Patriarch Mesrob’s Condolences To The Archbishop of Canterbury

Lraper Church Bulletin 11/07/2005
Contact: Deacon Vagharshag Seropyan
Armenian Patriarchate
TR-34130 Kumkapi, Istanbul
T: +90 (212) 517-0970, 517-0971
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[email protected]
<; PATRIARCH MESROB'S CONDOLENCES TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey, wrote a letter of condolences to His Grace Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury, expressing his solidarity with the Londoners. Similar letters were also written to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, His Grace Metropolitan Seraphim of Glastonbury of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Britain, the British Ambassador in Ankara, the British Consul General in Istanbul, and the Revd. Canon Ian Sherwood, the Apokrisarios of the Archbishop of Canterbury in Istanbul. *** 9 July, 2005 HIS GRACE DR. ROWAN WILLIAMS Archbishop of Canterbury Lambeth Palace, London Your Grace, It is with great sadness that I heard the news of the terrorist attacks in London. I am appalled at the hatred these criminals must be nurturing in order to undertake an assault of such a scale against innocent citizens. We shared the same experience here in Istanbul, Turkey, (on 20 November, 2003) when terrorist attacks against the British Consulate General in Istanbul were perpetrated. The victims included my personal friend, Her Majesty's Consul General, Dr. Roger Short, along with other staff members at the Consulate as well as pedestrians in the adjacent street. Altogether thirty-three people lost their lives. May I express my deep solidarity with the people of the capital city of London, and with the great British nation, at this time of grief and shock. I join with my colleagues of all faiths in the condemnation of this atrocity and crime against humanity. Our predecessors, Patriarch Shnorhk I of Istanbul and Archbishop Robert Runcie of Canterbury, now both of blessed memory, signed a joint communiqué on 19 November, 1984, in which they said: "We note we great disquiet the growing use of acts of terrorism resulting in death and injury to the intended victims and innocent bystanders - a phenomenon with which both our societies are sadly familiar. Our Churches proclaim the Gospel of Reconciliation of Jesus Christ who speaks of peace and in which those who make peace are described as blessed. We, therefore, roundly condemn all who use wanton acts of terrorism to achieve their political ends and urge all Christians to emulate our Lord's command to love their neighbours and to forgive their enemies." In our meeting with you in Istanbul, on 18 November, 2003, we had confirmed this statement, well aware that matters were becoming worse. With all peoples of good will, I continue to pray for peace amongst men. I feel particularly close to those who lost their loved ones, to those who have been injured in these blasts, and to all those public servants who are doing such an excellent job in binding-up the physical, psychological and social wounds that have been caused. May the Lord of life protect them all ! Tomorrow morning, 10 July, following the Sunday Holy Eucharist, a special Service for the Repose of the Victims will be held in all Armenian Orthodox Churches in Turkey. Yours fraternally in Christ's service, MESROB II Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul & All Turkey