Despite latest terror attacks, Qamishli churches continue reviving religious occasions
Qamishli – North-Press Agency
Reem Shamoun
Despite the latest bombing nearby “Virgin Mary Church” last week in the city of Qamishli in northeastern Syria, the Syriac Orthodox Church has commemorated Saint Mar Quryaqus and his mother Julieti in his church, which is located in the neighborhood of Arbawiyat last Saturday.
The ceremony was attended by the Bishop of the diocese of al-Jazira and the Euphrates regions, Mar Maurice Amsieh, priests and a large crowd of Syriac believers.
The sanctity of celebration
Mar Maurice Amsieh, Bishop of the diocese of al-Jazira and the Euphrates, spoke to North-Press about the sanctity of this celebration and its great religious significance to the Syriacs.
The Bishop referred to the torments the three-year-old child suffered from along with his mother by the pagan (Diocletian) and the Roman ruler (Dumitian), who began his “persecution against the Christians” in 304 when Julieti refused to deny Christ and Christianity, despite the torture she along with her son were subjected to, Julieti rathered to die for the sake of Christ than denying her religion.
The Bishop also pointed out that this way of adherence to Christianity by the child Quryaqus and his mother Julieti came at a time when Christians in general and Syriacs in particular, should have had the same values, especially after the attempted threats directed to them and to one of the biggest churches in the city of Qamishli by a VBIED attack during time of prayer, that planted fear in the hearts of the people, as he said.
He described the attack as “cowardly and terrorist”, saying that “terrorism has no religion and no God and its goal was to empty the region from Christians and spread fear and terror among them”.
The Bishop of the diocese of al-Jazira and the Euphrates Mar Maurice Amsieh concluded his interview with North-Press by asserting: “We will remain steadfast in our land and churches, as we ask God to protect the Syriac people and churches in the city of Qamishli,” sending a message to reassure the people abroad that they will not leave the church nor the region which he considered a blessed place, and that “the believers will continue their prayers in the churches”.
The Prayer of the Divine Liturgy was conducted on Sunday morning at Virgin Mary Church after the restoration and cleaning process carried out by the believers, the Mass was attended by about 700 believers.