Peace to you and blessings from our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Once again, Zionist feet tread upon our sacred land. Yet we echo the words of the Psalmist: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).

My dear ones in Deir Mimas,
A thousand heartfelt greetings I send to you from steadfast Hasbaya, specifically from your episcopal residence near the Cathedral of St. George, the great protector. Nearby stands the blessed patriarchal monastery of Our Lady of Saidnaya, where the All-Holy Mary watches over us with her sacred light, protecting and blessing our people and land.

You rest under the shade of the towering Monastery of Saint Mamas, perched on the banks of the Litani River, offering blessings to the region and standing as a testament to the barbarity of the occupation. This ancient monastery, a witness to the enduring Christian presence in Lebanon, has now been struck for the second time (after the aggression of 2006). The Archangel Michael, too, looks down from on high, guarding you just as he protected the people of Colossae and saved them from death.

We place our trust in Almighty God, in the Mother of God, and in all the saints. Our hope in the Lord does not disappoint, as the Apostle Paul assures us.

I salute the steadfastness of the people of Marjayoun, Qlayaa, Bourj El-Moulouk, Deir Mimas, Ebel El-Saqi, Rachaya Al-Foukhar, Abou Qamha, Al-Marri, Blat, Khiam, and Koukouba. I strengthen their resolve and stand with them in their determination to remain rooted in their land, no matter how difficult the circumstances may become.

I am with you, and God is with us. He saves us from all dangers, through the intercession of St. Catherine, whose feast we celebrate, and always alongside you.

The blessing of the Lord be with you,
•Metropolitan Elias Kfoury
Hasbaya, November 25, 2024