“You are deeply-rooted in the heart of Antioch;…

“You are deeply-rooted in the heart of Antioch; you shall never forget that”.
Muscat - Sultanate of Oman Friday May 27, 2022

It is a day of joy and hope, it is the Day of Resurrection manifested at its best after years of vision and hard work until Saint Arethas of Najran Church in Muscat became a reality.

It was inaugurated and consecrated by His Beatitude Patriarch John X during his pastoral visit to Muscat - Sultanate of Oman upon the invitation of His Eminence Metropolitan Ghattas Hazim (Baghdad, Kuwait and Dependencies) where Jesus’s radiant light filled people’s hearts with a strong affirmation of faith and authenticity.

The Scout Regiment of Saint John the Baptist played music to announce the arrival of His Beatitude John X to the church accompanied by the clergy, while a large audience was eagerly waiting for His Beatitude to mark this day in Antioch’s history. After the reception, His Beatitude held the consecration services followed by the Divine Liturgy with the participation of Their Eminences, The Metropolitans: Ghattas Hazim, Elias (Archdiocese of Tyre, Sidon and Dependencies), Basilios (Archdiocese of Akkar and Dependencies), Antonios (Archdiocese of Zahle, Baalaback and Dependencies), Efraim (Archdiocese of Aleppo, Alexandretta and Dependencies), and Bishops: Demetri Charback, Gregorios Khoury (Patriarchal Vicar), Arsanios Dahdal, and a group of priests and deacons. In his speech, His Beatitude stated: “Come and see this Church, this great blessing, a blessing of faith, authenticity and steadfastness wherever you are. Let us all shout with Peter: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

This is the real Christian faith in our hearts which is translated by our words and actions, so that each one of us is called to make his heart a dwelling for the Lord, and to be renewed in Christ Jesus”. He added: "This historic event is the tidings of salvation, the tidings of light, that we must dwell in our hearts."

His Beatitude concluded by saying: “This parish that is guarded by God is in the heart of Antioch, and I stress that you are deeply-rooted in it; you shall never forget that, and we ask the Lord to grant you more heavenly blessings”.