For the Occasion of the Sunday of Consecration of the Church, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II celebrated the Holy Qurobo at St. Georges Patriarchal Cathedral in Bab Touma – Damascus.
He was assisted by His Eminence Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Patriarchal Vicar in the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Damascus.
In his sermon, His Holiness noted that our Lord Jesus did not care for what the people say about Him; rather, He cared to do the will of God the Father. His question, thus, had a specific goal and wisdom. People used to see Jesus only as a good teacher or a prophet; however, He wanted to make the Disciples know the level of conviction they have reached in their faith. St. Peter, therefore, declares that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. He implicitly declared Him God from God, the Incarnate Word, of the same essence as God, Who was begotten from the Father eternally, and born from Mary when the time had fully come.
His Holiness then spoke about the rock of faith on which the Holy Church is built. He assured that the Church is built on one Faith which is in Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God.
He also spoke about the Divine promise that the gates of hades shall not prevail against the Church no matter what.
Finally, His Holiness remarked that this is the first Sunday in the liturgical year, wishing that all of us would grow stronger in our faith, and in our relationship with God, leading lives of holiness.