Church Bells to Ring for Christians in the Middle East

Fribourg, Switzerland, August 10, 2015

    

Charles Morerod, Bishop of Fribourg, Lausanne and Geneva invited all churches of his diocese to ring their bells at noon on August 15. With this action he joins an initiative of various dioceses in France who want to demonstrate this action as a sign of solidarity with the Christians in the Middle East. The initiative for this occasion came from a French amateur group.

"On August 15, while celebrating the Assumption of Mary into heaven, we want entrust the Christians of the Middle East to Mary, Mother of Peace," writes Bishop Morerod in a press release dated August 8. This is accompanied with a prayer to Our Lady. The French initiative has been proposed by activist group, which itself goes back to the call as a prayer of solidarity. Whether other Swiss dioceses will join the initiative is still open.

In France various dioceses have called for ringing of church bells on august 15. Archbishop Jean-Pierre Cattenoz of Avignon commented that they have chosen the Solemnity of the Assumption date, because Maria is regarded and called as a patron especially among the Christians in the Middle East.

Assyrian International News Agency

8/10/2015

See also
400 Syrian Churches Destroyed, Christianity Nearing ‘Extinction’ in Mideast 400 Syrian Churches Destroyed, Christianity Nearing ‘Extinction’ in Mideast 400 Syrian Churches Destroyed, Christianity Nearing ‘Extinction’ in Mideast 400 Syrian Churches Destroyed, Christianity Nearing ‘Extinction’ in Mideast — Russian Orthodox Patriarch
"I regularly get reports of horrible crimes that are committed there against Christians, especially in northern Iraq. I have visited those places and I remember that there were many churches and monasteries there. The city of Mosul alone had 45 churches. Now there is not a single one." The New Exodus: Christians Flee ISIS in the Middle East The New Exodus: Christians Flee ISIS in the Middle East The New Exodus: Christians Flee ISIS in the Middle East The New Exodus: Christians Flee ISIS in the Middle East
Less than 1 percent of the world’s more than 2 billion Christians live in the Middle East, and there are fears that number could dwindle even further. Death, violence and displacement: The persecution of Christians Death, violence and displacement: The persecution of Christians Death, violence and displacement: The persecution of Christians Death, violence and displacement: The persecution of Christians
Believers: attacked and killed; churches, schools and businesses: looted and torched - Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world. Can Christians hope for the freedom to practice without fear?
Comments
Nour Mansour8/13/2015 1:01 am
Since Christ came never the middle east was without Christians. Do u think now He will allow this to happen. NO. So I know the triumph of our Lady of Fatima is 2017 as She said by the end of the century my Heart will triumph and we will have peace. The Bible speak about that . The sound of the footsteps of the Immaculate heart and the footsteps of Jesus we can hear. They will be here before any one tries to empty the Middle East from Christians. And Jesus and Mary will empty the world from evil.
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