Rural Damascus - SANA
The "Light of the East" carnival organized by the Aya Sophia Ceremonial Group for the Melkite Roman Catholics this evening on the occasion of the Glorious Christmas toured Saydnaya streets, starting from the Transfiguration Monastery, passing through St. Peter's Square and the main square in the town, and then back to the monastery.
The carnival, which has become an annual tradition on Christmas Eve, included the presentation of Christmas performances, Christmas carols and hand-made models of Christmas symbols such as "the cave, the star, the tree, and Santa Claus", in addition to a musical performance by the ceremony band in the town square.
In a statement to SANA, the priest of the Melkite Roman Catholic parish of Agia Sophia, Father Andrew Eskandafi, indicated that on the night of the Christmas of Christ, which is the birth of joy and peace, the atmosphere of joy this year was limited to some rituals as a result of the spread of the Corona epidemic, adding that today, after nine years of war, Syria is waiting for salvation From war, epidemic, and unilateral economic measures imposed on the Syrian people.
Father Skandafi congratulated and greeted the heroes of the Syrian Arab Army on the arrival of the holidays, without whom Syria would not have been able to hold these celebrations, wishing that security, peace and joy would return to all the cities of Syria.
In a similar statement, the leader of the ceremony band, Nadia Nayef Al-Sheikh, explained that the repeated naming of the carnival as the light of the east is inspired by the birth of Christ that took place in the east and evidence that light and peace were born in the East, indicating that the carnival included Christmas musical instruments and models that are hand-made geometric designs that embody the basic symbols To the birth of Christ.
The sheikh explained that the carnival started from the Transfiguration Monastery towards the town's streets, passing the town square, and then roams the entire streets of Saydnaya to return to the starting center.
In turn, George Maari, a music official in the band, stated that the band performed Christmas music and Christmas carols to bring joy to the hearts of the people, while the two chairs of the chick, the Trombet player in the band, wished for peace to come to Syria and to end the epidemic, in addition to the fact that they were able to bring joy and joy to people's hearts. Through this carnival.
A number of Saydnaya residents expressed their happiness with the atmosphere of the holiday, especially Christmas Eve and the carnival, which toured the roads of Sednaya despite adherence to the precautionary measures to address the Corona virus, spreading joy and joy to adults and children, as Reem Al-Maari indicated that the distinctive and spiritual atmosphere in this town at the birth of Christ despite the health conditions The difficult situation that passes through the world, while Moufid El-Khoury explained that on Christmas, Saydnaya would be a model for the Syrian homeland, pointing out that the scouts who roamed the streets of Saydnaya today on Christmas Eve spread joy and joy in the hearts of children.
Both Rania Khalil and Nasreen Mansour, residents of Sednaya, indicated that Christmas Eve today is distinguished by its carnival, which spread joy throughout the town, wishing that joy and peace would prevail in all regions of Syria and celebrate next year the complete victory of Syria.
Rehab Ali