On June 21-22, 2018 His Eminence Mor Dionysius John Kawak attended the historical event of the consecration of Mor Severus Church and the inauguration of the new Patriarchal Residence in Atchaneh, Lebanon, which was held during the celebration of the 1500 Jubilee of the Exile of Patriarch Mor Severus the Great to Egypt.
On Thursday June 21, 2018, their Holinesses, Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East: Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark Episcopate, Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia, consecrated together Mor Severus Church in the new Patriarchal Residence in Atchaneh – Lebanon.
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark Episcopate brought with him from Egypt for this special occasion parts from the relics of Mor Severus the Great to be placed in a special shrine on the Church.
On Friday, June 22, 2018, and in the presence of His Excellency General Michel Aoun, President of the Lebanese Republic, on the occasion of the inauguration of the new Patriarchal Residence in Atchaneh, their Holinesses Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, concelebrated the Holy Qurobo at St. Mary Church in Atchaneh. Their Beatitudes the Patriarchs and heads of the churches in the Middle East attended with many Archbishops from the Holy Syriac Church.
After the Holy Qurobo (Liturgy), His Excellency the President, as well as the patriarchs and officials, moved to the new patriarchal residence, where His Excellency unveiled the inaugural plaque as well as the memorial of Sayfo. Then, he and the heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches cut the ribbon inaugurating the residence. He also gave a speech in which he expressed his joy to be present at such an important event in the Syriac Orthodox Church. He also spoke about the Christian presence in the Middle East, especially in Lebanon as well as the two abducted Archbishops Mor Gregorius Youhanna Ibrahim and Boulos Yaziji. He mentioned the Syriac Genocide Sayfo and its consequences on the number of believers in the Syriac Orthodox Church, along with the current difficulties that Christians are facing throughout the cradle of Christianity in their homeland.
