The Romanian Orthodox Bishop Mihail of Australia and New Zealand has issued a message of solidarity and prayer following the tragedy at Bondi Beach, Sydney, calling for peace, mutual respect, and interreligious dialogue within Australian society.
In his message delivered after the armed attack that left 15 people dead and more than 20 injured, His Grace noted that such acts of violence “ contravene the fundamental values of human dignity and violate the sacred gift of life that comes from God” Bishop Mihail expressed his profound sorrow over the loss of human lives and the suffering of those who were wounded.
Bishop of Australia and New Zealand offers prayers for the repose of the souls of those who were killed and for the swift recovery of the injured, while also asking for comfort and consolation for the bereaved families and for all those affected by this tragic event.
The members of the Diocesan Council of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand expressed their “profound sadness, compassion, and solidarity” with the grieving Jewish community following the attack, emphasizing the need for a united response in rejecting hatred and extremism.
The Diocese joins all those who work for “the defence of social cohesion, public safety, and the common good within the multicultural Australian community”.
The tragedy occurred on Sunday on a beach in Australia’s largest city, where two armed men opened fire during a Jewish religious celebration attended by more than one thousand people. It is the most severe armed attack in Australia in recent decades.
Photo credit: Basilica.ro Archive / Mircea Florescu
