Statement from Assistant Metropolitan on Recent Strikes on Iran and Middle East Unrest

Our hearts are heavy with concern for the escalating conflict in our region and the profound anxiety it has caused among communities across the Middle East and beyond. Recent coordinated military strikes against Iran have not only devastated key parts of Iranian cities but have also triggered a wave of retaliatory actions and widespread unrest that is affecting millions of lives. 

The violence and retaliation have resulted in civilian casualties, damage to critical infrastructure, and deep fear among families who are unsure of what tomorrow may bring. Reports of attacks against airports, residential areas, and public spaces which include nations within the Gulf region, remind us that war spares no one, and that the innocent often bear the heaviest burdens of conflict. 

As Christians who are committed to the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are called first and foremost to be peacemakers, to lament the loss of life, and to uphold the dignity of every human being created in the image of God. The escalation of hostilities does not bring security or justice; rather, it deepens wounds and prolongs suffering among the very people whose well-being we are called to protect.

Many residents across the Gulf region and diaspora live with uncertainty and distress, and have a deep desire for calm, security, and peace. May the light of Christ dispel the darkness of fear, and may humanity rise above the ravages of conflict toward a future shaped by mutual respect and understanding.

I urge all people of good will to pray that the Lord will soften the hearts of all our leaders, and that it may open paths to further dialogues which lead to resolutions.  

- Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos

Assistant Metropolitan of the Diocese of Canada

Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church