His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' expressed his condolences over the killing of believers of the Ethiopian Church in the East Wollega Zone, Oromia Region. On March 5, 2021, as a result of an attack by militants, several dozen people were killed, most of the victims were women and children.
His Holiness Abune Mattias Patriarch-Catholicos оf Ethiopia
Your Holiness,
Beloved Brother in Christ,
My heart grieved as I learned about yet another tragedy that had occurred in Ethiopia – a brutal murder of the rector and dozens of believers, including women and children, of the Ethiopian Church’s parish, committed by extremists in East Wellega Zone, Oromia Region.
I express my sincere condolences to Your Holiness, as well as to all relatives and friends of the victims of this dreadful crime. The Russian Orthodox Church sympathizes deeply with fraternal Ethiopia, which is now undergoing hard ordeals.
I assure you that we will continue to strongly support the Ethiopian Christians in their inalienable right to live in peace and safety in their country. While mourning for all those who have died for faith in recent years and hoping for the triumph of justice, let us remember that, as St. Paul said, for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 6:23).
May the All-Merciful Lord grant peace and welfare unto the longsuffering land of ancient Abyssinia.
With love in the Lord,
+KIRILL
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA