Minister of Religious Endowments (Awqaf), Mohammad Abdull-Sattar al-Sayyed, accompanied by a delegation embracing Islamic scholars visited Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East extending congratulations to Patriarch John X Yazigi on occasion of Christmas.

Minister al-Sayyed also visited Patriarchate of Antioch and allthe East for the Syriac Orthodox on Monday evening where he met Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, Patriarch Mor Ignatius II of Antioch and All The East.

Later, the Minister visited Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East, extending congratulations to Patriarch Youssef Absi of Antioch and all the East for the Melkite Catholic on occasion of the Christmas.

Talks during the meetings emphasized the importance of keeping Syria as the country of coexistence and tolerance and as an example to follow in adopting moderate religious mentality that rejects violence, terrorism and killing, and calls for amity and equality.

Minister al-Sayyed said that the Syrian people, Muslims and Christians, have built civilization together in Syria, the cradle of the heavenly messages, asserting that the conspiracies hatched by the Takfiri Wahhabis and their allies and agents will not undermine the steadfastness of the Syrians who believe in their national unity.

He indicated that the 1st anniversary of defeating terrorism in Aleppo coincides with the Christmas, wishing speedy release for the two kidnapped bishops Yohanna Ibrahim and Boulos Yazigi.

For their part, the Patriarchs asserted that the fierce terrorist attack on Syria, backed by the West and some of regional states, will not be able to divide the Syrian people who have embodied the national unity throughout their history.

They affirmed that the steadfastness of the Syrian Army, the wise leadership of President Bashar al-Assad and the solidarity of the Syrian people with their leadership have contributed to achieving victory in Aleppo, asserting that terrorism will be eradicated from every inch of the homeland.