Patriarch John leads thanksgiving prayer in honor of newly glorified saints

Damascus, November 7, 2023

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His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East led a thanksgiving prayer on the occasion of the glorification of the two hieromartyrs, Frs. Nicholas and Habib Khasha, at the Church of the Holy Cross in Al-Qassaa, Damascus on Saturday, November 4, reports the Patriarchate of Antioch.

The saints, a father and son pair, martyred in 1916 and 1948 respectively, were canonized by the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Antioch on October 19.

On Saturday, the Antiochian Patriarch led a procession across the church courtyard with the icon of the new saints. During the service of thanksgiving, the text of the Holy Synod’s declaration of glorification of the two hieromartyrs was read out.

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Following the service, His Beatitude gave homily on the importance of the Church of Antioch and the lives of the new saints.

“Antioch is the mother Church that introduced the word ‘Christians’ to the world, since the disciples were first called Christians here; it gave this name to the whole world and made it dance with joy on people’s lips. Antioch is the Church that gave the whole world great men, male and female saints, who showed benevolence and virtue,” the Patriarch said.

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Regarding the lives of Sts. Nicholas and Habib Khasha, His Beatitude stressed two points:

  1. “That holiness is the path of every believer, and not “exclusively” for monks and nuns. Holiness is the path of every good human being, which is to forget what is behind, that is, darkness, murder, and vice, and to extend forward, to the Master and to virtue.

  2. About the importance of family. St. Nicholas and St. Habib, were both born into a family and raised one, so let us preserve our families and our children. His Beatitude pointed out that the words father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother, and sister are sacred words that we must preserve. We must raise our children according to the Holy Bible.”

Following the prayer service, the faithful participated in another procession with the icon of the hieromartyrs. Booklets containing their lives and copies of their icon were distributed to them as well.

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11/7/2023

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