St. Porphyrios Orthodox Church
Gaza City
26 October 2023
We were able to speak with our sources at the St. Porphyrios Orthodox Church in Gaza City again this morning. Anxiety was running high, but once again those seeking safety in the church were unharmed. There was a palpable tension. The air was thick with the sound of explosions and rumblings as the air strikes continued and the land strikes began.
“It is very bad now,” one source confided. “There are a lot of attacks from the air and the land. I don’t know what is happening outside. It is too risky to go outside to check.”
We were able to give our source some information that the Order of St. George had just received as an IDF press release.
“Overnight, the IDF conducted a targeted raid using tanks in the northern Gaza Strip as part of the preparations for the next stages of combat…the soldiers exited the area at the end of the activity.”
My source was grateful to be told what was going on, but the numbers, 7,000 dead in Gaza since the war began, do not bring anyone peace. The survivors in the church compound huddle together in fear, praying for peace and safety.
We once again assured our sources that they are in our prayers, both individually and as a group. We are continuing to do everything we can to raise funds to send them help. Help is coming. We are coming. We will not let these people be forgotten.
