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CV NEWS FEED // King Charles III visited the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception in London Dec. 17 for a multi-faith Advent service. While there, the King expressed his solidarity with Christians affected by conflicts in the Middle East, including a religious sister from the Syrian Catholic Church.
Held at the Jesuit Catholic church, which is also known as Farm Street Church, the service “celebrated the strength and courage of faith communities with religious leaders and Christian refugees,” according to The Telegraph.
The King met with Sister Annie Demerjian, from the Syrian Catholic Church, who described the dire situation in her homeland after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime.
“It is desperate but we are praying for a better future,” Sister Demerjian told the Telegraph. “It was an honour to meet His Majesty once again … He remembered my name having met him a few years ago when I was in the UK, and he asked me about the situation in my country. He said he was praying for us, for all the people who have been displaced and find themselves battling against (the) odds.”
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According to the event’s co-host, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the Advent service was held to reflect on the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Mosul and the Nineveh Plains in northern Iraq by Daesh (ISIS) and highlight the charity’s efforts.
“Throughout their long history, dating back to the first century, the Christians of Iraq have been no strangers to suffering,” Dr. Caroline Hull, national director of ACN UK said, according to a press release from the organization. “But little could prepare them for the terrors that would be inflicted both on them and so many other communities in recent years.”
Dr. Hull added, “Since his time as Prince of Wales, the King has shown profound and unstinting compassion, going out of his way to hear the personal stories of the afflicted faithful.”
ACN has supported the rebuilding of churches and homes in the region, enabling thousands of families to return to their homeland, according to the release.
Father Dominic Robinson presided over the 30 minute service, after which the King met with ACN-selected groups, the Telegraph noted.
During these meetings, King Charles received an early Christmas present painted by an Iraqi refugee who fled her homeland after the ISIS invasion 10 years ago. The monarch said the painting, rich with symbolic meaning, was “extraordinary.”
The King spoke to Ban Butrus, 49, and her adult children Jolia, 27, Peter, 24 and Sofia, 23, who also fled their homeland after the ISIS invasion and persecution of Christians.
After meeting the King, Jolia told the Telegraph, “He’s giving 100 per cent support to the people of Iraq and the King giving up his time to meet us is really important.”
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