NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America expressed his shock and deepest sadness at the most recent terrorist attacks directed at Christians in Sri Lanka during Easter. Responding to news updates describing the barbaric attacks in Christian Churches and at hotels, and the deaths of almost 300 people and more than 500 injured, His Eminence stated, “On Western Easter Sunday, when Christians celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord, hundreds of Christians lost their lives in houses of worship. We call upon the faithful of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America to offer prayers for the victims of this unspeakable tragedy and the families affected.”
Archbishop Demetrios further stated that, “His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has contacted Metropolitan Constantine of Singapore to convey the prayers and condolences of the entire Orthodox Christian world and to offer support to the local Roman Catholic Church, the Government and the people of Sri Lanka.”
Below is the official Statement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the attacks in Sri Lanka:
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expresses his horror at the terrorist attacks that took place on the day of Western Easter celebrations in churches and hotels in the greater area of the capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, causing death to dozens of our fellow human beings and injuring hundreds.
His All-Holiness unambiguously condemns all acts of terror, as well as any act of hatred, violence and fundamentalism wherever they come from, and calls on everyone to work, through dialogue and in a spirit of mutual respect, to preserve the good of peaceful coexistence and co-operation.
The Holy and Great Church of Christ prays for the rest of the souls of the victims and expresses heartfelt condolences to their families, while wishing courage and a quick recovery to the injured. At the same time, she expresses her sympathy with and support for the local Roman Catholic Church, the Government and the people of Sri Lanka.
The Ecumenical Patriarch contacted the Metropolitan of Singapore, Constantine, and asked him to convey the above message of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the Roman Catholic Community, the authorities and the Sri Lankan people as a whole.
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