First Celebration of the Syriac Orthodox Holy Liturgy in Roanoke, Virginia
December 22nd, 2007, became a historic day in Roanoke, VA. His Eminence, Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim celebrated the first Holy Liturgy in the tradition of the Suriac Orthodox Church of Antioch in Roanoke, Virginia, assisted by V. Rev.Fr. John Kawak, Rev. Fr. Eli Shabo and Deacon Afram Iskandar.
The trip from Teaneck N.J. to Roanoke VA took over 7 hours. The group left on Friday 21st at 9:00a.m.and reached their destination at almost 5 o’Clock in the evening, where they were welcomed by many of the Virginian families who were waiting for them. Happiness was on every face, with a look of disbelief. People kept thanking His Eminence for the visit all the time. A dinner was prepared by the Karkenny family for the occasion. Mor Aphrem Karim talked about the future plans and listened to many ideas and suggestions for establishing a church there.
His Eminence felt the thirst of our people to attend a Syriac Liturgy, with its special hymns and prayers. The next day at 9:30 a.m., at St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church of Roanoke, our Archbishop, the priests, the deacon and two altar boys performed the Morning Prayers with few of the faithful, who came early so they didn’t miss any prayers. At 10:30 a.m., our Suryoyo people started to fill the church, almost 70 people attended {many didn’t know about the visit, because the Archdiocese didn’t have all the addresses}.His Eminence celebrated the Christmas Mass, with the service of the Veneration of the Holy Cross. The congregation enjoyed chanting with the choir, especially the Christmas “Halail and Zamar”.
His Eminence delivered a moving speech, and made an association between the meaning of the First Birthday of the Lord, and the First Birth of our Syriac Orthodox Church there. His Eminence thanked Rev. Fr. Claude (the priest of St. Elias Church) for taking good care of our people there. After the long- awaited Syriac Communion, everybody was welcomed to a luncheon in the hall of the Church, prepared by ladies from all the families there.
His Eminence asked the congregation to choose one person from each family to form the first board of trustees, which will be the seed for the future church [God willing]. After listening to our people’s requests and dreams, and after distributing some gifts of Syriac Calendars, Aboon dbashmayo canvas and crosses on the people present, His Eminence blessed them, and he and his company bid them farewell and thanked God for that blessed and successful day.
