Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius IV Hazim Laid to Rest in Patriarchs Burial Chambers in Mariamite Cathedral

H B Hazim’s body at the Mariamite Cathedral
in Damascus-photo: SANA

Damascus: The body of Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Ignatius IV Hazim was laid to rest on Monday December 10, 2012 in the patriarchs' burial chambers underneath the Mariamite Cathedral in Damascus.

The interment ceremonies were presided upon by Archbishop Saba Esper, Archbishop of Houran and Jabal a-Arab, assisted by the Archbishops of the Holy See of Antioch, with psalms performed by the choir of St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology at the University of Balamand and the choir of St. John of Damascus.

Archbishop of Mount of Lebanon, Archbishop George Khedr, delivered the eulogy of the late Patriarch, extolling his religious and worldly standings and his deep knowledge and services to Christianity and science.

Archbishop Khedr affirmed that Syria is the heart of the Christian world and that Antioch was the first stage on which Christianity emerged, spreading across the entire world.

The internment ceremony was attended by State Minister for Presidential Affairs Mansour Azzam representing President Bashar al-Assad, offering condolences on behalf of the President.

The ceremony was also attended by Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Gregorios III Lahham, in addition to heads of Christian denominations, Speaker of the People's Assembly Mohammad Jihad al-Lahham, and Minister of Information Omran al-Zoubi representing the Prime Minister, in addition to other ministers, representatives of political parties, representatives of Iraqi, Lebanese and Palestinian figures and organizations, and accredited diplomats in Damascus.

Before the interment, a requiem was held for Patriarch Ignatius IV Hazim at the Mariamite Cathedral, presided upon by chief priests and bishops of the Holy See of Antioch and accompanied by the two aforementioned choirs.

Representatives of churches and Islamic clergymen in Syria and citizens attended the requiem.

Minister of Religious Endowments, Grand Mufti of the Republic, Scholars Offer Condolences over Patriarch Hazim's Death

Hazim’s body at Beirut’s Saint Nicholas Cathedral.
(The Daily Star/Mohammad Azakir)

Minister of Religious Endowments (Awqaf), Dr. Mohammad Abdul-Sattar al-Sayyed, and Grand Mufti of the Republic, Dr. Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, and a number of scholars on Monday offered condolences over death of Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Ignatius IV Hazim at the Mariamite Cathedral in Damascus.

Earlier this afternoon, the body the late Patriarch was laid to rest in the patriarchs' burial chambers underneath the Mariamite Cathedral in Damascus.

Source: Syrian TV

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