May 17, Interfax. His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, pointed out that Christian communities are being persecuted more than other religious communities around the world.
“Evidently, Christianity has become the most persecuted religion in the world,” the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church mentioned during his meeting with Patriarch and Catholicos Abune Mathias I of Ethiopia in Moscow on Thursday.
In particular, the Patriarch noted that the situation in Nigeria “is of great concern”, where the genocide of Christians reached “the greatest extent”.
The Primate of the ROC also sympathizes with Christians who are in an illegal situation in Somalia, because there are almost no legal Christian communities in Somalia left. Terrorists threaten Christians in Kenya.
The Patriarch recalled that the faithful of the Ethiopian Church became victims of terrorists as well, when they were shot dead on the Mediterranean coast in Libya in April, 2015.
“All Christian Churches and communities should unite in order to make a common response to the terrorists and the genocide of Christians,” His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill, noted. He also said with regret that contradictions between the great powers are deepening instead, including the countries with a common Christian background.
“What is happening now is terrible. They kill people like animals. They commit massacres,” Patriarch Abune Mathias I said in reply. He also stressed that Christians in Africa expect support from the Russian Church and the Russian government.
Translated by pravmir.com
