Damascus countryside, SANA- Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East John X and Head of the Department of External Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Anthony , inaugurated on Sunday the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, after its restoration, in Zabadani , in Damascus countryside.
Patriarch John X said, in a speech, that we reopened this church in Zabadani after its restoration, thanks to the Russian Church and the efforts exerted by the people of this city, Muslims and Christians.
The Patriarch added that despite all the devastation that Zabadani was subjected to, its people insisted on rebuilding the Church of Dormition of Virgin Mary in rejection of terrorism.
Patriarch John X thanked the Russian Orthodox Church, and the Russian people, government and leadership.
For his part, Metropolitan Anthony stressed the importance of the participation of the Russian Church in reopening these churches, that were destroyed by terrorism, as an expression of the common desire of the Russian and Syrian churches to boost relations of friendship and cooperation.
He hoped that the restoration of this church would be the beginning of the reconstruction of the entire city that was subjected to terrorism.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)