Ishtartv.com - syriacpress.com

 13/07/2025

BALAMAND, Lebanon — In a series of high-profile meetings held Saturday at the Patriarchal See in Balamand, Mar John X, Patriarch of Antioch for the Greek (Rûm) Orthodox Church, welcomed key political and diplomatic figures to discuss regional developments and extend interfaith solidarity.

Among the visitors was Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Walid Bukhari, who met with the patriarch to offer condolences following the recent deadly attack on the Greek (Rûm) Orthodox Church of Mar Elias in Daramsuq (Damascus). Describing the incident as a “massacre,” Bukhari condemned the violence and expressed the Kingdom’s solidarity with the victims and the Christian community as a whole.

“This tragedy targets not only the Christian community but the very fabric of coexistence among Syria’s diverse peoples,” Bukhari said, reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s support for unity across sectarian lines.

Mor John X responded with gratitude, thanking Ambassador Bukhari for his sincere condolences and highlighting the longstanding relationship between the Antiochian (Rûm) Orthodox Church and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He praised King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for promoting a vision of tolerance and openness throughout the region.

Later that day, the Patriarch also hosted Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations. Their discussion centered on religious coexistence and the role of spiritual leadership in mitigating sectarian tensions in the Middle East. 

Earlier in the day, His Beatitude received Ioannis Loverdos, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece. The visit underscored growing international concern over rising violence against Christian communities in the region and the broader humanitarian and political crisis unfolding in Syria.

The visits to Balamand reflect the increasingly visible role the Orthodox Church is playing in navigating Lebanon and Syria’s complex social and political landscapes, advocating for pluralism, dialogue, and peace amid growing instability.