The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressed the support and sympathy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the earthquake victims of Smyrna and Samos, but also to the neighbouring areas affected by the strong earthquake that occurred today North of Samos, during the discussion he had earlier with Metropolitan Eusebius of Samos and Ikaria and Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate, in these difficult hours of ordeal for the two neighbouring peoples of Turkey and Greece, prays for the repose of the souls of our fellow humans who lost their lives, for the restoration of the health of the wounded and for the relief of all those affected. We hope that our Lord will strengthen the competent State and local authorities in their work, and especially the rescue teams in Smyrna, which are struggling to locate and rescue those trapped in collapsed buildings.
