In issuing this call, Patriarch John X has indirectly rejected the idea of dhimmitude, the elements of Islamic law that institutionalize the subjugation of Christians as inferiors in the Islamic state.
“ASIA/SYRIA – Patriarch Yohanna X and the new Syria: ‘We Christians are not “guests” in this land,’” Agenzia Fides, December 16, 2024:
Damascus (Agenzia Fides) – “We are here in Damascus, on the street of Al-Marymiya, next to the Umayyad Mosque, and we tell the world that we, as Christians, come from the land of the Levant and the cedars of Lebanon… from the spaces of Homs and the authentic history of Aleppo, from the waterwheels of Hama and the roar of the springs of Idlib, from the sea of Latakia and the Euphrates of Deir ez-Zor. We are not guests in this land, and we are not children of today or yesterday. We come from Antioch of the Apostles, from this land that has marked the universe with the name of Jesus Christ,” said Yohanna X Yazigi, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, about the defining characteristics of the indigenous Christian communities of Syria.
His speech delivered in Damascus after the 15 December Sunday mass, is a sort of “manifesto” of the feelings and expectations of many Syrian Christians regarding the future in post-Assad Syria.To the “Muslim brothers”, the Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch reminds them that they share “the same destiny” in a “common history with all its ups and downs”.
Yohanna X hopes that Syria will remain a united country and then describes in detail what the expectations seem to be regarding the political and institutional form of the “new” Syria. “The Syria we want,” says the Patriarch, is, among other things, “a civil state in which everyone has the same rights and duties, including the maintenance of personal status laws”. A state based on the principle of “citizenship”, with a national fabric that rejects “the logic of majority and minority”. The Patriarch cites St. John Damascene, the Doctor of the Church, as a model who had served as an official in the Umayyad court….
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Syria’s version of the “I have a dream” speech
Patrick White says
Perhaps if Israel annexes some of it, Christians will finally be free in Syria. In similar vein, if by the end of 2025, all self-governing Muslims are kicked out of the Holy Land, which is what I have been praying for since I was a child, there will finally be peace and progress and prosperity for all. But it won’t be until then. Islam is a cancer, wherever it has rein.
somehistory says
His speech will be rejected by the mozlum terrorists in control of things.
and I personally do not consider mozlums “brothers” except of each other and non- who show they are in agreement with the evils being done.
Jesus separated His children from the ‘sons of satan the devil.’
And so did the Apostle John write of a separation as to who is the “father” of those ones “like Cain who murdered his brother.”
This man has just put an extra target on his back.
rick says
How about women? Are they included in any Muslim country? Answer: No.
Billy says
There is NO EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW in Islam. Moreover, Islam is a deceitful, totalitarian, terrorist, pedophilic Criminal Gang Enterprise against all Non-Muslims by using discrimination, deception, treachery, hatred, rape, murder, and violence to gain ultimate power and control as taught in Islamic Law and in Islam’s Quran. Furthermore, Islam’s supremacist-genocidal Ideology, its intolerant Muslims, its propaganda Schools, its foreign terrorist Organizations, and its ‘Convert-or-Die’ Mosques fund, teach, inspire, and promote ‘Threats and Incitement of Violence’ as well as never-ending terrorism, loathing, and segregation against women, children, and all Non-Muslims(eg. Quran 2:191-3; 4:65, 89, 100; 5:14,82; 8:65; 9:5,14-15,29,111; 33:26; 47:4; 65:4; 98:6-7 and more).
DAVID GRISEZ says
I know a Christian Woman who goes to my church that was born and grew up in Syria and immigrated to the United States. There are definitely Christians in the country of Syria. The big problem is that since Bashar Assad fled Syria, who will take over the government rule of Syria? Sadly it looks the person who is going to take over wants to implement strict Sharia Law and turn Syria into a strict Islamic country. This will go badly for Christians and other non-muslim religions.
Gurek says
He must be an idiot who is unaware of islamic teachings. Muslims will never listen to him. And why should they? Their holy crap called koran commands them to treat others worse than dirt. Islam is the worst thing that happened to humanity. Yes I am firmly behind my words. No other ideology or religion can reach islam in its evil.
Joe1 says
At the time of John of Damascus, Muhammad was no longer Christ but a legend similar to Paul Bunyan. The Quran had not been polluted with a warlord attitude and the Hadith was not wrote. So they let a Christian into a high office, while John of Damascus ridiculed their religion. That wouldn’t happen today.