Reception in Honor of Bishop Zoltan Balog & Hungary Delegation

On January 8, 2022, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II held a reception in honor of His Grace Bishop Zoltán Balog, Head of the Reformed Church in Hungary who is accompanied by a delegation from Hungary who is visiting Syria for a pilgrimage to the ancient Christian sites. The reception was held at the Patriarchate Headquarters in Bab Touma – Damascus.His Beatitude Patriarch Joseph Absi, Greek-Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Alexandria, and Jerusalem, and their Excellencies: Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Assistant Moussa Al-Khoury, Greek Orthodox General Patriarchal Vicar Bishop Mousa Alkhesy, Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Damascus Joseph Arnaouti, and Head of the National Evangelical Church in Damascus Rev. Boutros Zaour, attended the reception.Their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Anthimos Jack Yakoub, Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Education, Mor Cyril Babi, Patriarchal Vicar for the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Damascus, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, also attended the reception.His Holiness welcomed His Grace and the accompanying delegation to the biblical land of Syria and hoped that their visit will bring blessings to their lives and to the people of Hungary. He thanked them for their support to the Syrian people in their distress and assured that solidarity gives strength and hope. The delegation started their pilgrimage yesterday visiting different parts of Old Damascus including the holy sites where the conversion of St Paul happened as well as the Patriarchates and different church leaders. They continued their pilgrimage to Mor Aphrem Monastery in Maarat Saydnaya where they visited St Peter and St Paul Cathedral, the altar of the Sayfo Syriac Martyrs and the Grotto of the Lady of the Zunoro.