9/12/1990

PATRIARCATE

GREEK MELKITE CATHOLICS

DAMASCUS, SYRIA

Fr. Van Der Voot

Belgium

Dear friend,

I have just received your letter dated November 28th , which was left in Damascus. I was sorry to have missed you during my passage there. You may be aware that I was hospitalized in Beyrouth for a minor health problem. I feel much better now, thank God.

You will be happy to know, since the Myrna phenomenon interests you, that we have decided to set up an official study of her case on behalf of our Hierarchy, jointly with the Orthodox Patriarcate.

As for the celebration of the Easter feast at the same time as our Orthodox brothers, this does not depend solely on us. We are actively working towards that end.

Best wishes for Christmas, to you and to your friends, with special greetings to our dear M. Thornton. Let us hope that the New Year will bring peace in this war ravaged Near East, since many years.

With my affectionate blessing,

Maximos V Hakim

Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarch

TRANSLATION FROM THE ORIGINAL FRENCH