OCP Secretary “Making Fun of Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II & Syriac Orthodox Christians Unacceptable”

OCP Delegation holds the historic meeting with Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II at Puthenkurish in February 2015.
Prakash Varghese ( OCP Delegate of UAE, Gulf & Levant)

OCP News Service – 8/12/15

Read – SOME PERSECUTED MINORITIES ARE FUNNY:
http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2015/12/some-persecuted-minorities-are-funny

Read – OCP Delegation holds the historic meeting with Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II at Puthenkurish
http://ocpsociety.org/blog/news/?p=40082

Global: George Alexander -Secretary & Spokesperson of Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE  (Pan-Orthodox Christian Movement) said that  the comments made by Stephen Colbert (American comedian, writer, producer, actor, media critic, and television host) on His Holiness Ignatius Aphrem II – (Patriarch of Antioch on the Apostolic Throne of St Petered in Antioch and All East) and Syriac Christians during his TV show ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ is unacceptable at any cost. In the month of November 2015, Stephen Colbert made the below statements.

“Republican candidates want to admit Syrian Christians, but not Syrian Muslims, Colbert says, because they think Americans can “relate to average Syrian Christians.” After all, Syrian Christians are “basically Methodists.” For example, he continues, with the cutesy irony that has made him rich and famous, consider Syriac Orthodox Christians. They say something called the Ramsho prayer every evening—“Ramsho prayer,” incidentally, is how you say “Vespers” in Syriac—and read their Bibles in Aramaic. He continues with what he apparently thinks is a hilarious sendup of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch, His Holiness Ignatius Aphrem II. Flashing a picture of the patriarch in his liturgical robes, Colbert jokes that the vestments make Ignatius look like “Golden Snake Santa Pope,” a comic figure who would fit right in as King of Mardi Gras. Colbert’s piano-playing sidekick joins the audience in guffawing.” (http://www.firstthings.com/)

George said that many western people don’t have proper understating of Eastern Christendom, especially Orthodox Christianity. He also added that many Americans fail to understand the historic role of Syriac Orthodox Church and her Patriarchs in preserving the ancient faith of Christ and his Apostles, despite their persecution, sufferings and unending political turmoil. He urged Western friends to develop a clear picture of the life of Christians in the East. Secretary was talking at the gathering of the OCP Middle East & Gulf Delegates.

Source:
OCP News Service