28th Anniversary of the Establishment of Mor Jacob Baradeus Order

Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate – 27/3/18

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II attended an event organized by the nuns of Mor Jacob Baradeus Monastery on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of their sisterhood.

The event took place at Mor Jacob Baradeus Monastery in Atchaneh, Bekfaya – Lebanon, and was attended by their Eminences Mor Philoxenus Matta Chamoun, and Mor Chrysostomos Mikhael Chamoun, Patriarchal Vicar and Director of the Patriarchal Benevolent Institutions in Atchaneh, and Very Rev. Raban Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director, as well as the sisters of Mor Jacob’s order, and a crowd of faithful.

Sister Theodora gave a speech in which she spoke about the feast of the Annunciation, listing the characters of the Virgin Mary Mother of God. Sister Theodora, then, spoke about the order of Mor Jacob Baradeus and its establishment in the year 1990, as well as the phases that the sisterhood has undergone in the past 28 years. At the end of her speech, she thanked His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, on behalf of all the sisters in the order, for his overwhelming love and spiritual guidance.

Then, a meditation about the Annunciation from Mor Jacob of Serugh was presented by sisters Rafqa and Philoxena. A small play for the occasion followed and was presented by the children who attend the Holy Qurobo in Atchaneh. The play portrayed the story of annunciation and how children should always follow the commands of God and their parents.

In his speech, His Holiness expressed his tremendous joy to attend this very nice program, and to see the purity of children in acting and expressing what’s in their pure hearts; he said that “We felt that we are in heaven; this is the way to the kingdom of God: humility and love. Indeed, we will not enter the kingdom of God if we do not return and become like children.” He added that “to be like God, we need to see things His way not in worldly ways as do the non-believers.”

His Holiness then spoke about the humility and meekness of the Virgin Mary who gives us a vivid example in how we can live our lives and become like children. He also emphasized the fact that the Virgin Mary devoted her life to God on the day of Annunciation; and so do the nuns of Mor Jacob’s order. He prayed for the continuous progress of the sisterhood for the glory of God and the growth of His Holy Church.

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