Maronite Patriarch Beshara Boutros Rai arrived on Sunday afternoon to Jdeidet Yabous in Syria where he was welcomed by the Maronite Archbishop of Damascus, Samir Nassar and Patriarchal Vicar for the Greek Orthodox Afram Maalouli.
Rai is set to participate in the inauguration of the Orthodox Patriarchate’s new wing on Monday.
Earlier, Bkerke had insisted that the Cardinal is on a pastoral visit and will not meet with Syrian officials.