Assyrian
Church Historical Meeting
5 July 2006
A historical meeting between His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV,
Catholicos-Patriarch of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian
Church of the East (ACOE) and the Patriarch of the Maronite
Church, His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir
took place on July 3, 2006 in Chicago. H.H. Mar Dinkha IV
was invited as a guest of honor to meet with H.B. Cardinal
Sfeir who is visiting the United States for the U.S and Canadian
Maronite Church conference.
A historical meeting: His Holiness
Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Holy Apostolic
Catholic Assyrian Church of the East (ACOE) and the
Patriarch of the Maronite Church, His Beatitude Cardinal
Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir. |
His Beatitude Mar Gewargis Slewa, Metropolitan
of ACOE in Iraq, and Rev. Antwan Latchen of the ACOE in Chicago
accompanied H.H. Mar Dinkha and shared dinner with 72 Maronite
Church Metropolitans and Bishops along with a large crowd
of parishioners of both churches to celebrate H.B. Mar Nasrallah’s
20th ordainment anniversary.
The Maronites are of Assyrian ethnicity that separated from
their mother church, the ACOE in the 7th century. The Assyrian
Maronites are about 5 million in population and mostly live
in Lebanon and Latin American countries.
During Dr. Sargon Dadesho’s regular Tuesday night program
on AssyriaSat, Rev. Antwan Latchen called and reported of
this historical meeting. Rev. Latchen informed Assyrians
around the world how pleasant this meeting was and how thrilled
the Maronite church leaders and members present at the dinner
were to meet H.H. Mar Dinkha IV. As a sign of respect, they
asked H.H. to recite the opening prayer in the Assyrian language.
The Maronites continued to use their mother tongue, the Assyrian
language after separation from the ACOE but later on replaced
their ancient language with the Arabic language. Today’s
church leaders have decided to slowly incorporate their native
holy Assyrian language in their church services and teach
it to their parishioners.
His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch
of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of
the East (ACOE) and the Patriarch of the Maronite
Church, His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros
Sfeir. |
Rev. Latchen recounted the speech of the Maronite
Archbishop of New York and Canada, Francis Mansour who described
the opportunity of meeting H.H. Mar Dinkha as one of those
rare but valuable life events and he encouraged the audience
to meet H.H. in person and receive his blessing. Archbishop
Mansour praised H.H. Mar Dinkha for the great history of
the ACOE and all the atrocity this church has endured. The
ACOE is known by historians and scholars, also proclaimed
by the Pope John Paul II “The martyrs’ church”.
Because, no church has suffered as much martyrdom for Christianity
as the ACOE has. Another speaker admired H.H. Mar Dinkha
IV and called him, “the builder of bridges between
the Assyrians of different denominations”.
H.B. Mar Nasrallah also praised and thanked H.H. Patriarch
Mar Dinkha IV for leading the Assyrian nation through these
turbulence times. This brotherly meeting has warmed the heart
of this battered nation scattered around the world.
The Lebanese Broadcasting Channel (LBC) and the Maronite
Satellite network TV, NoorSat interviewed H.H. Patriarch
Mar Dinkha IV and his Beatitude Mar Gewargis Slewa.
H.B. Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir is also scheduled to meet with
President Bush while visiting the U.S.
Article courtesy of Assyria Times. |
