HG Bishop Ermia, General Bishop and head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center wrote on his Facebook page, “We thank God for the survival of His Holiness Patriarch Mar Ignatius Ephrem II after an assassination in Qamishli; and pray for the injured and ask that the martyrs rest in peace and consolation to their families and loved ones.”
Syrian Orthodox church chief Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II had a narrow escape after a suicide bombing in Qamshi in Syria targeted him on Sunday afternoon. The patriarch was attending the commemoration of thousands of Christians killed by Ottaman army in 1915, called the `Sayfo’ (sword) massacre.
When the security officials of the Patriarch blocked the suicide bomber wearing a priest clothes who tried to enter the commemoration hall, the bomber detonated himself and three security officials died on the spot.
