FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2013

 

CARDINAL DOLAN SAYS MASS FOR KIDNAPPED SYRIAN BISHOPS

7 a.m. Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, will offer mass on Thursday, May 2, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (5th Avenue and 51st Street) for the safety and well-being of Greek Orthodox Bishop Paul Yazigi and Syriac Orthodox Bishop John Ibrahim who were recently kidnapped in Syria. Cardinal Dolan has invited leaders from the Orthodox community and other Catholic leaders to join him in praying for the speedy return of the two kidnapped prelates.  Attending the Mass will be His Eminence, Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim and Reverend Eli Shabo of the Syriac Orthodox Church; His Excellency, Bishop Sevastianos, representing Archbishop Demetrios and Reverend Father Mark Arey of the Greek Orthodox Church of America; and Archpriest John Jillions, representing His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, of the Orthodox Church of America .

Other Catholic leaders who will join the Cardinal at the Mass are Archbishop Francis Chullikatt, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations; Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre; Bishop Gregory Mansour, Maronite Eparchy, and Monsignor John Kozar, president of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association. Fatima Shama, Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs, will represent the Mayor’s Office.                                                                               

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