "Emanuel" — God is with us. St. Paul says: "God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Dearly beloved: in the present hard circumstances that our world is going through today, when violence, injustice and tyranny is widespread, and most people have distanced themselves from God, let us answer the call of our Lord Jesus Christ and turn to Him. Let us seize the opportunity of the blessed Lent and couple our fast with prayer, earnest repentance, and almsgiving, asking the Lord to spread His peace and security over all regions of the globe.

May God accept your fast, prayers, and alms, and make you worthy to celebrate the feast of His resurrection from the dead joyfully and happily. Abun d-bashmayo w-sharko (Our Father Who art in Heaven…).

Issued at our Patriarchate in Damascus, Syria, on the 7th day of February, in the year two thousand and three, the 23rd year of our Patriarchal reign.

We offer apostolic benediction, benevolent prayers, and greetings in the Lord to our brethren, their Eminencies the Metropolitans, our spiritual children the venerable priests, the devout monks, nuns, deacons, and our blessed Syriac Orthodox people. May the divine providence embrace them through the prayers of the Virgin Mary the Mother of God, St. Peter the head of the apostles, and the rest of the Martyrs and Saints. Amen.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:6, 8)

Lend your ears all you travelers on the road of life in this world. The Lord Jesus prescribes to you the medicine for every ailment — to raise prayers in His name to the heavenly Father. He promises that your fervent petitions will be answered if presented with solid faith. Apostle Paul defines this faith: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Pour your souls, hearts and minds before Him in humility, meekness, repentance and total remorse for all the trespasses you have committed, and He will give you rest from your labors — just as the merciful father gave back the robe of righteousness to his repentant lost son (Luke 15:21-24).

The Lord Jesus compared the righteousness of the Heavenly Father with the compassion of a human father: "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good gifts to those who ask him" (Matthew 7:9-11).

Man since the beginning of his existence has been clashing with the devil in a relentless war. Apostle Peter urges us: "Be vigilant and alert, because your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith" (1 Peter 5:8-9). Praying to God is thus very necessary. The Lord Jesus teaches us in the Lord's Prayer: "Enter us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." If we persist in praying to the heavenly Father in the name of Jesus, He will be with us in our struggle with the devil, for He redeemed us by His precious Blood and gave us victory.

Jesus commands: "Wake up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is indeed ready, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41). Apostle James teaches: "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it did not rain for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heaven gave rain" (James 5:16-18). The repenting tax collector prayed in humility, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner," and Jesus said: "This man went home justified" (Luke 18:13-14). The repenting thief on the Cross heard the Lord's promise: "Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).

If our prayer is not answered, let us examine ourselves. God may delay answering to show the strength of our belief — as with the Canaanite woman who persistently cried out for her possessed daughter. The Lord praised her great faith and healed her daughter. We should pray without tepidity, submitting to God's will and saying: "Let your will be done, O Lord."

We must persevere in public prayer in the holy church and also perform morning and evening prayers in our homes. We must carry on reading the holy Bible to know His commandments. The Lord commanded: "Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it, and it will be yours" (Mark 11:24).

May the Lord God bless you and make you worthy to renew your spiritual relationship with Him. May He accept your fast, prayers and almsgivings, and make you worthy to celebrate the feast of His glorious resurrection in joy, happiness, good health, and great success. Abun d-bashmayo w-sharko (Our Father Who art in Heaven…).

Issued at our Patriarchate in Damascus, Syria, on the 24th day of January, in the year two thousand and two, the 22nd year of our Patriarchal reign.

We offer apostolic benediction and benevolent prayers to our brothers in Christ their Eminencies Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan and Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim, and to our spiritual children the priests, deacons and deaconesses, and the entire Syrian Orthodox faithful in the United States of America. May the divine providence embrace them through the prayers of Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and Sts. Peter and Paul, the heads of the Apostles, and the rest of the martyrs and saints. Amen.

We recoil in horror and disbelief at the injury and loss of life caused by the recent bombings in the cities of New York and Washington D.C. Countless innocent people going to work and school had their lives torn apart. We are indeed saddened by this tragic event and strongly condemn this barbaric attack against humanity. We remember all the victims in sorrow and we lift up in prayer their families and loved ones.

These tragic events invite us all to reflect on how such tragedies, both in the United States of America and elsewhere in the world, might be prevented in the future. Our hope and prayer is that such horrendous crimes will never occur again. At this time of mourning we pray God to grant your leaders wisdom that in their pursuit of justice they may not afflict suffering on other innocent people. We also ask all of you to be God's agents of peace and reconciliation and to remind everybody that evil can only be overcome by goodness.

