We were sad to learn about the unjustified attack by Jewish youth on an Armenian priest, Reverend Fr. Arbak Saroukhanian, as he was walking to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
It is heartbreaking to witness such cruelty, which only intensifies the current crisis in the City of the Peace, Jerusalem.
We commend the medical services for their immediate response to the injured priest, as well as the civil authorities for their prompt response to the incident. We hope that, through the application of the laws governing these matters, such painful episodes may be prevented in the future.
We pray for mutual respect, tolerance, and cooperation among all the religions in the Holy Land as a role model for peaceful coexistence and for the prosperity of all mankind.
Archbishop Anoushavan
Prelate, Eastern United States