Archbishop Sotirios of Canada issued a pastoral message on the terrorist attacks against Christians in Syria.
In his message, the Archbishop noted, “When the wicked and revolting images from the bombed Church of Prophet Elijah in Damascus emerged on Sunday, we were left feeling shocked, saddened, and even angered. However, we shall never despair.”
He then concluded, “Let us pray for everyone affected by this senseless act of violence, including the perpetrators of the attack and those who cultivate them, so they may repent and turn away from evil. Let us put our faith, hope, and love in Jesus Christ, knowing that He trampled down and conquered death, once and for all.”
Read below the message of Archbishop Sotirios of Canada
Death does not exist for the Christian. The God-Man Jesus Christ triumphed over death.
The Christian faith is a martyric faith. Despite persecutions and plunders, slavery and starvation, Christianity perseveres.
How does one explain when terrorists enter a church and proceed to slaughter and maim Christians?
How does one differentiate between physical death, which is a reality, and the immortality of the soul and eternal life, which is also a reality?
How does one explain, in the twenty-first century, with unprecedented progress in information and technology, that people cunningly prey on people who peacefully pray?
When the wicked and revolting images from the bombed Church of Prophet Elijah in Damascus emerged on Sunday, we were left feeling shocked, saddened, and even angered. However, we shall never despair.
Our departed brothers and sisters in Christ were unjustly attacked and murdered, but they are now in the bosom of the Lord.
Let us pray for everyone affected by this senseless act of violence, including the perpetrators of the attack and those who cultivate them, so they may repent and turn away from evil. Let us put our faith, hope, and love in Jesus Christ, knowing that He trampled down and conquered death, once and for all.
