Antioch patriarch says no dialog with new Syrian authorities

Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East is concerned about the lack of dialog between the new Syrian authorities and the country’s Christian society. According to the patriarch, despite statements in the media about the upcoming all-Syrian conference, there have been no official contacts with Christian communities on the part of the authorities so far. He noted that the Church is committed to dialog for the sake of peace and stability in the region. The press service of the Patriarchate of Antioch reports that.

“We have extended our hand to jointly build a new Syria, but we are still waiting for a reciprocal step. We remain faithful to our faith and history through centuries of trial and change. Our voice is the voice of hope and love for our native land,” — Patriarch John said.

Recall, earlier we reported that hundreds of Syrian Christians protested in Damascus because of the actions of radical Islamists, who significantly increased pressure on Christian communities in the country after the overthrow of the regime of Bashar al-Assad. The occasion for the protests was the burning of a Christmas tree in the town of Suqailabiya. Christians are demanding equal treatment and the enforcement of laws against them.