Patriarch Youssef Al-Absi presided over a religious mass celebrating Easter in the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Cathedral of the Dormition of Our Lady in Al Zeitoun, Damascus, Syria, on 9 April 2023 (SANA)

Christians that follow the Western calendar celebrated Easter this Sunday by holding prayers and masses at churches in different Syrian governorates.

Syrians who follow the different Western denominations commemorated the occasion in Tartous, Homs, Aleppo, Daraa, Latakia, and Damascus.

Patriarch Youssef Al-Absi presided over a religious mass in the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Cathedral of the Dormition of Our Lady in the Al Zeitoun neighborhood of Damascus.

Al-Absi mentioned in his speech the supreme values of Easter that emphasize joy, service, and charity and manifest themselves in justice, peace, and forgiveness.

The Patriarch also discussed the effects of the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria killing and displacing thousands of people in the region.

He considered this event a marker of unification between people of all segments, religions, and countries. Since the event led to prominent efforts of solidarity between all kinds of communities in the affected areas.

Furthermore, the religious figure extended his appreciation and gratitude to all those who offered aid to the Syrian people. Al-Absi said, “We pray for the victims of the earthquake and for our Christian and Muslim brothers and we ask God to accept their fasting and spread joy on Eid.”

The Christian faith faced a complete genocide attempt in Syria after the rise and expansion of US-backed terrorism in Syria, especially after ISIS took precedence over other armed currents in the country.

The Syrian Arab Forces alongside their allies were able to complete a successful battle against terrorist forces in the region which ensured the safety and continuity of minority groups in Syria and the Levant region as a whole.