“Every person who is shocked by such heinous actions, regardless of the religion they follow, has a duty to oppose, in word and deed, intolerance and the phenomena of blind violence and terrorism. How much more so for the powerful of this world, the political leaders and governments, who hold the destinies of peoples in their hands and must ensure conditions of peaceful coexistence.”
The above is emphasised, among other things, by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, referring to the deadly attack on the church of Prophet Elias in Damascus. “Together with our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, we stand by the side of Patriarch John of Antioch,” he points out in the same statement, “and we join our voices with his for the immediate end of the massacres against Christians and for the tangible protection of minorities in Syria.”
Below is the relevant post on the Instagram social networking site and the full statement of the Archbishop of Australia:
Pain and revulsion are the feelings that seize me in these difficult hours, having watched the images of the horrific attack on the Greek Orthodox Church of Prophet Elias in Damascus, and having been informed that innocent fellow human beings, while praying inside the church, so tragically and unjustly departed this present life.
Every person who is shocked by such heinous acts, regardless of the religion they follow, has a duty to oppose, in word and deed, intolerance and the phenomena of blind violence and terrorism. How much more so for the powerful of this world, the political leaders and governments, who hold the destinies of people in their hands and must ensure conditions of peaceful coexistence. Wars are fought for oil and wealth and decisions are made by leaders to show who is the most powerful on earth. But Christianity is persecuted. We all see some trying to convince that they determine the destinies of people. But Christianity is persecuted. And they do not talk about it.
Together with our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, we stand by the side of Patriarch John of Antioch and join our voices with his for the immediate end of the massacres against Christians and for the tangible protection of minorities in Syria.
The Holy Archdiocese of Australia, in solidarity, participates in the mourning of the Church, and prays fervently for the repose of the souls of our brothers and sisters who were martyred in Damascus, as well as for the speedy restoration of health of those who were injured and are hospitalised.
