LEBANON: EASTER FOR CATHOLICS AND ARMENIANS, AGAINST THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE COUNTRY
AsiaNews.it
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March 25 2008
Italy
Maronite patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir and Armenian catholicos Aram
I promote Christian witness to save the country from conflict and
self-destruction.
Beirut (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The Catholics of Lebanon have celebrated
the resurrection of Jesus by praying for the unity and redemption of
the country, while tension grows and the political stalemate worsens.
Lebanon has had no president since November, and the parliament –
following boycotts and attacks – is unable to meet to elect the new
head of state.
Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir, the Maronite patriarch, celebrated the
solemn Easter Mass in the courtyard of the patriarchal see of Bkerke.
"This feast day", he said, "does not lend itself to joy and gladness
if we look at it in an ordinary, human way". The cardinal once again
highlighted the country’s distressing problems: divisions, splintering,
conflicts, bickering among the politicians. "The value of this feast",
he added, "does not lie in human appearances, but in the encounter
with God and the commitment to live according to his will".
Aram I, catholicos of the Armenian Orthodox Church, celebrating the
liturgy in the cathedral of Antelias, emphasised that the resurrection
of Christ is "the victory of life over death". In the country, he said,
there are signs of "death", of "self-destruction", generated by the
existing climate of distrust. "Unfortunately, we see that the culture
of death and of fear is weighing upon our daily lives". "We reject
this kind of culture", he added, "and Lebanon will remain a country
of Islamic-Christian coexistence. We want to reinforce this peaceful
coexistence, adhering to our common values and respecting them".
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
