Coptic Orthodox Church UK
Media and
Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox
Church (Europe)
Media and Communications Office
His
Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London on the
suffering of communities in Nagorno-Karabahk, Ethiopia and Eritrea
16 November 2020
We are currently becoming more aware of the magnitude and
scale of the incredible suffering endured by communities as a result of war and
conflict in Nagorno-Karabahk, Ethiopia and Eritrea. The resulting loss of life
and displacement of peoples has tragically soared, and we have witnessed
increasing vulnerability amongst young and old already impacted by and
struggling with the global Covid pandemic.
I have been in conversation, over these past weeks, with
the clergy and leadership of the Armenian, Ethiopian and Eritrean Churches both
here in Britain and globally to develop a clearer understanding of the
situation on the ground in their home nations and to see how we can offer
greater support at this time. In the interim, we continue to pray repose for
the departed, comfort for the bereaved, healing for the injured and
traumatised, safety for the displaced and peace for all involved, as we pray
wisdom for all those in leadership and entrusted with the lives and well-being
of their people.
We are taught in Scripture that “when one part of the Body
suffers we all suffer” (1 Corinthians 12:26) and so, at this time we share in
the suffering of members of our sister Armenian Apostolic, Ethiopian Tewahedo,
and Eritrean Orthodox Churches and their communities, along with their wider
communities that encompass Christians of all denominations, and people of all
faiths and none.
*Ends*
