International Conference on the second millennium of Saint Paul birthday was opened at al-Zaitouna Church in Damascus under the title of "Paul, with an Oriental Reading".
The 3-day Conference is held by the Patriarchate of Roman Catholics in cooperation with the Syriac Studies University in Italy's Pado, the Christian Oriental Studies Institute in Cairo and St. Paul Tomb in Damascus.
Father Pierre of the Franciscan said in a speech during the opening session that the Orient is the cradle of civilizations and different cultures, adding that Paul the Apostle is the son of this region with all its past and current richness, referring to the big impact left by St. Paul in spreading Christianity all over the world.
For his part, representative of Syria's Grand Mufti, Sheikh Ala al-Din Za'atari said that during his trip that started from Tarsus where he was born, passing through Damascus from where he went off into Rome, Paul the Apostle was bearing the Christian noble values.
Earlier, Patriarch Gregory III Laham of Antioch and All the East for Roman Catholics underlined during a prayer held prior to the opening of the Conference that Damascus and St. Paul will not be separated, adding, "Damascus is a juncture in the history of Christianity and a starting point for St. Paul."
He expressed appreciation of President Bashar al-Assad for his permanent care and wise directives, wishing this year to be a year for peace and tolerance.
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2009
