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Christmas Message from His Eminence Mor Clemis to the Western Archdiocese of the USA

Our beloved in Christ, spiritual faithful, esteemed priests, Parish Council members, church social institutions, and the valued faithful of our Western Archdiocese.

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus be with all of you: Institutions, families, and devoted individuals.

I wanted to be with you through these words while the birth of Christ in flesh is looming and everybody being ready in their own way and tradition among family members or society to welcome the Babe of Bethlehem. Christmas ornaments with happiness spreading through homes, markets showing smiley faces for old and young simultaneously.

It is upon me to pray for our church priests of the Western Archdiocese for their blessed efforts in spreading good words and their caring for their parishioners, both spiritually and socially. I also pray for the success of Parish Councils who work tirelessly to make churches more prosperous. This reflects the cooperation of the faithful with their shepherds who are in charge of their affairs both spiritually and socially.

In this brief, I also have to pray to the Babe of Bethlehem to bring to blessed conclusion the efforts of the faithful who are striving to establish new churches in different cities of our Archdiocese. Thanks to God who helps us in finding faithful groups who want to have church gatherings. Our Archdiocese has widened greatly in the past several years and their number mounted to 24 churches. There will be more than a church which we will announce very soon next year. Of course, this is by the grace of God and your prayers and support.

Dearly beloved.
While we are celebrating Christmas and New Year, we ask the Almighty God to bring back the two Archbishops Mor Gregorios Youhanna Ibrahim and Mor Paulos Yazeji to their Archdioceses, safe and sound, and elevate the injustice of their wicked captors. And that God spreads his peace and tranquility in our beloved Syria and Iraq, and all other depleted countries, and to have mercy on all those who were victims of evil, and all our departed faithful here or back home.

We pray that the Lord will keep in His grace the Supreme Head of our Syrian Orthodox church of Antioch His Holiness Mor Ignatius Ephrem II, and their Eminences bishops members of the Holy Synod, and all our Syrian people everywhere.

May the Babe of the manger bring you happy days for many years full of health, peace of mind, and happiness. May He have mercy on the souls of your beloved departed, and may your new year be full of blessings and goodness.

Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy, wonderful and blessed New Year by the grace of the incarnated God. Amen

+ Clemis Eugene Kaplan
Archbishop of the US Western Archdiocese