Celebrations of the Installation of Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II

Announcement by Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern United States – 7/5/14

Celebrations of the Installation of Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. St. Peter & Paul Cathedral , Maarat Saydnaya, Syria, May 29, 2014. St. Aphrem Church, Ashrafieh, Lebanon, June 1, 2014.

General Information

•All participants who wish to attend the Installation in Syria must arrive in Lebanon prior to 12:00 PM (noon) Wednesday May 28.

•The following nationals need a visa to enter Lebanon through Lebanese embassies in their respective countries: Indians, Iraqis arriving by land, Guatemalans, Egyptians.

•The following nationals can obtain a Lebanese visa upon entrance to Lebanon at the airport or by land: Americans and Canadians, European Union citizens, Australians, Turks, Iraqis arriving via airport.

•Indian nationals who wish to attend the celebrations in Syria need to obtain a multi-entry visa to be able to re-enter Lebanon by land.

•All nationals, apart from Lebanese and Iraqis, require a visa to enter Syria; i.e., Americans, Canadians, Australians, European Union citizens require a visa to enter Syria. (If you have no embassy in your country, please contact us for your visa).

•The following nationals can obtain a Syrian visa through Syrian embassies in their respective countries: Indians (both coming from India directly or residing in the Arab Emirates) & Egyptians.

General Information

•On Wednesday May 28 at noon, all delegations will move from their respective hotels in Lebanon towards the Syrian border in official convoys. All delegations will meet at the border and will enter the Syrian territories together towards St. Aphrem’s Monastery in Maarat Sydnaya.

•The Installation will take place at the Cathedral of St. Peter & St. Paul at St. Aphrem’s Monastery in Maarat Saydnaya, Syria, on Thursday May 29 at 10 AM.

•Due to space constraints, entering the Cathedral will be by personal tickets. Tickets will be divided amongst all the participating archdiocese in equal number.

•The Patriarchate will setup halls with large screens to enable those who cannot enter the Cathedral to participant in the event.

•Due to space constraints, participation to the formal lunch will be by personal tickets, which will also be divided amongst the participating archdiocese in equal number. All other participants will be provided with food and drink in designated areas.

•On Friday May 30, 11 AM, all delegations will move towards the Syrian-Lebanese border.
•On Sunday June 1, 10:30 AM, His Holiness will celebrate the first official Qurbono Liturgy at St. Aphrem’s Church in Ashrafieh, Beirut.

•Due to space constraints, entering the Church will be by personal tickets. Tickets will be divided amongst all the participating archdiocese in equal number.

•Due to space constraints, participation to the formal lunch will be by personal tickets (350 maximum capacity), which will also be divided amongst the participating archdiocese in equal number.

•The Patriarchate will underwrite the cost of travel by land, hotel accommodations, and food (in Lebanon and Syria) only for the following: His Beatitude the Maphrian (and his personal assistants) and Their Eminences the Archbishops. All other clergy and lay people are responsible for such costs. The office at the Patriarchate will offer all help in arranging accommodations.

Download Forms in English
Download Forms in Arabic

Please contact the Archdiocese if you have plans to attend.

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