In closing, we convey to you our paternal benediction, asking the Lord Almighty to heal the wounds and infirmities of all.

Issued at our Patriarchate in Damascus, Syria, September 2001.

We offer apostolic benediction, benevolent prayers, and greetings in the Lord to our brethren, their Eminencies the Metropolitans, our spiritual children the venerable priests, the devout monks, nuns, deacons, and our blessed Syriac Orthodox people. May the divine providence embrace them through the prayers of the Virgin Mary the Mother of God, St. Peter, the head of the apostles, and the rest of the Martyrs and Saints. Amen.

"For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love." (Galatians 5:6)

Apostle Paul, in this statement to the faithful in Galatia, emphasizes the importance of faith that is coupled with good works in the true Christian life. In Christianity, the important thing is faith which is made effective by love. After one has made a covenant with God through Holy Baptism and has become justified and sanctified, he proves the trueness of his faith by adorning himself with good works, especially with true love — the clear sign of Christ's disciples: "By this every one will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). Faith also is certainty of things hoped for, as Apostle Paul defines: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).

Apostle James asks: "What is the use, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but has not works? Can his faith save him?… faith without works is dead" (James 2:14-20). Patriarch St. Severius the Great reconciled the writings of Paul and James: a non-Christian receives remission through faith alone at Baptism; but once baptized, the believer must couple faith with good works — otherwise faith would be of no avail. Just as Abraham's faith was counted righteousness, and then he offered good deeds by offering his son Isaac, so too must our faith be made effective by love.

The Lord Jesus laid down the law of the final judgment: "Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom… for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you took me in, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me" (Matthew 25:34-40). To the wicked He will say: "Depart from me, you accursed, to the everlasting fire" (Matthew 25:41). The distinguishing sign of this love is serving the least of His brethren. Apostle James declares: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction" (James 1:27).

Apostle Paul sings the praises of love in 1 Corinthians 13 — the works, fruits and sacrifices of love are favored over working miracles and even martyrdom. He concludes: "And now abide faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13). The Lord answered: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind… and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:35-40).

In the parable of the ten virgins, the five foolish had faith and hope but no oil of good deeds — especially oil of love and mercy. Consequently, they were expelled. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man adhered to the Mosaic Law but had no mercy upon poor Lazarus at his door — and found himself in torment after death. Faith, therefore, without works is dead.

The arrival of the Holy Lent is a golden opportunity for spiritual struggle against the devil. Let us couple our faith with good deeds — giving alms, helping the poor, tending to orphans and widows. In doing so, our faith will truly work in love.

May God accept your fasting and prayers, and make you worthy to celebrate the feast of His resurrection from the dead with joy and delight. Abun d-bashmayo w-sharko (Our Father Who art in Heaven…).

Issued at our Patriarchal house in Damascus, Syria, on the 10th day of February, in the year two thousand and one, the 21st year of our Patriarchal reign.

We offer apostolic benediction and benevolent prayers to our brethren their Eminencies the Metropolitans, our virtuous spiritual children the priests, monks, nuns, deacons and deaconesses, and our venerated Syrian Orthodox people all over the world. May the divine providence embrace them through the prayers of Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and Sts. Peter and Paul, the heads of the Apostles, Mor Ya'qub Burd'ono, and the rest of the Martyrs and Saints. Amen.

Behold, the ship of our life has anchored in the harbor of the year two thousand of the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ in flesh. Whether we consider this year the close of the second Millennium or the beginning of the third, we must thank God who kept us alive to this day. We ask God to be with us in our new path in the coming year.

The year 2000 AD marks the fifteen hundredth anniversary of the birth of Mor Ya'qub Burd'ono (St. Jacob Baradaeus) and the righteous and godly Empress Theodora. Apostle Paul urges us: "Remember your instructors who spoke the Word of God to you… reflect on their conduct taking their faith as an example" (Hebrews 13:7). We urge you to ponder over the life story of Mor Ya'qub Burd'ono and of the righteous Queen Theodora, following their examples in spiritual struggle and tenacious adherence to the doctrines of faith.

