Funeral of Assyrian Orthodox Patriarch to Be Held in Damascus on March 30 - Times of India

The funeral of His Holiness Moran Mar Ignatius Zakka I, the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, will be held at St Peter's Cathedral in Damascus on March 30.

Baselios Thomas I Catholicos of Jacobite Church under the patriarch will be the chief celebrant, said Fr Varghese Kallapara, spokesperson for the Jacobite Church.

The headquarters of Syrian Orthodox Church in Lebanon has informed that the Syrian government has agreed to make all arrangements for the burial of the patriarch.

The mortal remains of Mar Ignatius will be taken to Lebanon on March 24, and then to the Damascus Patriarchal Cathedral on March 29. The Catholicos and a group of bishops from India and abroad will leave for Germany to take part in the funeral rituals.

The Antiochian Synod held in Germany under the presidentship of Arch Bishop George Saleeba, Synod secretary and Jacobite Synod held in Kothamangalam Cheriapally under the chairmanship of H B Catholicos Thomas I took decisions for conducting the funeral ceremony in Germany, Lebanon and Damascus (Syria).

A group of church leaders and priests will participate in the funeral in Damascus on March 30.

Mar Ignatius passed away at a German hospital on Friday after suffering a heart attack. He was 81 and was the 122nd patriarch of one of the oldest churches in the world with a following of some four million across the globe.

The mortal remains of Mar Ignatius will be taken to Lebanon on March 24, and then to the Damascus Patriarchal Cathedral on March 29. The Catholicos and a group of bishops from India and abroad will leave for Germany to participate in the funeral rituals.

The Antiochian Synod held in Germany under the presidentship of Arch Bishop George Saleeba, Synod Secretary and Jacobite Synod held in Kothamangalam Cheriapally under the chairmanship of H B Catholicos Thomas I took decisions from the future programmes for conducting the funeral ceremony in Germany, Lebanon and in Damascus, Syria.

A group of church leaders and priests will be participating in the funeral in Damascus on March 30. "After the burial, Universal Syrian Synod will be held under Baselios Catholicos Thomas, and make decisions for leading of church affairs according to Patriarchal Malayalee secretary Bishop Mathews Mar Thomothios," Fr. Varghese Kallapara said.

Mar Ignatius who suffered a cardiac arrest, passed away at German hospital on Friday. He was 81 years old and was the 122nd patriarch of one of the oldest churches in the world, with a following of some four million across the globe.


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Funeral of Assyrian Orthodox Patriarch to Be Held in Damascus on March 30