A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY
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| Volume 6 Number 37 - Tuesday, September 14th, 2004 |
A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY |
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The Orthodox Christian News Service |
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Eyewitness to the mourning in Alexandria, EgyptI am an Orthodox Christian from Texas traveling abroad and I am currently in Alexandria, Egypt. I thought I would share a few words about what I have seen here on the morning after the horrible tragedy... I arrived at the Alexandrian Patriarchal Monastery of St Sabbas this Sunday morning for Liturgy excited about the prospect of possibly seeing the Patriarch Pope Petros VII of Alexandria and all Africa. Soon after I entered the beautiful monastery church a lady told me the shocking news... Yesterday, Sept 11, at around noon, the helicopter that was commuting the Patriarch and 10 Alexandrian priests (and 5 or 6 others) from Athens to Mt Athos crashed into the Aegean sea. All perished in the crash. This morning's Liturgy and memorial was solemn and full of many tears. The Greeks and Arabs of the Alexandrian Patriarchate are a close-knit community and they love their Patriarch and priests very much. I have never seen priest-monks attempt to pray through sobs and tears and it was quite a moving site that brought tears to my own eyes. The church was full with almost all of the faithful wearing black and still in utter shock. About 8 priests served a first memorial and when it came time to sing Memory Eternal heartfelt cries and sobs from all over the church could be heard. This is a major loss to the Alexandrian church who has kept the light of faith shining brightly in the midst of an Islamic country for centuries. Please pray for the blessed repose of the beloved Pope Petros and the 10 Alexandrian priests, and the others who fell asleep in the crash. Pray also for the church of Alexandria and Africa who has lost dear and irreplaceable servants. In Christ,
Brad Aglaios Hoff
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