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Anonymous Seventeenth-Century Icon of the Crucifixion and Last Supper
From the Monastery of St Sergius, Maaloula, Syria
HAPPY AND HOLY EASTER
BEANNACHTAÍ NA CÁSCA ORAIBH GO LÉIR
FELICES PASCUAS DE RESURECCIÓN
JOYEUSES ET SAINTES FÊTES DE PÂQUES
The community of St Mary's University College include special prayers this Easter for peace in Syria and for the welfare of our Christian brothers and sisters in that region. The conflict there has now passed its fourth anniversary with little sign of abatement. Thousands have been killed, and millions displaced. The ancient Christian communities, particularly, have been devastated, and we call on governments to protect these minorities from persecution.
We do so in response to the call by the Holy See which, along with the Russian Federation and Lebanon, co-sponsored a joint statement entitled "Supporting the Human Rights of Christians and other Communities, Particularly in the Middle East", presented on 13th March 2015 during the 28th session of the Human Rights Council in the Palais des Nations, Geneva. This declaration has been accepted formally and signed by a wide number of States, which manifests a positive political will to support human rights and to move toward an elimination of these violations.
"I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me (…).
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father."
John 14, 6.9
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