An initiative of the Mary of Nazareth Association November 14 – Our Lady of Pasenika or the Victory of Mary (Constantinople) - Saint Gregory Palamas "The Virgin was shining brightly for 48 hours" On September 8, 2015, the day of the Nativity of Mary, the city of Yabrud, Syria, celebrated the installation of an imposing statue of the Virgin Mary, in the presence of the Bishop of the Archeparchy of Homs, the Apostolic Nuncio and the Catholic Greek-Melkite Patriarch. For Father Georges Haddad, a local priest, this statue is an answer to the jihadists who destroyed many statues and icons during their occupation of the city. Nonetheless, some people went back to their homes few days after the liberation of this small town in the spring of 2014, which they often found destroyed or looted. Several parishioners then reported to Father Georges that a statue of the Virgin was weeping in the chapel next to the cathedral. The following day, some children came running to him with the message that the Virgin was weeping again. "I saw tears in the corners of her eyes. The Virgin was shining brightly for 48 hours," the priest explained. Was the Virgin crying because of all the suffering? Was it out of joy because her children had returned? "Of course, we don’t know," Father Georges said, “but we chose to put her in a place of honor and entrust the parish to her,” he added, proud of this new statue placed in the church yard that had been relentlessly targeted by jihadists. fr.aleteia.org www.mariedenazareth.com Let’s pray together Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen.