Visit to Our Parishes in Iskenderun District on the First Annual Commemoration of the Earthquake

Antioch, February 6, 2024

 

His Grace Bishop Arsanios Dahdal, Bishop of Ierapolis and Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop, led the Divine Liturgy on the ruins of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Antioch. Assisting him were the Rt.Rev. Archimandrite Paulus Ordoluoglu, the Patriarchal Vicar, and Fathers Trifon Yumurta, Cebrail Kuşoğlu, Dimitri Dogum, Jean Delüler, Musa Papaz, Damian Yakouboglu, and Yuhanna Babbasoglu.

In his sermon, His Grace conveyed the love, prayers, and condolences of His Beatitude Patriarch John X to the faithful. He emphasized His Beatitude's words that we are deeply rooted in our land. With the support of officials, benefactors, and philanthropists, we will rebuild our churches and homes. As children of hope and resurrection, we look to God, Who rises from the dead, illuminating the darkness of the graves with the light of Resurrection.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a Trisagion prayer was offered for the souls of all those who perished in the earthquake. His Grace, accompanied by the clergy and the faithful, proceeded to the cemetery to offer another Trisagion prayer for the repose of the departed souls.

His visit also included a significant stop at the historic Church of the Apostle Peter, where His Grace participated in its reopening ceremony after extensive renovation, joined by officials.

Following this, His Grace departed from Antioch and headed towards Arsuz.