Patriarch and dozens of bishops at the funeral of Mor Boutros Al Nehmeh in Homs
The Syriac Orthodox bishop died on Monday in a Damascus hospital from an incurable disease. Syrian Christians lose a man who was “a point of reference” during years of wars and violence. For the president of the Aramean Federation in Switzerland, the bishop “courageously stayed to lead his faithful, passing on trust, security and hope to them.”
Homs (AsiaNews) – The funeral of Mor Boutros Al Nehmeh, Syrian Orthodox bishop of Homs, Hama, Tartus and Environs, was held today. He died on Monday in a Damascus hospital from an incurable brain tumour that was diagnosed only two months ago.
Over the past few weeks, Syrian Christians have mobilised at home and abroad in an attempt to find a treatment for the prelate born in Sadad on 4 September 1968. His illness had developed suddenly following a major paralysis.
For Christians in the region, this is a great loss and a source of deep pain because they lost a man who was “a point of reference” during nine years of war and jihadist violence in Syria.
Upon discovering the disease, the doctors quickly realised that there was no chance of survival because the cancer was in an advanced stage.
Tuesday, the day after his death, the bishop's body was brought to Homs and placed in the Emo Zunoro church, where the funeral was scheduled to take place in the presence of Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II (Karim) and dozens of bishops. The prelate will be laid to rest in his hometown of Sadad.
In a note sent to AsiaNews, Melki Toprak, president of the Aramean Federation in Switzerland, writes that the bishop’s death is “a great loss not only for the local community, but for all of Syria and the world Church.”
During years of wars and violence in the Middle East, especially in Syria starting in 2011 with the civil war that later turned into a proxy war, “the late bishop courageously stayed to lead his faithful, passing on trust, security and hope to them.”
“It was not easy to convince families to stay in the land of their ancestors,” Melki Toprak said, putting up with “the bombings, invasions and terrorism perpetuated by ISIS, as well as the occupation of the churches of his diocese by terrorist groups.”
In addition to being illegally seized, “several places of worship [...] have been demolished, damaged and torched,” Toprak explained. “Today the signs of those cruel actions are still visible: deconsecrated churches, destroyed and torched altars, broken icons and crucifixes.”
Mor Boutros Al Nehmeh was born in Sadad, a hundred kilometres north-east of the capital Damascus on 4 September 1968. Orphaned, he entered the orphanage in Homs at the age of nine where he completed his regular education at the St George’s (Mor Gewargis) School.
In 1982 he was consecrated cleric in the church of Emo Zunoro d Yoldath Maryam (Saint Mary of the Holy Belt in transliterated Aramaic) in Homs. After two years he moved to Damascus to attend the school of the monastery of Saint Ephrem.
In 1990 he was consecrated monk followed by further theological studies in Athens, Greece, where he graduated after six years completing his academic education.
On Saturday, he would have celebrated 21 years since his episcopal consecration. In addition to Aramaic, Arabic, English and Greek, he also spoke Portuguese, which he learnt in Brazil where he was sent on a mission to the community of Belo Horizonte.
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22/02/2016 09:34
