First full disclosure: Fr. Pat is my Pastor.

But long before that, I had spent some time in Syria (several months), have been all over Turkey, Jordan, Palestine and Egypt (where I have spent years). When I was in Syria, the old man Asad was still ruling, so my impressions may be dated, but, from what I am informed from contacts etc., I doubt it.

I could not believe the freedoms the Christians had in Syria. A public bus that I rode in Damascus had Biblical verses all through its length, and the front over the wideshield and its sides was plastered with icons. I, and a Copt who had lived his entire life in Egypt and had just come from his first trip outside (Canada/US) were in utter shock:he had not seen such a thing in Canada or the US, and such a thing in Egypt is utterly impossible.

Churches were built without the harrassment faced in other countries (e.g. Turkey), books published and promoted for sale in Arabic (it was the first time I had seen Hopko translated), priests in the street unmolested (again in a stark contrast in Turkey-where clerical garb is even forbidden-and Egypt).

Of course there are Syrian dissidents fleeing to Turkey: Turkey is a Islamic secular (read:culturally enforced Muslim) state run by Islamists. The choice for Christians is not between “live and let live” and “either you are for us or you are against us” (the Ba’th regime of the Asads), but between the latter and “either you are us, or we will exterminate you.” The Islamists embrace the latter view, and will brook no existence of Muslims who do not subscribe, let alone Christians of any sort.

It is not a surprise that all the patriarchs of Antioch (occupied by the Turkish Republic) all reside in Syria (except the Maronite, who is in Lebanon, of course).

Asad is not like Mubarak and Qadhdhafi, whose regimes became a house of cards, that just needed a strong wind. He is more like Saddam, a strong man with staying power (it took a full international occupation to get rid of him, and even then his power base fight on). I do not see anyone who removed Saddam taking responsibility for the ongoing martyrdom of the Christians in Iraq. Will those who find fault with shaking hands with Asad because he has blood on them, take responsibility for the blood shed by the regime who replaces him, Christian and non-Christian alike? Because that regime will, without a doubt, start in a baptism of blood, not in seizing power, but more so once power has been seized.

Just ask yourself: do you want a Saudi republic in Syria?

Muslims fleeing from Syria to Turkey I can understand (particularly if they are the extremist troublemaker variety). If Syrian Christians start fleeing there to get away from Assad’s gov’t, then perhaps your point would be a valid one.

Exactly, Dean. This is why it looks so bad in Syria. In Dalrymple’s time the Turks were bad and getting across to Syria was a relief. Now the Turks have not changed, the Syrians have gotten far worse. People are now fleeing in the opposite direction. How much more brutal has Syria become that Muslims flee to a Turkish refuge? I think you and I and the BBC can figure it out, I also think Philip and his traveling show know too, but they had “facts” to “find” to make it look otherwise. Will they be hitting the road to Libya to find some facts to make Khaddafi look better than some people think he is? After all, people say that with him gone things might get “worse”.

Bob,

I hate to disagree, but if you will recall in Dalrymple’s book, the ONLY place the the author felt safe during their entire trip (Turkey, Syria, Palestine, Egypt) was in Syria. I recall him describing crossing the border into Syria (from Turkey) as a very narrow escape, having been followed by Turkish agents throughout their trip there.

Fr. Pat’s article immediately reminded me of Dallrymple’s account – which is why I mentioned it.

Best regards,
dean

Those critical of Fr. Reardon’s trip make it with no awareness of history or probable outcomes. What will it take? Increasing persecution of the Copts in Egypt, a massacre of Christians in Syria if Assad falls?

Has anyone recalled that even Turkey (notable for its kindly treatment of Armenians) has objected to how Syria is treating its citizens? Yes, as Dean as pointed out, the old man still has it. What he got I don’t want. No one accused Dalrymple of glossing over the sad state of Christians in the mideast. There isn’t much in common with his interesting book and the embarassing articles by Reardon & Honeycutt. They are company men on assignment because they’re American converts who do as they’re told. Dalrymple is worth reading.

