Australasian-Middle East Christian Apostolic Churches
(AMEC)
His Eminence and Beatitude Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Rai,
Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.
Your Beatitude,
The Holy, Precious and Life-giving Cross was one of the first sacred signs to be used by Christians, and throughout history it has been produced in almost every material and every artistic medium.
In the beginning, the Creator placed a Cross of Stars above our land Australia surely as a blessing and as a sign of our destiny.
This simple cross was made and decorated by aborigine artists. More than 70% of indigenous Australian, the first Australians, identify as Christians. Aborigine Christian artists produce beautiful images of the Holy Cross in a variety of materials.
The colours are reminiscent of the vibrant desert hues of the interior of Australia. Also, the three-dimensional flame-like texture speaks also to us of the fire of the Holy Spirit.
We hope that Your Beatitude will find a place for this small gift at your residence, so that when you see it you will recall your journey to the Great South Land, and that we will then find a remembrance in your prayers.
Presented on Tuesday 19 September 2023, at Beit Maroun in Strathfield NSW, by AMEC Members
Melkite Catholic Church Chaldean Catholic Church
Maronite Catholic Church Antiochian Orthodox Church Syriac Orthodox Church Ancient Church of the East
Coptic Orthodox Church, VIC Coptic Orthodox Church, NSW
Armenian Apostolic Church Armenian Catholic Church
Syrian Catholic Church Coptic Catholic Church
Opmerkingen