Patriarch John X condemned the terrorist act that took place in the city of Suqaylabiyah in northern Syria during the inauguration of the Church of Hagia Sophia, which was attributed to armed terrorist groups.
The Patriarch of Antioch made the above statements in a telephone conversation with Metropolitan Nicholas Baalbaki of Hama, according to a statement issued by the Patriarchate, which also stressed that the children of Suqaylabiyah are paying the price of their faith in blood and that the terrorist attack is despicable, reprehensible and deplorable.
The Patriarch of Antioch expressed his deepest condolences for the martyr who died today and wished a speedy recovery to the injured, as well as condolences to the children of Suqaylabiyah.
“Our children in Suqaylabiyah are paying the price of their faith with blood. What happened in Suqaylabiyah is a despicable and reprehensible act of terrorism,” said Patriarch John of Antioch.
According to the Athens News Agency, 12 people were injured in the attack when a UAV fired by rebels hit a site where a church inauguration ceremony was underway in Hama province (central).
Initially, the agency reported two dead and twelve wounded people due to “a rocket fired by terrorist groups against a religious gathering in the town of Suqaylabiyah, near Hama”.
The attack, according to the Athens News Agency, came two days after the Russian bombing that killed seven people, including four children, in Idlib province, the last stronghold of jihadists and rebels in Syria.
