Visitors from the East

There are six Catholic Patriarchs of the East. This weekend Fisher House had the

On the right, greeting students outside the Chapel, Patriarch Youssef Absi, accompanied by Father Shafiq Abousayd of the Melkite Mission, UK

great privilege of welcoming one of them: His Beatitude Youssef Absi, Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. Perhaps unknown to many Latin Catholics, the Greek Melkites are in full communion with Rome while following the Byzantine Rite in their Liturgies. Their Church traces its origins back to first-century Antioch, whose Christian community was traditionally founded by St Peter. The 1.6 million members of the Church are scattered around the world, often forced abroad from their traditional homelands of Lebanon and Syria by local conflicts.

The Patriarch's visit began by meeting Deans, Chaplains, and academics of the Colleges and University. His Beatitude then presided at the Eucharist in Fisher House's Chapel. It was the Mass - but not as we Latins know it. Of immense beauty, it was a privilege to be present and worship; the Chapel's acoustics suited well the deep and soaring notes. Though the Patriarch's first languages are Arabic and French, his homily in English was clear and profound.

Recently, His Beatitude has become better known through his part at the funeral of Pope Francis at which he sang prayers of commendation. A student of music and a composer of hymns, one reason for the Patriarch's visit was to participate in Cambridge's rich tradition of liturgical music. Revd Dr Stephen Cherry, the Dean of King's, with its Director of Music, Daniel Hyde, extended the most generous invitation to the Patriarch and his party by welcoming us to a rehearsal of the Chapel Choir. After this great privilege, His Beatitude remained for Evensong, at which the Dean spoke of the Patriarch's presence as a reminder of the breadth of the universal Church. And then, not wishing to miss the opportunity, we walked through torrential rain to attend Evensong at St John's, where we were warmly welcomed by Revd Graham Dunn, the Chaplain.

Dinner at Jesus College with Prof. Janet Soskice, the Chair of CUCA, allowed Catholics and Anglicans at the University a final expression of solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the East, whose history, witness, and plight are too often too little known by us.