After suffering a stroke yesterday, Greek Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius IV Hazim of Antioch passed away in a Beirut hospital this morning.
Deputy Parliament Speaker Farid Makari commented, “The Orthodox community has lost a historic, great man who led his people with great wisdom in a difficult phase of the region’s history.”
With the passing of this Patriarch, says former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the “Lebanese . . . have lost a great, national and spiritual pillar as they look forward for the Greek Orthodox Church to remain a source of giving and love and which can remain loyal to its heritage in the Arab world.”
Fortunately, Makari added, “We assure him that his community will be fine . . . and its role will remain one that is primarily aimed at building a new, democratic Syria and in strengthening stability in Lebanon and nation-building,” he added.
See here for a brief history of his life.
December 6th, 2012 | 4:29 am
May Patriarch Ignasius IV rest in the light our Holy One and may his successor bring UNITY and PEACE and UNDERSTANDING amongst his very complicated secular and religious social factions that make up that part of the world that is the birith place of Judeo-Chistianity, and the historical roots of the Orthodox Catholic Church of America.
Your Brother and Servant in Christ Jesus
Michael+