Source: Antiochian Orthodox Christian
Archdiocese of North America
November 17, 2015
It is with extreme sadness that His
Eminence Metropolitan Joseph and the hierarchs, clergy,
and faithful of the Antiochian Archdiocese offer our
prayers and condolences to the families of all of the
victims of the horrific terrorist attacks that were
perpetrated last week against the people of Beirut and
Paris. We ask our gracious and merciful Lord to bestow
healing upon the victims who were injured, repose of
soul for those whose lives were taken, and some measure
of comfort to the families of the victims. We pray to
God that He will soften the hearts of those who inflict
pain and suffering and that He will grant to the world
the peace that can only come from above.
We speak out in the strongest possible terms against all
forms of violence which are carried out against our fellow
human beings and proclaim that we will stand in solidarity
with all people of peace and good will. We are mindful
that those who perpetrate these acts of violence are
intent on spreading fear, but we are comforted by the
words of St. Paul to Timothy, "For God has not given
us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a
sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)
