Amid intense fighting between government and rebel forces in Syria, one of the top Christian leaders in the country has called for all Syrians to unite as a nation, while also calling for the United Nations and Arab organizations to respect the country and work toward peace and stability.

The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America released a statement this week by Ignatius IV, the Greek Orthodox Church's Patriarch of Antioch and All the East. On Tuesday the World Council of Churches affirmed the message and joined the plea.

The seat of the Antioch Patriarchate is in Damascus, a city experiencing intense fighting between Syria's army and rebels, a conflict being described as civil war.

The Patriarch's appeal noted the "countless number of Christians and Muslims are victims of the violence; the hospitals are full with injuries and the pain is endless."

He said people in the country, regardless of religious background had a right to live there with pride and dignity.

"During the past fifteen months, we have lost many people and a large number of Syrians were forced to evacuate from their homes. Christians had to flee their towns, cities and everything they own, and our beloved priests had to leave their churches," he wrote.

"We call all Syrians, in the name of God, to accept each other and live as one nation in our beloved Syria, the cradle of prophets and religions. We urge the United Nations and all Arab organizations to understand and respect our beloved country and to work together in order to achieve peace and stability in Syria," he added.

WCC acting general secretary Georges Lemopoulos shared the spirit of the call expressed by the primate.
"In critical times like these, we join churches in Syria in prayers for peace. We join our voices in the appeal from Patriarch Ignatius, in which he urged the United Nations and the international community to support Syrians in their struggles for justice."