Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2023 1:03:53 GMT
The Islamic Republic of Iran was proclaimed by Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, on the 1st of April 1979.
The day after, on the 2nd of April 1979, the Ayatollah himself received Catholic Archbishop Hilarion Capucci, recently released from Israeli captivity for his actions in defence of the Palestinians. After a private meeting with the Ayatollah, the Archbishop was presented to the people of Tehran, who cheered and waved, and tried to stop his car from leaving because he had become such a strong symbol of the liberation of Middle Eastern peoples from tyranny and oppression – the Archbishop’s own struggle was a metaphor for that of the Iranian people.
Archbishop Capucci (1922-2017), the longtime Melkite Catholic Archbishop of Caesarea, was viewed as a symbol of Middle Eastern liberation by the Iranians and other oppressed peoples, particularly the Palestinians. He also played a key role in the Hostage Crisis at the American Embassy, where he visited on behalf of the Catholic Church the Americans held there and also arranged the release of the bodies of those Americans who died in the refuelling accident during the Hostage Crisis.
I recall also, that when on the 1st of February 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile in France, he was greeted at the airport by bishops, who stood to greet him, though Iran's future was unclear. Neither Khomeini nor his successor would forget that, and today Christians are a protected minority in Iran, with reserved seats in parliament. Today, six Catholic dioceses (1 Latin, 1 Armenian, 3 Chaldean), two Armenian Apostolic dioceses, and one Assyrian diocese operate on the territory of Iran with bishops, priests, and churches.
I also note that as of 2023, a number of Christian militias (Catholic, Orthodox, and Assyrian) in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon are affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp, part of the Iranian Army.
The current leader of Iran, Grand Ayatollah and Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ali Khamenei has said: "I feel an affection for Christians...Christians are not considered to be outsiders in the Islamic Republic of Iran and they are indeed part of the great nation of Iran, so I too have a good feeling about my Christian compatriots.“
Some pictures from Archbishop Capucci's trip to Tehran (video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiijOlU07iI&t=11s&ab_channel=APArchive).
Meeting with Ayatollah Khomeini.
Waving to the people of Tehran.
Meeting between Archbishop Capucci and the future Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
The day after, on the 2nd of April 1979, the Ayatollah himself received Catholic Archbishop Hilarion Capucci, recently released from Israeli captivity for his actions in defence of the Palestinians. After a private meeting with the Ayatollah, the Archbishop was presented to the people of Tehran, who cheered and waved, and tried to stop his car from leaving because he had become such a strong symbol of the liberation of Middle Eastern peoples from tyranny and oppression – the Archbishop’s own struggle was a metaphor for that of the Iranian people.
Archbishop Capucci (1922-2017), the longtime Melkite Catholic Archbishop of Caesarea, was viewed as a symbol of Middle Eastern liberation by the Iranians and other oppressed peoples, particularly the Palestinians. He also played a key role in the Hostage Crisis at the American Embassy, where he visited on behalf of the Catholic Church the Americans held there and also arranged the release of the bodies of those Americans who died in the refuelling accident during the Hostage Crisis.
I recall also, that when on the 1st of February 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile in France, he was greeted at the airport by bishops, who stood to greet him, though Iran's future was unclear. Neither Khomeini nor his successor would forget that, and today Christians are a protected minority in Iran, with reserved seats in parliament. Today, six Catholic dioceses (1 Latin, 1 Armenian, 3 Chaldean), two Armenian Apostolic dioceses, and one Assyrian diocese operate on the territory of Iran with bishops, priests, and churches.
I also note that as of 2023, a number of Christian militias (Catholic, Orthodox, and Assyrian) in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon are affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp, part of the Iranian Army.
The current leader of Iran, Grand Ayatollah and Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ali Khamenei has said: "I feel an affection for Christians...Christians are not considered to be outsiders in the Islamic Republic of Iran and they are indeed part of the great nation of Iran, so I too have a good feeling about my Christian compatriots.“
Some pictures from Archbishop Capucci's trip to Tehran (video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiijOlU07iI&t=11s&ab_channel=APArchive).
Meeting with Ayatollah Khomeini.
Waving to the people of Tehran.
Meeting between Archbishop Capucci and the future Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei