In two disturbing Press Communiqué issued by the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo we learn how the civil war in Syria is impinging on the daily life of the Christian community. Throughout these difficult times the clergy remain to minister to their flocks and to provide practical support to all people, regardless of their religious and ethnic affiliations. In the midst of such devastation they continue to call for restraint and peace

On Friday 19 October 2012 the Syrian Orthodox School (Bani Taghlub I), which is adjacent to the Archbishopric in the Sulimania District of Aleppo, sustained a direct hit on its third floor (where the kindergarten is located), by what appeared to be a home-made mortar.  Providentially, as Friday is a holiday in Syria there were no injuries or fatalities apart from the damage to the third floor and the childrens’ play area. The source was unclear, “as missiles fall relentlessly and indiscriminately, day and night over all residential districts of Aleppo”.

Bani Taghlub has 550 pupils, but due to the current situation and migration from the city, the school administration expects to only have about 50 students attending school this year. It was also about to celebrate its centenary and discussions had already taken place about this. The governor and the administration assessed the damages and decided that business should run as usual, and that such incidents should not deprive the young children from their basic right to education. The school will be able resume its usual schedule at the beginning of November, as the necessary repair work is already under way.

Two days later, on Sunday 21 October 2012, a suicidal booby-trapped car exploded early in the morning in the main roundabout of the New Syriac district. It left huge craters and a considerable amount of damage to the Bet Hasada’ Complex, a Syrian Orthodox charitable endowment, which includes an elderly Home, al-Kalima Grammar School and a Hospital. Thanks be to God, the damages sustained were only material and no precious lives were lost. Naturally, the fear, traumatisation and horror this explosion imposed on the vulnerable elderly, recovering injured, convalescing patients, and dedicated, overstretched medical staff of these institutions are incalculable.

The Communiqué concluded, “We unreservedly condemn and deprecate the escalation of these armed manifestations, and all kinds of shelling and explosions that can only lead entrenched combatant brothers deeper  into this vicious circle of violence, devastation and death.We also condemn and deplore the continuation of kidnapping, killings, demolition of infrastructure, heritages and the attrition activities aimed at the crippling of the local and national economy.

The status quo of this conflict is apparent and demoralizing as it can only spiral to propagate the culture of anarchy, resentment and disunity, in a city which has never knowingly sustained such level of violence, destruction and decimation in its history. Until recently, we only knew affection, tolerance and a healthy co-existence of the people in our blessed city. It is heartbreaking to helplessly witness our beloved Aleppo and other Syrian cities, villages and hamlets becoming battlefields and their systematic obliteration. No one can raise the flag of victory over the heaps of such ruins and sacrilege.

Therefore, we wholeheartedly call on all to join us in prayer in support of all internal and external efforts and endeavours to achieve a lasting Cease-fire. To pray for peace and re-consolidate our shaken pillars of harmony and trust, and to hold love, security and national unity as holy aims of our Syrian solidarity.”

Abba Seraphim attended the triennial Forum of Churches Together in England as the representative of the Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches. The Forum met at The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire from 23-25 October. The theme of the Conference was, “What does Love require of us?”

It was an good opportunity to meet and share with members of other churches and to learn about their hopes and vision for the church in this country. In the absence of any organised Orthodox worship, Abba Seraphim attended a Catholic Mass on the morning of 24 October, among whom two of the concelebrants, Bishop Paul Hendriks and Father Robert Byrne, National Ecumenical Officer & Secretary to the Department of Dialogue & Unity of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, are also members of the Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Regional Forum.

On 23 October Abba Seraphim met with Father David Seeds and Archdeacon Edwin Astill at Ashover, Derbyshire, to discuss the ministry at the Cusworth Church and surrounding area as well as wider concerns of the British Orthodox Church and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate during the sede vacante. The Cusworth Church was consecrated as an Orthodox Church in April 1988, so plans are in hand to mark the 25th Anniversary in 2013.

The celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Diocese of Sourozh was marked with two festive events on 21 October. His Excellency Alexander Yakovenko, Ambassador of the Russian Federation, hosted a Reception at his residence in Kensington Palace Gardens in the afternoon. As this also coincided with the 5th anniversary of the reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCOR) and the Moscow Patriarchate, as well as hosting of the Conference of Russian Orthodox Bishops Serving in the Diaspora, a large number of Russian Hierarchs were present. Heading these were Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman for External Church Relations, and Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, Primate of ROCOR.  The gathering was honoured with the presence of Their Royal Highnesses Prince & Princess Michael of Kent as well as ecumenical visitors, including the Apostolic Nuncio (Archbishop Antonio Mennini) and the Archbishop of Westminster. Bishop Athanasius of Tropaion represented the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Abba Seraphim the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Abba Seraphim chats with Bishop Ioann of Caracas (ROCOR)

Later in the afternoon, Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh hosted a festive ceremony at Cadogan Hall, Chelsea, where a number of awards were given to clergy and laity in recognition of their service to the diocese followed by a programme of religious, folk and classical music and a preview of Alexey Mikhalev’s documentary film: “Sourozh. Blurring out the boundaries”.

Since his death in 1993, the friends of the late Archdeacon James Goddard (1957-1993) have met together on an evening close to his birthday (21 October) to remember him at a dinner together and to make a collection for St. Christopher’s Hospice, Sydenham, where he was cared for until his death. This year, Abba Seraphim hosted the event on 20 October at the Church Secretariat at Charlton and a cheque for £200 was sent off in support of St. Christopher’s. Through these annual gatherings some £4,000 has been collected.