Bishop Murad on the Feast of Mar Elian, from Al-Qaryatain: Beware of the Idols of Money and Ego
Bishop Murad on the Feast of Mar Elian, from Al-Qaryatain: Beware of the Idols of Money and Ego!
Faithful from various parishes of the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Homs, Hama and Nabk, gathered at the historic Monastery of (Mar Elian Al-Sheekh) to celebrate his feast.
Life has returned to the monastery, which was a pilgrimage site before the crisis and played a spiritual and humanitarian role during it. Restoration efforts continue under the special care of the Archbishop, with oversight by the Monastery of Mar Musa and the dedication of both Christian and Muslim workers, supported by donations and prayers from benefactors inside and outside Syria.
bishop Murad, who presided over the Holy Mass with the participation of diocesan priests, monks from the Monastery of Mar Musa, and the faithful who filled the monastery’s courtyard, offered prayers for vocations to flourish in the Church, so that our monasteries may once again thrive, radiating faith, hope, and love.
He also prayed for peace in the region, in our country, and the world, as well as for the martyrs of Al-Qaryatain and all martyrs of faith and homeland.
Bishop Murad noted that Saint Elian is a saint not only for Christians but also for Muslims who visit the monastery seeking blessings and healing—spiritual, psychological, and physical. He emphasized that Saint Elian is a witness to the primacy of God in human life. He said, “Beware of the idol of money, beware of the idol of ego!” stressing that we face many trials and temptations in life, but the presence, lives, and testimony of the saints remind us that God is the beginning and the end, and in Him, we find all we need.
