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Administrator Words It is my greatest privilege to distance that separates us has united us with these stones, brought from our ancestors land. I, like my late father, Abdul-Massih Shalhoub and my grandfather, Gergis Shalhoub, inherited this wonderful skill, to build with our hands the stone grown on our mountains and in our valleys from the day of creation when God said: "Let us separate land from water, and God saw it and it good" (Genesis 1:9). these stones are called by many names; such as Jerusalem or Rahabani stones found in greater Syria.
From these stones: Solomon built his first temple. The Palestinians built their mansion. And Romans built Baalback. The aqueducts watered the valley of Syria. From these stones, Simeon built his shrine, and the blessed Thekls fond safety. these stones take you to the mountain top to kneel before our lady of Saidnaya. On this stones, St. Paul with frightened feet, stepped on them Which led to Ananias where he was Baptised. These stones not only built the jail where St. Paul was imprisoned, But they were also the city gates where St. Paul escaped and was lowered by basket. These are the stones where the first church was erected in Antioch, in Damascus, Beirut, and Jerusalem. From this stone, the first Christian churches were built in Europe. These stones, to this day, stand for the Omayad Mospue, previously known as St. John Orthodox Church. This stone not only remind us of our great past, but demand of us a new vision for the future. The active devotion to bring the stone from our Holy Land is an expression of our uninterrupted journey in our Orthodox faith where it links the East and the West.
Our orthodox theology is expressed not only in words or icons, but in its architecture. These stones are eternal like the creation of this world. They will not get old, change color, or break apart, or demand attention or maintenance. these stones that become the table which will place the Holly Korban and senses every time your hands touches them. You will receive the same blessing that the prophets received as it takes you back to beginning of time.
Soleiman Shalhoub |
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