The Passing of Metropolitan Mar Narsai DeBaz in Arizona - U.S.A.

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The Passing of Metropolitan Mar Narsai De Baz in Arizona - U.S.A.



Arizona - 14-02-2010

It is with a heavy heart and deep sorrow that we regret to announce the falling asleep in the Lord of His Beatitude Mar Narsai DeBaz, Metropolitan of Lebanon, Syria and Europe of the Assyrian Church of the East. His Beatitude was called to his heavenly home by the Lord at 3:00 pm Pacific Time, in the healthcare facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he was hospitalized for the past week and a half.

The late Metropolitan had received the precious Body and Blood of our Lord (Qurbana Qadisha) and Khusaya, as heard the reading of the Sacred Scriptures a few hours before his passing. He was solaced by the prayers of His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV and brother prelates present in Phoenix and globally, as well as the prayers of all the faithful and the presence of his family members.

The funeral service will be conducted at Mar Gewargis Cathedral, Chicago, Illinois (USA) at a date and time that will be announced in the very near future. We ask that you kindly pray for the repose of the soul of the late Metropolitan.

+Mar Awa Royel
Secretary of the Holy Synod

The late Mar Nursai DeBaz was born in the Assyrian village of Tel-Maghas in Khabour - Syria on May 17, 1940. His father was the Reverend Elias Mama el-Bazi and his mother Victoria daughter of Deacon Qambar Younan of Eiel, who was the uncle of Martyr Patriarch Mar Benyamin Shimon.

He was ordained deacon and priest in San Francisco - U.S.A. by the late Patriarch His Holiness Mar Ishai Shimon on February 09, 1968, then was ordained as a Bishop for Lebanon at Mar Giwargis (St. George) Church in Sad al-Bochrieh - Beirut by the laying of hands of the late Patriarch His Holiness Mar Ishai Shimon on July 19th, 1968.

He was ordained a Metropolitan on October 17th 1976 on the same day when His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV was ordained a Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East. He was taught Church liturgy by his father Elias and his brother Archdeacon Aprem (Afram), he loved literature, poetry and church liturgy.

He ordained a large number of priests and deacons and faithfully endeavoured in the Church of the East helping the faithful during the Lebanese war. He founded a school in Lebanon, built churches in Zahle - Lebanon, was recognized with a judge degree and had established good relations with a lot of presidents and political parties in Lebanon. In recent years he helped the faithful of our Church and nation who took refuge in Syria following the Iraq invasion in March 2003.

The late Metropolitan DeBaz participated in 11 Church Synods presided by His Holiness Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV and also participated in the ordination of a number of Bishops, Metropolitans and presided over funeral services for the late, His Beatitude Mar Timathios (Timothy) Bishop of India on behalf of His Holiness the Patriarch and was the representative of His Holiness Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV to the Patriarchs of the East Council as he participated in several Church councils such as the Pro Oriente Council - Council of Eastern Churches.

He was chosen in 1994 by His Holiness Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV to become the Patriarchal Vicar of the Assyrian Church of the East in the world, and he passed away on February 14th on the first Sunday of Easter Lent at 03:00 p.m. following a long illness and treatment in hospitals between Lebanon and Arizona.