His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II consecrates of the Church of St. Mary Mother of God, at Atchaneh, Lebanon
Shared from the Facebook page of His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II.
On March 24, 2025, on the occasion of the Feast of the Suboro (Annunciation), His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, consecrated of the Church of St. Mary Mother of God, at Atchaneh, Lebanon.
His Holiness was assisted by their Eminences Archbishops: Catholicos-elect His Eminence Mor Gregorios Joseph, Mor Aphrem Matthews, Assistant Metropolitan of the Perumbavoor Region of the Angamali Diocese, Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh, Archbishop of Beirut, Mor Antheemos Mathews, Assistant Metropolitan of the Muvattupuzha Region of the Angamali Diocese, and Mor Cyril Babi, Archbishop, Patriarchal Vicar and Director of the Patriarchal Benevolent Institutions in Atchaneh, as well as the rest of their Eminences Archbishops members of the Universal Holy Synod of our Church.
The rite was attended by His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Patriarch of the Syriac Catholic Church of Antioch, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis, Catholicos of the Malankara Catholic Church; His Beatitude Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian, President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Catholic Family, and His Grace Bishop Dr. Joseph Mar Barnabas of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church.
The consecration was also graced by the presence of the esteemed family of the late George and Mirna Mansour, including their son, Mr. John, and their daughters, Mrs. Miriam and Mrs. Elena.
His Holiness and the Archbishops proceeded with the prayers of the consecration and anointed the altar and side walls with the Holy Myron.
In his sermon, His Holiness emphasized the event’s theological significance, celebrating the transformation of the church into a sacred space dedicated to God’s presence. He highlighted the resilience of the Church through trials, its foundation of unwavering faith, and its role as a spiritual refuge for believers.
His Holiness expressed deep gratitude to the late George Hanna Mansour and his wife, Mirna, for their contributions to the Church’s construction, honoring their enduring legacy. He presented a commemorative gift to their family and the icon of the Mother of God to Mr. William Mansour, recognizing his efforts in overseeing the project.
His Holiness concluded by remembering the legacy of the late Archbishop Mor Philoxenus Matta Chamoun who served the benevolent institutions in Atchaneh for long years. A book was authored about him which includes his biography and works.
Mr. William, in turn, delivered a speech detailing the journey of the Church’s construction and the collective efforts that brought it to fruition.
After the consecration, His Holiness unveiled the memorial plaque of the occasion.
This news was published on the Facebook page of His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II.