Sanctuary for Muslims
Archbishop Alexios of Gaza mopped his brow wearily in the upstairs office of his church, transformed in recent days into a shelter for hundreds of families displaced by the Gaza conflict. His grey …More
Archbishop Alexios of Gaza mopped his brow wearily in the upstairs office of his church, transformed in recent days into a shelter for hundreds of families displaced by the Gaza conflict.
His grey clerical robe undone at the neck and damp with perspiration, the archbishop was exhausted. Last night, the area around the St Porphyrios Greek Orthodox church – including its little cemetery – was shelled by Israeli forces.
“I only got to sleep at 6am,” he said. “We're co-operating with the mosque next door. We're looking after around 1,000 people between us.” All of the people sleeping in his church are Muslims.
“People started coming in on Sunday, more and more people, so we couldn't even think about holding our Sunday service. Now it's crazy,” he added.
The vast majority of those in his church fled the heavy fighting in neighbouring Shujai'iya, which saw scores killed on Saturday and Sunday in the most intense Israeli assault of the conflict so far.
“We gave them blankets and water and …More
His grey clerical robe undone at the neck and damp with perspiration, the archbishop was exhausted. Last night, the area around the St Porphyrios Greek Orthodox church – including its little cemetery – was shelled by Israeli forces.
“I only got to sleep at 6am,” he said. “We're co-operating with the mosque next door. We're looking after around 1,000 people between us.” All of the people sleeping in his church are Muslims.
“People started coming in on Sunday, more and more people, so we couldn't even think about holding our Sunday service. Now it's crazy,” he added.
The vast majority of those in his church fled the heavy fighting in neighbouring Shujai'iya, which saw scores killed on Saturday and Sunday in the most intense Israeli assault of the conflict so far.
“We gave them blankets and water and …More
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O Mother of Perpetual Help, grant that we may ever evoke your most powerful name, which is the safeguard of the living, and the salvation of the dying …More
O Mother of Perpetual Help, grant that we may ever evoke
your most powerful name, which is the safeguard of
the living, and the salvation of the dying. Amen.
your most powerful name, which is the safeguard of
the living, and the salvation of the dying. Amen.