The Prince of Wales and HRH Prince Ghazi of Jordan visit Coptic and Syrian Orthodox communities

December 2013

The Prince of Wales has heard the heartbreaking stories of Syrians desperate for the international community to end the conflict in their homeland.

His Royal Highness was accompanied by Prince Ghazi of Jordan and the Bishop of London, the Right Rev Richard Chartres throughout his day.

David Yakoub, who was close to tears, put his hands together and pleaded with The Prince to help as the heir to the throne visited the London cathedral of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

The Prince listened intently as the Mr Yakoub described how his home village of Sadat, was attacked by insurgents who killed people and desecrated the settlement’s church.

When he appealed to The Prince to help, saying “I ask you to do something”, His Royal Highness patted him on the arm in sympathy.

Another Syrian man showed The Prince mobile phone images of the destruction in his home village.

At St. Thomas Cathedral in East Acton, west London, The Prince met other worshippers of the Syriac Orthodox Church whose followers are spread across the Middle East from southern Turkey to Syria, Jordan, and parts of India.

The Prince spent the day meeting Christians from the Middle East to learn about the problems they face.

In Stevenage at the Coptic Orthodox Church centre, he chatted to Syrian Anglican Huda Nassar, 51, Middle East director for the Awareness Foundation, which aims to improve relations between East and West.

“He said it was heartbreaking what was going on in Syria,” she said.

After visiting the churches, The Prince attended an Advent reception at Clarence House to celebrate Christians from the Middle-East.

Source: