H.B. Mar Meelis Extends Thanks to Church

His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metropolitan of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon, has bestowed his gratitude to the Church, as parishioners of Sydney’s St. Hurmizd Cathedral conveyed their deepest condolences on the passing of his mother, the late Mariam Zaia.

His Beatitude offered the Holy Eucharist, on 21 August, in commemoration of his mother’s death in the hope of resurrection.

Following the service, a memorial breakfast organised by St. Hurmizd Cathedral’s committees was held in honour of His Beatitude’s late mother.

The sizable congregation stood in lines patiently waiting to personally convey their condolences to His Beatitude in Edessa Reception Hall.

Representatives from different churches, parliamentary bodies and leaders of political parties and associations along with various media operators around NSW attended in paying their respects to His Beatitude.

In an official statement, His Beatitude said:

“On my behalf and on the behalf of my family, I would like to offer my greatest gratitude and appreciation to His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV Catholicos Patriarch of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East, all metropolitans and bishops of the Church, beloved priests and deacons in service for the Church, committees and faithful of the Church and all political parties and organisations for their messages, flowers and condolences for the passing of my mother, the late Maryam Zaia, who passed onto life eternal.

“Please accept our sincere thanks and appreciation to you all. We pray that the Lord Almighty may rest all those who have passed in peace and accept them into His everlasting kingdom. We also wish continued health and happiness to all those that remain and those who passed on their thoughts and love to us during this time.

“We pray to our Lord God to watch over you all in goodness and blessings and may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.

20 August in the year of our Lord, 2011.”