Statement Issued by the Middle East Council of Churches
Condemnation of the Attack on Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Karak – Jordan
The Middle East Council of Churches expresses its strongest condemnation and categorical denunciation of the armed attack that targeted Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in the Governorate of Karak, in the Hashemite Kingdom ofJordan, resulting in a number of deaths and injuries. This criminal act constitutes a grave violation of the sanctity of places of worship, the sacredness of human life, and human dignity.
As it follows this painful incident, the Middle East Council of Churches, with profound sorrow and grief, extends its deepest condolences to the families and relatives of the victims, to His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine and Jordan, and to His Eminence Archbishop Christophoros,Archbishop of Jordan.
The Council raises its prayers to the Lord for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives and for the speedy recovery of the injured. It asks God to grant patience and consolation to their families and to surround the brotherly Jordanian people with His peace and mercy.
The Council affirms that targeting churches and places of worship, and attacking worshippers and peaceful civilians, constitute a blatant violation of the sanctity of holy places and of the human and moral values shared by the entire human family. Such acts are unacceptable and condemnable by every religious, humanitarian, and national standard.
Places of worship exist to be houses of prayer, peace, and hope—not arenas of violence, killing, and fear.
As the Council expresses its full solidarity with the churches in Jordan and with the Jordanian people in all their diversity, it stresses that violence is to be condemned and that protecting human beings, safeguarding their dignity, and preserving freedom of worship are shared responsibilities. These responsibilities require strengthening a culture ofdialogue, tolerance, and life together, while rejecting all forms of extremism, hatred, and violence against innocent people.
The Council also expresses its confidence that the competent authorities will uncover the circumstances surrounding thiscrime and hold those responsible accountable in accordance with the law and as swiftly as possible, in order to prevent the spread of rumors and unreliable information.
Such action is essential to safeguarding the security, unity, and well-being of the beloved Jordanian society and tostrengthening the values of justice, peace, and mutual respect among all its components.
The Middle East Council of Churches, guided by its ecumenical mission of promoting unity, common witness, and service to the human person, affirms that dialogue, awareness, love, and the rejection of hate speech are among the mosteffective means of safeguarding civil peace and social stability.
In this painful time, we raise our prayers to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, asking Him to heal the wounds of those who suffer, console grieving hearts, grant Jordan and the peoples of our region the grace of peace and security,protect His Church and its faithful, and spare humanity the evils of violence and hatred.
May mercy be upon the souls of the victims, healing upon the injured, consolation upon their families, and peace upon Jordan and its people.
Middle East Council of Churches
Beirut, 23 October 2026