Subsequent to the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD, there remained no bishops in the Syrian Orthodox Church towards the middle of the sixth century except for three. The Byzantine state adopted the Council's resolutions and began persecuting those who rejected them — killing some, exiling others. In this crucial period, God sent the brave Mor Ya'qub Burd'ono to the church. He wore rough garments like saddle-cloth (hence "Burd'ono"), mastered Syriac and Greek, and was known for piety and working miracles. He went to Constantinople and was received with great honor by Empress Theodora.

Empress Theodora was born in 500 AD in the Syrian city of Mabug (Manbej), the daughter of a Syrian Orthodox priest. She married Caesar Justinian, protector of the faith of Chalcedon, yet she held firmly to the faith of her Syrian fathers. By her courage and intelligence she helped her husband rule, passed wise laws, and hosted persecuted fathers of the Syrian and Coptic Orthodox churches in her palace, relieving their suffering. Thanks to Empress Theodora's efforts, Mor Ya'qub Burd'ono was ordained a universal bishop in 544 AD.

Mor Ya'qub Burd'ono set out on his mission touring Syria, Egypt, Asia Minor and Mesopotamia, confirming the faithful in the Orthodox faith. He ordained seventeen Metropolitans and hundreds of priests and deacons, protecting the Syrian Orthodox Church against the attempts of its enemies to eradicate it. He encouraged its followers to preserve the jewel of the Orthodox faith received from the righteous Apostles and Fathers. He departed to his Lord on the 30th of July, 578 AD.

We command that this encyclical be read in all our Syrian Orthodox Churches in the world during the Holy Mass of the first Sunday of the Holy Lent, and once again on the 30th of July, the feast of Mor Ya'qub Burd'ono. Let us take them as examples in holding to the true faith — that we may be worthy, like them, to receive the crown of righteousness. As St. Paul says: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

May this happy commemoration be a cause for blessings to you all, and may the grace of our Lord be with you. Amen. Abun d-bashmayo w-sharko (Our Father Who art in Heaven).

Issued at our Patriarchate in Damascus, Syria, on the 12th day of February, in the year two thousand, the 20th year of our Patriarchal reign.

We extend our apostolic benediction, best wishes and greetings to our venerable brothers, Their Eminencies the Metropolitans; to our spiritual children: the honorable archdiocesan vicars, chor-episcopii, monks, priests and deacons; and to all our esteemed Syrian Orthodox people. May the divine providence of the Lord be bestowed upon them through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and Sts. Peter and Paul, the Heads of the Apostles, and the rest of the martyrs and saints. Amen.

As the twelfth century AD approached, it found Syria and Upper and Lower Mesopotamia in deplorable misery. The Frank occupiers were ravaging the region — killing, robbing and bringing destruction. The Syrian Orthodox Church was an integral part of this corrupt and unstable milieu; some of the faithful became weak in their faith and lost hope in salvation. It was into this darkness that God raised Patriarch Mor Michael the Great.

Mor Mikhayel Rabo (St. Michael the Great) was born in 1126 AD in Melitine (Malatya, Turkey). His father, Elia of Melitine, was a virtuous and pious priest. Young Michael became a monk at Mor Barsawmo's Monastery, was ordained a priest, and appointed Abbot. The Holy Synod of eighteen Metropolitans unanimously elected him Patriarch on Pentecost Day, 1166. Although he initially ran away, believing himself unworthy, he was persuaded to fulfill his duty. He was consecrated Patriarch on October 18, 1166. Upon his arrival at Mor Hananya Monastery (Zafaran) — the new Patriarchal headquarters — Metropolitan Mor Dionysius Bar Salibi delivered a magnificent speech beginning: "My beloved, today is the day of joy; today is the day of delight."

Among his greatest pastoral works was moving the Patriarchal See from Amid to Mor Hananya Monastery. He paid Apostolic visits to his widespread Archdioceses, consecrated the Holy Murun, ordained bishops, and passed ecclesiastical canons. He held numerous Synods and maintained correspondence with the Patriarch of Alexandria on matters of doctrine and the Sacrament of Confession. He ordained one Mapheryono and fifty-four bishops in total. He departed to the Heavenly Chambers on Monday, November 7, 1199, at the age of seventy-three, thirty-three of which he was Patriarch.

The greatest of his works is the ecclesiastical and secular Chronicle beginning from Creation until the year 1193 AD — a unique manuscript still kept to this day at St. George's Church in Aleppo. Patriarch Ephrem Barsoum describes him as "one of the greatest pontiffs of the Church of God, a scholar, and a famous chronicler; of everlasting name, of graceful pursuit, and of uncommon qualities, of widely known virtues, and of good deeds."

