Awards and Testimonials

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Sherrod Brown, United States Senator

Mother Agnes-Mariam has provided relief for the people of Syria for over 19 years, most recently during the latest Syrian crisis. As the number of refugees in surrounding towns increases, Mother Agnes-Mariam has provided the refugees with shelter and assistance. She has also been a vocal advocate for these victims through her Institute for Peace, Justice, and Human Rights.

Through her philanthropic work, she has played a major role in negotiating for the benefit of peace and stability in the district.

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James B. Renacci, Member of U.S.Congress, Ohio

Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition presented to Mother Agnes-Mariam of the Cross for providing shelter at the monastery to those in need and through your affiliation with Mussalaha (“Reconciliation”) to mediate the opposing forces.

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Irena Varjabedian, AA4Syria (Arab americans for Syria), Glendale California

We had a successful event in Glendale California despite attempts to silence Mother Agnes. Due to phone harassment, the church where we planned the event cancelled. However I persisted and with the help of several others, we found a local restaurant that worked out fine. One person told us he was even more determined to go when he heard that the church had canceled under pressure!

Glendale has a large Armenian community; we had about 60 people for the event. Two Armenian speakers welcomed Mother Agnes, expressing their gratitude that after the genocide, the Syrian people welcomed them to make Syria their home, allowing them to build churches and schools.

Many expressed thanks for the event. One of those was Blase Bonpane, esteemed activist in his eighties. Blase had interviewed Mother Agnes by phone on his KPFK show World Focus. He came because he wanted to meet Mother Agnes in person.

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Johnny Achi, founding member of Arab Americans for Syria

It was a pleasure and an honor receiving Mother Agnes Mariam in Southern California on the 9th and 10th of November. The 9th was our main event in Jesus Sacred Heart Syriac Catholic Church in North Hollywood, CA and the crowed of 200+ were enlightened by MAM testimonials and eyewitness reports. Her message of peace and reconciliation was so powerful that it prompted a one-minute-long standing Ovation. Her humanitarian work throughout the 2 1/2-years-long conflict in Syria, working with the displaced, helping negotiate the release of kidnapped victims, and the pioneer work she’s done evacuating civilians caught in the cross fire, especially the recent safe evacuation of 7,650 men, women and children from the besieged and heavily clashed area of Mo’adamiya on the outskirt of Damascus was nothing short of heroic.

On Sunday Nov. 10, MAM spoke at St Anne Melkite Greek Catholic Church and met afterwards with the church parish. Many families spoke of their horrific experiences before leaving Syria. One family shared with heartfelt tears how they were forced out of their home in Hamidieh Homs by the armed gangs under the force of guns, not allowed to take any positions with them. In the afternoon there was another speaking event in a hall in Glendale, CA. and the majority Armenian crowed were very pleased to listen to MAM, and how misinformed they were about many aspects of the Syrian conflict.

Thank you Rick, Paul, and everyone involved with the Syrian Solidarity Movement for organizing Mother Agnes Mariam North American Tour of ‘What is really happening in Syria.’ The truth must be known so a true peaceful solution could be reached.

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Chuck Kaufman, Co-Director, Alliance for Global Justice