Christian churches pray for Palestinians killed in Gaza

Описание: (22 Oct 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jerusalem - 22 October 2023
1. Various of prayer service inside the Holy Sepulchre church
2. Various of Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III leading prayer
3. Various of Coptic and Catholic prelates attending service
4. Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Cyprus at service
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Cyprus:
"We are all Christians. We believe in God, the author of life, and because of that, we come here and pray together for the departed, especially those who were killed and who died in Gaza, recently in the church they have (unclear) and also those in the hospital. So for those we pray together as Christians because it is our duty to pray for the departed to ask God to give them eternal peace. That is what we do."
6. Patriarch leaving service
7. Church ceiling
8. Christian religious leaders outside Church
9. Exterior Church of the Holy Sepulchre
STORYLINE:
Patriarchs and heads of Christian Churches in Jerusalem gathered at the Holy Sepulchre Church in Jerusalem on Sunday to offer prayers for those killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

The service at Jerusalem's holiest church was especially dedicated to those killed in the bombing of St. Porphyrious Church.

"So for those we pray together as Christians because it is our duty to pray for the departed to ask God to give them eternal peace. That is what we do," said Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Cyprus.

The Church of Saint Porphyrios, the oldest in the blockaded Gaza Strip, named after a 5th century bishop was hit by an Israeli airstrike late Thursday, causing casualties among the Palestinian families sheltered inside.

The Church is located near the Al-Ahli Hospital, where a deadly blast had earlier in the week killed hundreds of people according to Gaza's health ministry.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem in a statement has condemned the Israeli strike on the church, that had been housing displaced families who lost their homes in the ongoing war.

The Associated Press has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre lies in the northwest quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem and is the most sacred site for millions of Christian believers.

AP video shot by Alon Bernstein
Production by Maria Grazia Murru

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