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Middle East and North Africa

Patriarch Kirill: Persecution of Christians in Syria leads to civilized catastrophe

Patriarch recalled that Christianity was conceived in what is now Syria

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, July 25 (Itar-Tass) - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia said the persecution of Christians in Syria and their expulsion would lead to a civilized catastrophe.

At the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the hierarchs of Local Orthodox Churches on Thursday, Patriarch Kirill said: “One cannot admit the Middle East to be devastated. This will be the civilized catastrophe.”

Patriarch recalled that Christianity was conceived in what is now Syria. "If as a result of military action, conflict, Christians will be physically destroyed, as is the case in Syria, or pushed out of the country, it would be a tragedy for the Orthodox churches, for the global culture and for the common people who suffer from war," head of the Russian Orthodox church said. He recalled that there have been cases in history of pushing the Christians away from the countries in which they used to live.

Earlier it has been reported that a heavy explosion took place in Damask’s suburb where Christians live. There are victims reported.

In May, Russian Orthodox Church urged the global community to oppose persecutions of Christians in Syria. The official statement referred to reports of adherents from Syria saying that “as the militants came, happens something unthinkable: churches are being destroyed, priesthood kidnapped, violent expulsion of Christians from their homes is taking place, and Christians are being killed”. The rebels have also destroyed an ancient Orthodox monastery of Elijah the Prophet near the Syrian town of Al-Qusayr.

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