AhlulBayt News Agency - A Christian delegation came from Washington accompanied by the officials of Dar AL-Elm (House of knowledge) that belongs to the late Shiites' Highest Religious Authority, ImamAbu al-Qasimal-Khoei,visit Imam Ali Holy Shrine. Sayed Nazar Habl AL-Mateen, the Secretary General of Imam Ali Holy Shrine, and some members of the Board of Directors received the delegation. The delegation includedthe Cardinal(Catholic Church) TheodoreMichael Carrick, the Bishop(Anglican Church), and the former diplomat JohnBryson Chane.
Sayed Nazar Habl AL-Mateen warmly welcomed the delegation. He gave them adetailed explanation ofthe historical development of Imam Ali Holy Shrine. He also gavea brief explanation ofthe variousprojectsthat the Secretariat General of the Holy Shrine undertakes. The projects servethe visitorsin allaspectsand in particular the expansion of the Holy Shrine as well as serving millions of visitors on the important occasions like that of the Prophet's death and AL-Arba'een(the occasion on the fortieth day after the death of Imam Hussein-PBUH-).
The Secretary General of Imam Ali Holy Shrine affirmed that the shrine is a humanitarian centre forallreligions,ethnic groups,sects, andraces. He asked allthe religious leaders to be acquainted with thetrueIslamic thoughtand Islamicprinciples that stemfrom the Holy Qur'an, the Prophet, and his Household (PBUT). The holy city of Najaf is the city of peace, love and humanitarianism.''
The delegation showed their deep pride being honored visiting the cousin of the Prophet of Islam. They said '' We are very happy to see and historic monuments of the Holy Shrine. Being here is considered a step to entrench communication among religious personages and cooperation among the intellectualand scientific institutions. Imam Ali Holy Shrine is considered one of the places in which the principle ofpeaceful coexistence andacceptance ofothers fromdifferent communities is applied. That is obvious through seeing different religions, sects and ethnic groups in the Holy Shrine. ''
The delegation completed their visit in a tour in the different corridors of the shrine ending in visiting the grave of ,Imam Abu al-Qasimal-Khoei, the Hierarch of the Shiite's Sect.
