Many Australian Church leaders joined with Archbishop Mor Malatius Malki Malki and the Consul General for Syria at the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese in Lidcombe NSW to pray and offer condolences for the life of the Patriarch.

Curlewis said “He was a great ecumenical leader and served as President of the World Council of Churches 1998 - 2006, providing significant leadership over many years. In Australia Patriarch Zakka Iwas is remembered for his three visits here and his contribution to dialogue between the churches.”

“The Syrian Orthodox Church is a member of the Oriental family of churches so the death of the Patriarch is also felt deeply by the Coptic, Ethiopian, Armenian and Indian Orthodox Churches.”

Curlewis concluded “The Patriarch’s poor health has not limited in any way his commitment to Christian unity, and in a small way it has been seen more clearly as he kept close ecumenical relations with other churches and participated in the enthronement of the new Coptic Pope in Cairo November 2012.”

During the recent years of unrest in Syria he has offered wise counsel and stability to the people and the Church in Syria.

The church has arranged services in Germany and Lebanon prior to the Patriarchs burial Friday 28 March 2014, in the tomb at St. Ephrem the Syrian Monastery in Ma’arrat Saydhaya in Damascus.

Many in Australia are holding the Holy Synod in prayer as they farewell the Patriarch and discern God’s call for a new Patriarch for the church.