|
All Saints Episcopal Church suffered minor damages in Beirut deadly blast
Publish Date: 11-Aug-2020
A deadly blast rocked the city of Beirut, capital of Lebanon, on 4 August when a warehouse in the harbor exploded. It was reported that a huge amount of ammonium nitrate was stored in the warehouse. The entire port facility and nearby areas were devastated, wounding at least 5000 and killing over 135 people. The Beirut authorities estimated that approximately three hundred thousand people lost their homes and that financial losses amounted to fifteen billion US dollars. Beirut is ministered by the Diocese of Jerusalem, and the All Saints Episcopal Church is in the vicinity of the explosion site. The church, which serves Arabic and English speaking congregations in the capital city, suffered minor damages. Glass doors and windows were shattered, but fortunately nobody was wounded. After the blast, the Most Revd Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, said in Facebook, “I’m praying for all those affected by the terrible explosion in Beirut today, and for the people of Lebanon. Lord, have mercy.” Archbishop Paul Kwong, Chairman of the Anglican Consultative Council, also sent an email to the Most Revd Bishop Suheil Salman Dawani, Archbishop of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, to express solicitude to the congregation of All Saints Episcopal Church and the people of Beirut. Archbishop Paul Kwong also called for prayers for Lebanon, victims of the explosion and their families so that they would overcome their difficulties and leave the shadow of this fatal accident behind.
|
|