BY THE GRACE OF GOD

IGNATIUS ZAKKA I IWAS PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH AND ALL THE EAST, SUPREME HEAD OF THE UNIVERSAL SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

No. E329/04

December 28, 2004

Apostolic Benediction to our beloved spiritual children: the Reverend Vicars and the Faithful of all our churches in the Gulf Region.

We are deeply grieved to know of the great disaster caused in India and other nearby countries by the recent earthquakes in the Asia-Pacific region. In India alone, thousands have died and many more are still missing. The damage to people and property are very extensive. Many have become homeless and helpless. We pray for them all. May the Almighty God console the bereaved and protect the helpless. Christian charity demands that, in this hour of crisis, we should all extend all possible help to those who are suffering. We understand that our Church in India is raising funds from individuals and institutions under the supervision of our beloved Brother-in-Christ, His Beatitude Catholicos Mor Baselios Thomas I, to contribute to the Government, for and on behalf of our Church as a whole, for relief measures. We, therefore, entreat all of you—as parishes and as individuals—to contribute according to your capability and send the same at the earliest to His Beatitude our Catholicos in India.

We extend our Apostolic Blessings to you. My the grace of God be with you.

Our Father Who art in heaven, ...

Issued at our Patriarchal house in Damascus, Syria
on the 28^th day of December, in the year two thousand and four which is the 25^th year of our Patriarchate.