Wow, such overt cynicism and disrespect is amazing. I have my own difficulties with Met. Philip but, Bob, you are way off base here. Dean is correct: You owe the clergy and Met. Philip an apology.

Hear, hear. I quite agree.

Dean, thank you. This is the clearest analysis I’ve read yet.

First of all, as a native of Detroit, I have my own issues with this report. Observing the Chicago thugs who have been sent to Washington, and who are currently in the process of mugging us all, I would suggest Chicagoans should not be casting stones right now.

That aside, some of your more uncharitable comments have really bothered me, probably first and foremost from a personal standpoint. I know Fr. Pat and John Maddex and consider them both dear friends. You will find no more faithful servants of the Lord anywhere. They are both treasures of the Church in America – and to question their intentions, or to call them “tools” is unfair and unchristian. Quite simply, some of you owe them an apology.

And let’s not be naïve Americans…the church has been used for diplomatic purposes throughout it’s history (e.g. Sts Cyril and Methodios were on a diplomatic mission to Moravia, and St. Cyril had earlier gone to Khazaria at the request of the emperor). This sort of thing has been going on in the Middle East for the past 2000 years..and we are a participant in it..whether we like it or not.

If you think about it – the picture painted by Fr. Pat in the report is not so different than the one painted by William Dalrypmple in his book “From the Holy Mountain” written in the early 1990’s. Syria, for all it’s problems, has been an oasis for Christians during the past 50 years, particularly when compared to Egypt and our erstwhile ally, Turkey.

But probably most importantly – looking at this trip – I have to be honest, Metropolitan Philip, for all of the problems of the past few years, has done it again. The “old man” has still got it – this was a master stroke. Is it going to change Assad? No. Is it going to transform Assad into Jefferson? Probably not.

I would implore some of the more critical of you to consider this – how much different is this than St. Paul sending funds to the church in Jerusalem? Except in this case – I’ll wager the trip was worth a LOT more than money. Assad is a trapped animal, and therefore dangerous. This trip, coming at the time that it has, may have done the Christians in Syria some actual good…reminding Assad that the Orthodox Christians have support overseas, and that it might be useful to remember that. Think about it – if it helps ONE monk in ONE monastery – if it prevents harm to one church for one day…isn’t that worth it? I’d go even further…wouldn’t YOU be willing to look silly, like a “tool”, if there was a CHANCE that might happen?

So while we can argue about whose “SOB” Assad is…I would implore you all to be just a little circumspect about what you write here. This is the most widely read site in the Orthodox world. And if you don’t think foreign sources monitor these sites…think again.

And I would suggest giving our friends, the delegation, the benefit of the doubt. They knew what they were doing…and they may have done some poor monk, nun, or priest…somewhere in the hinterland of Syria…some good that we will never know about.

Let’s all give them the benefit of the doubt…and not presume to know the will of the Holy Spirit. And as Fr. Pat says at vespers each week, “May God bless the people of Syria.”

Respectfully submitted,
Dean Calvert

Being an “emissary” is not now and never has been the job of a bishop or priest in 2000 years. the Met has a specific purpose which is nothing whatever to do with what a bishop does. I do understand the role of a bishop. Does he? Celebrating the liturgy is precisely what this was not. Being the representative of the bishop in worship has zero to do with this trip. This embarrassment underlines ever more clearly how important it is to have no connections with offshore churches. American Orthodox need to cut the apron strings now more than ever. If you want to hear another pathetic version of this, listen to Fr Honeycutt on Ancient Faith Radio. He did his assignment like a good boy too. He reports that he didn’t *any* gunfire on days when the news reported that there was! Well, how very comforting that must be to the people shot. This is pastoral concern? For what? The people dead over there or the job security for Philip….And the two priests? It shows that Philip’s clergy still know what a command performance is whether here or across the globe.