Primates of Orthodox Churches around the world react to quake devastation in SE Turkey, NW Syria

Colossal devastation caused on Monday by earthquakes that struck southeast Turkey and northwest Syria has rescuers struggling to dig people out of the rubble of collapsed buildings on Tuesday, as the death toll across a wide area now exceeds 5,000. The first tremor, a magnitude 7.8 on the Richter scale, was the deadliest quake in Turkey since 1999.
Another devastating earthquake, measuring 7.4, followed hours later.
Thousands of buildings have been toppled, hospitals and schools wrecked, and tens of thousands of people were injured or left homeless in several Turkish and Syrian cities.

Harsh winter weather is hampering search efforts and the delivery of aid, while some areas remain without fuel and electricity.

In war-ravaged Syria, the death toll stands at more than 1,600, according to the government in Damascus and a rebel-affiliated emergency service in the insurgent-held northwest.

The world’s Orthodox Primates immediately reacted to the calamitous scenes of destruction and human suffering, with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His All Holiness Bartholomew I, expressing his deep shock at the tragic death of thousands of our fellow humans and the injury of many others.

In letters to the President of the Turkish Republic, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, but also to Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East, His All Holiness expressed his sympathy to the victims as well as sincerest condolences, along with the support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The Ecumenical Patriarch, who is based in Turkey, said the Mother Church is praying that the All-Benevolent God may rest the souls of the victims, and strengthen their families and relatives in their deepest mourning.

The Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, His Beatitude Theodoros II, also expressed condolences and sympathy for the victims, in Patriarchal Letters addressed to His All Holiness Bartholomew I and His Beatitude John X.

On his part, the Patriarch of All Romania, His Beatitude Daniel sent a message of solidarity and compassion addressed to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, stressing, among others:

“In these moments of hard trial, we raise our prayers to the Most Merciful God for the repose of the souls of the deceased and the speedy healing of those injured, as well as for the help of all those who were affected by the earthquake.”

Condolences to the president of Turkey were also extended by the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II.

Back in Greece, the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, His Beatitude Ieronymos, in a communique issued by the Archdiocese, expressed shock, and noted that “…all Greeks have been watching with pain…the tragic loss of life of hundreds of our fellow citizens in neighboring Turkey and in Syria…I am certain that, as we did in 1999, so today, Greeks will be in every way close to our neighbors, and that the Greek State will stand by their side, offering all possible assistance. We pray to God for every possible consolation and stand in solidarity with the friendly peoples of Turkey and Syria.”

Elsewhere in southeast Europe, the Archbishop of Durres, Tirana and All Albania, His Beatitude Anastasios, expressed his deepest sorrow, while conveying letters of support to the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Patriarch of Antioch.

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