The Interfaith Prayer Service at Geneva’s St. Peter’s Cathedral, after the conference at the UN, in support of a solution to the Syrian crisis.
The consultation included a high-level segment of faith leaders, academicians and other stakeholders who deliberated on the current crisis in Syria, including the wider geopolitical context, and considering the role which religion, civil society, women and faith-based organizations can play in restoring peace and order in Syria.
The interfaith program at St. Peter's Cathedral featured a variety of spiritual and religious voices, interfaith prayers for peace and artistic performances. We posted the video about this already a few days ago. This is an overview about the program:
- Organ - Greetings by Emmanuel Rolland, pastor, and Dr. William McComish, pastor and president of the Geneva Spiritual Appeal - Reading in French of the Geneva Spiritual Appeal by Mme Tatjana Darany, director general of the Geneva Foundation - Prayer in French by M. Shady Amman, a Syrian in Switzerland - Oud music - Reading in English of the Geneva Spiritual Appeal by M. Walter Gyger, ambassador of Switzerland. - Prayer in English by Rt. Rev. Riah Hanna Abu El-Assa, Anglican bishop of Jerusalem and the Near East - Message by Rabbi François Garaï of the Israelite community of Geneva, read by M. Hafid Ouardiri, director of the Fondation de l'Entre-Connaissance - Oud music - Prayer in Arabic by Shi'ite Imam Sheik Mohamad Ali Al-Hajj, from Lebanon, translated into French - Reading of the Geneva Spiritual Appeal by Dr. Tawfik Chamaa, a Syrian in Switzerland - Prayer in English by Sunni Imam Sheik Mohamad Al-Habash, from Syria - Prayer in Arabic by Yazan Savoy, a Syrian in Switzerland - Oud music - Prayer by Mme Danièle Bianchi, Baha'i community of Geneva - Message by M. Gary Vachicouras, Orthodox Christian community of Geneva (read by Mme Bianchi) - Benediction by Msgr. Pierre Farine, auxiliary bishop of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg, Roman Catholic Church - Organ - Collection of funds for the Union of Syrian Medical Relief Organizations (uossm.org). - Group photo with participants in the UPF Geneva Track II consultation on "Towards Peace and Reconciliation in Syria: The Significance of Religion, Faith-based Organizations and Civil Society"