Bishop Giuseppe Nazzaro

On the fifteenth of January in the year 2011, after twenty months of diligent work as planned in the program, His Eminence Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, head of the Eastern Catholic Churches, began the program of celebrating the liturgical inauguration of the Cathedral of Child Jesus located on Alfourat Street near the University of Aleppo at ten-thirty in the morning, with the consecration of the altar that housed the relics of the blessed Emmanuel Royer and his companions from the French Franciscan monks martyred in Damascus in 1860.

The key to the church was handed over to His Eminence the Cardinal by the church’s designer, architect Tunsia Pierroli, who explained the idea that inspired her to design this work in Aleppo. She wanted to express through stone and cement the meeting of the Virgin Mary with her cousin Elizabeth in Ein Karem, both carrying in their blessed wombs two living alters, the first a son in the first woman, and the greatest among the children of women in the second.

His Eminence thanked the designer architect congratulating her on the beautiful inspiration she provided for this occasion, then opened the church door inviting the people to enter the new house of God with a festive procession.

Upon reaching the altar, the message of Pope Benedict XVI, delivered to His Eminence the Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, head of the Eastern Catholic Churches, was read by His Eminence T. Bertone, in which he thanked the Catholic community in Syria for their dedication to God, the Church, the Bishop of Rome and his administration as the heir of Saint Peter. His Holiness, the Supreme Pontiff, expressed his gratitude with the Apostolic Vicar, Bishop Giuseppe Nazzaro, of the Franciscan friars and with the faithful of the Latin community in Syria who dedicated their efforts to offer a worthy house to the Lord, where His name is invoked, and His mercy sought. His Holiness wished for the Catholic community in Syria to offer a valuable contribution to the country’s moral and social development with a true ecumenical spirit among religions.

After reading the text of the Holy Father’s message, the water sprinkled by the celebrant on the sides of the church and the believers was blessed, while the choir chanted the hymn “I saw living water flowing from the heart of Christ”. Then the celebrant returned to the alter to begin the hymn “Glory to God in the Highest,” and His Eminence the Cardinal delivered a sermon in which he emphasized two messages from the recent Synod for the Middle East Council of Churches, which are communication (sharing) and witness. He stated that they are inseparable, especially for secular individuals invited to live in the family, and work in the educational and social field. The role of the family in the pastoral community is essential for passing on faith to the younger generations and for receiving vocations for marriage – the sacrament, holy, priestly, spiritual, and apostolic life. Then His Eminence spoke about the role of the bishop and the unity of Christians, stating that the cathedral church derives its name from a word that signifies the Episcopal see “Cattedra episcopale,”and that the believers should always remain united with the bishop, who is the priest, teacher, and guide according to his mission from the good shepherd. We are happy when we see the bishop in communion with the sole successor of Peter, the Pope of Rome, and thus with all the brother bishops of the one Church, to truly be with the Lord, our faith clearly expresses “where Peter and the bishop are, the Church is”.

After His Eminence the Cardinal’s speech, the consecration ritual of the church began with the chanting of the Saints and the placement of the martyrs’ relics that was carried out on the evening of December 27, 2010, from the Blessed Martyrs’ Box of Emmanuel Royer and his companions located at the Franciscan Fathers College in Bab-Touma neighbourhood in Damascus. These are the remains of the Franciscan friars’ martyrs and the three brothers from the Masabki family who were martyred in Damascus in 1820. These remains were placed in a wooden structure under the alter in the eyesight of the believers to honour them and seek their intercession.

The Church’s consecration prayer was followed by the anointing with chrism with holy oil by His Eminence Cardinal Sandri, the Apostolic Vicar, Bishop Giuseppe Nazzaro, and the Papal Ambassador Bishop Mario Redari, as they approached from the left and right of the cathedral to anoint the crosses located on the six corners of the church. The ceremony continued with the incensing of the altar and the church. Then, the altar was prepared with the lighting of candles, and the chanting of the choir with joy due to the inauguration, followed by the offertory and the Holy Eucharist prayer until after-communion prayer and before the final blessing. The Holy Eucharist was incensed as the Apostolic Vicar brought it to the “Pange Lingua” room, with hymns.

Before giving the final blessing at the end of the celebration, the Apostolic Vicar thanked God Almighty first, through Whose assistance they were able to accomplish this work, the Holy Father who was present with His blessing and the encouraging message he sent, His Eminence Cardinal Leonardo Sandri who honoured them with his presence and acceptance to inaugurate the Cathedral of the Child Jesus, and the Italian and Syrian benefactors who were not named, preferring to have their names written from now in the Book of Life. He concluded, saying: “Therefore, we pray to God to listen to their requests, and bless their works and families always.” The Holy Ritual ended with the Papal Blessing given by His Eminence Cardinal Leonardo Sandri.

The church was left in a celebratory manner amidst applause, and the faithful were greeted with an image of the child Jesus on the throne with the inscription on the back in Arabic and French, “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!” (Psalm 84:1) and “I am thankful for your presence on my inauguration day” Jesus, the child.

We were honoured by the presence of a number of Catholic and Orthodox bishops, representatives of some churches, the Ambassador of Italy, a representative from the parliament, and some honorary consuls in Aleppo. Also present were local and Italian benefactors, and many friends and believers. To all of these, we extend our heartfelt thanks and the blessing of the Son of God, in whose name the church is consecrated.

His Eminence Cardinal Leonardo Sandri participated in the inauguration of the church along with the Apostolic Vicar Bishop Giuseppe Nazzaro, His Excellency Bishop Mario Zenari, the Pope’s Ambassador in Syria, His Excellency Bishop Armando Bortolaso, the former Apostolic Vicar of the Latin Church in Syria, Monsignor Maurizio Malvestiti, Assistant Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches, and Monsignor Matui Ambonsa from Samoa, the Secretary of the Papal Embassy in Damascus, and representatives and delegates from Aleppo and Damascus, as well as priests from various communities, and the Franciscan Fathers and the Salesian Fathers in Damascus and Aleppo. The celebration was led by Father Hanna Jallouf, to whom I give special thanks. He was accompanied by deacons from the village of Al-Faniah to help in the service of the altar. Special thanks were also given to Mother Guad Waloup for handling the hymns with a group of young women from the “Friends of Children” Association, and to Mrs. Ephdokia Mystrieh for assisting Mother Guad Waloup in playing the organ.