ROC Primate expresses condolences to Church of Antioch over Beirut tragedy

Explosion in the port of Beirut. Photo: Twitter.сom / Muhammadsmiry

On August 4, 2020, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, sent his condolences to His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Great Antioch and All the East and President of the Lebanese Republic Michel Aoun in connection with the tragedy in Beirut, reports Patriarchia.ru. 

“On behalf of the archpastors, clergy, monastics and laity of the Russian Orthodox Church, I offer you my deepest condolences in connection with the tragic event that took place in Beirut.

The news of the calamity that inflicted new wounds on your long-suffering Christ-loving flock, echoed in my heart with pain. I pray to the Lord Jesus Christ, that He give healing to the victims, may He give rest to the souls of those perished, may He send their relatives and friends comfort in the sorrow that befell them, and to Lebanon—peace, prosperity and tranquility,” the ROC Primate’s message says.

As reported, the world was shocked on Tuesday, August 4, when a massive explosion shook the port of Beirut, Lebanon, with now reportedly around one hundred people killed, over four thousand injured; some reports say that more than 200,000 are left homeless, as the shockwave spread through the city breaking glass, and the red mushroom cloud loomed over the port. With tensions in the region already high, preliminary reports are indicating the explosion was due to “confiscated high explosive materials” being stored in the port, possibly ammonium nitrate. Orthodox Churches were among the many critically damaged structures.

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