Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the upcoming celebration of Easter in the Orthodox Church calendar.
During the Easter season, many Canadians from the Orthodox Christian faith celebrate with family and friends.
Easter is the most significant and sacred time within the Orthodox Church, and consists of a series of celebrations commemorating the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
As we mark this holy period, we must also recognize that not all people around the world are able to worship freely.
Through our newly appointed Ambassador of Religious Freedom, our government will continue to monitor the ability of all faith groups to practice around the world without fear of persecution.
I was especially concerned to learn about the abduction of Metropolitan Paul Yazigi of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese and Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim of the Syriac Archdiocese, both of Aleppo, Syria. It is my hope that both bishops will be returned safety for the Easter holiday.
I would like to wish all of those celebrating in Mississauga and across Canada a very happy Easter.
Kaló Páscha! Fouseh Majeed!