Aoun from Syria: Christians of the East are the Pioneers of Christianity

Local Editor, 09-02-2010

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun expressed "the highest degree of respect and appreciation" to Syrian President Bashar Assad following the Saint Maroun's Day mass in the village of Brad in Aleppo on Tuesday.
Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh and former President Emile Lahoud also attended the ceremony.

"Our cultures do not clash," said Aoun, referring to the Syrians and Lebanese. "They interact and communicate in order to strengthen peace among people and to ensure [the prosperity of our] values," he added.
He said that fighting injustice is a major tenet of Christianity, and that it is because of "our strength that we can forgive each other."

"We, the Christians of the East, are the pioneers of Christianity, and we preached our faith to the whole world," the FPM leader said.
He added that the gathering could not have taken place without the determination and hard work of the parties involved.