ORTHODOX AUTOCEPHALOUS CHURCH OF ALBANIA
STATEMENT OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF TIRANA, DURRES AND ALL ALBANIA, JOAN, ON THE TERRORIST ATTACK AT THE CHURCH OF THE PROPHET ELIJAH IN DAMASCUS
With deep sorrow we were informed of the terrorist attack on the Church of the Holy Prophet Elijah in Damascus, which occurred yesterday during the Divine Liturgy, where dozens of innocent faithful lost their lives or were wounded.
The Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania condemns this act of violence, all the more so as it occurred during the sacred hour of prayer, during the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist. According to the wise words of our late Archbishop Anastasios: “No one has the right to use the oil of religion to fuel the fire of conflicts. Religion is a divine gift, given to calm hearts, to heal wounds and to bring individuals and peoples closer together.”
We express our sincere condolences to the families of the victims and our support to His Beatitude, John, the Patriarch of Antioch and to the entire Orthodox Community of Syria. We pray for the repose of the souls of the innocent victims and for the speedy recovery of the wounded.
We call upon all to stand united against violence, from Albania, a country that has demonstrated that peaceful coexistence among religions is not an unattainable dream or utopia, but a living reality. The peaceful coexistence of peoples and religions is the only path to a better future.