On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of his departure to the heavenly chambers, we command that our Holy Church across the whole world celebrate this commemoration, dedicating it for worshipping God and soliciting the intercession of Mor Michael the Great. Let honorary celebrations, scholarly seminars, and symposia be held on his pure and godly life. Let the clergy and people come forward for canonical confession and partake of the Holy Communion with faith and godliness so that they may have the blessing of the Lord, for "the memory of the righteous is blessed" (Proverbs 10:7).

When we reflect on the biography of Patriarch St. Michael the Great, we find that our Syrian Orthodox Church in that time was like the boat in the storm-tossed lake. Though the waves beat against it, the Lord Jesus stilled them. Regardless of how grave the distress and relentless the persecutions, the Church will remain steadfast, "for God is in her midst" (Psalm 46:5). "The gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). Let us make Patriarch Mor Michael the Great an example to us in holding to the faith, working according to the law of the Lord, and complying with the Canon of the Church.

May God make this happy memory a cause of blessings for you all, through the prayer of our Lady the Virgin Mary, that of the holy Patriarch Mor Michael the Great, the righteous martyrs, and all the Saints. Our Father Who art in heaven…

Issued at our Patriarchal house in Damascus, Syria, on the 14th day of March, in the year one thousand nine hundred and ninety nine, the 19th year of our Patriarchate.

We extend our apostolic benediction, best wishes and greetings to our venerable brothers, His Beatitude Mor Baselius Paulos II, Catholicos of the East, and Their Eminencies the Metropolitans; to our spiritual children: the honorable archdiocesan vicars, chor-episcopii, monks, priests and deacons; and to all our esteemed Syrian Orthodox people. May the divine providence of the Lord be bestowed upon them through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and all the martyrs and saints. Amen.

It is our pleasure to inform you that we held our Syrian Orthodox Holy Synod of Antioch from the third to the fifteenth of November 1981 at the headquarters of our Apostolic See in Damascus, where we placed the benefit of our Church and its advancement as our main concern. We studied matters including: the budget of the Patriarchate, its internal organization and endowments; the affairs of St. Ephrem's Seminary in Atchane, Lebanon; the affairs of our Church in India and its constitutional relation with our Apostolic See; the relation of our Church with sister Orthodox Churches; the date of Easter; the role of the priest in the Church; and the importance of preparing a new generation filled with faith through Sunday schools and religious centers.

The Holy Synod paid special attention to the issue of the true name of our Church. It is well established that from the very dawn of Christianity, and since St. Peter, Head of the Apostles, established its See in Antioch-Syria until this day, our Church is known as the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch (ἴdto suryoyto orthodoxoyto d'Antiokh), our language as the Syriac language (leshono suryoyo), and our people as the Syrian people (ἴamo suryoyo). By this name of noble origin, which stems from our ancient history, our Apostolic faith, and our proud civilization, we are known as a Church, our language is known, and we are known as a people amongst all religious, educational and social circles, locally and internationally. We do not accept any other name.

What appeared and appears contrary to this name is not only alien and foreign, but also a distortion, falsification and forgery of the historical truth. We, in our Apostolic power, declare our distress and disapproval at the new names which have appeared lately — such as 'Assyrian,' 'Aramaean' and the like — which aim at distracting the existence of our Church, dividing its children, destroying the landmarks of its glories, and annihilating its civilization and spiritual traditions. But Christ is in its midst and she is unshakable; its shepherds are vigilant and awake, protecting its walls, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).

We warn all the faithful of our Church, especially priests and deacons, regardless of their hierarchical offices, against adopting these ideologies which are in opposition to the Holy Church and its faith. We notify you that our Holy Synod granted power to the heads of archdioceses to take appropriate ecclesiastical actions to deter those who entice so that they return to the path of truth, especially in archdioceses where these ideologies have started to appear and become dangerous.

Our dear spiritual children: In the endeavor to maintain the unity of our Church, we appeal to you all — clergy and people — to care for your spiritual and social responsibilities, to appreciate the sacrifices which your blessed forefathers endured to keep the jewels of faith, and to distinguish the voices of the true shepherds from the wolves which aim at ravaging you, the blessed flock of Christ. We advise, for the second time, those who have gone astray from the Church to return to its bosom and to live side by side with their brothers in love and trust as members of one Syrian family.

May the Grace of the Lord be with all of you. Amen.

Issued from our Patriarchate in Damascus, Syria, on the 29th day of November 1981, the second year of our Patriarchate.