President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday congratulated Christian denominations on the occasion of Christmas , the birth of the Christ , messenger of peace and love.

Minister of Presidential Affairs , Mansour Azzam, offered the congratulations on behalf of President al-Assad.

Minister Azzam, conveyed the President’s congratulations to the Patriarch of Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All The East ,John X of Antioch, to the Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, Ignatius Aphrem II ,and to patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church , Youssef Absi, and other patriarchs and bishops.

In turn, the patriarchs and bishops expressed their gratitude to President al-Assad for his kind gesture and congratulations on the occasion of the Christmas.

They thanked his permanent care for the homeland’s sons, praying to God to save Syria and its people and Army and to have mercy upon the martyrs and to give the Syrians strength to face and overcome the economic unjust blockade.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)