NIKI expresses its utter revulsion and deepest sorrow over the new, unholy terrorist attack suffered by our Romeosyne in the heart of martyred Syria. The suicide bombing at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Prophet Elijah in Damascus, which claimed the tragic lives of dozens of our brethren — including innocent children — is yet another link in the centuries-old chain of persecutions against Christianity and our Genos.
The sacred temple was turned into a Golgotha, and our brothers and sisters, as new martyrs, watered the suffering soil of the East with their blood.
The Romeoi of Syria are not strangers. They are flesh of our flesh, our very own brothers and sisters, the living continuation of our common homeland — they are us. And once again, the powers of darkness and fanaticism have targeted us. This attack is not an isolated incident. It is the brutal expression of an ideology that seeks to eradicate everything Romeiko, everything Greek Orthodox.
NIKI has always fought — and now more than ever — for the tangible solidarity of the Greek people toward our brethren, through missions of aid, support, and awareness. NIKI cries out and continues to cry out to every Greek, but also to every free voice around the world: the Romeoi of the Middle East are in immediate danger and need protection.
We therefore call upon the Greek Government not only to immediately and unequivocally condemn this atrocity, but also to take substantial action to safeguard the lives of the Romeoi in Syria.
Today is a day of mourning for our Genos. But we will never grow accustomed to the slaughter of our people, we will never renounce our historical responsibility and our struggle, and we will never capitulate.
We carry in our hearts the truth that wherever Romeoi live, that place is our homeland — and we shall fight with even greater resolve for the resurrection of Romeosyne and of our Genos.
Our thoughts are with the families of the victims. We pray for the repose of the souls of our brothers and sisters, and for the swift recovery of the wounded.
