Senior Syriac Melkite Orthodox Priest George Hosh commits suicide inside St. Geórgios Cathedral in Lattakia, Syria

LATAKIA, Syria — The Syriac Melkite Orthodox Archdiocese in Latakia issued a statement announcing the death of Senior Priest George Rafik Hosh after he shot himself inside St. Geórgios Cathedral on Wednesday.

According to the statement, this surprising incident was the result of accumulated psychological, social, and material pressures on the priest’s shoulders.

The statement called on all believers to pray and ask the Lord to have mercy on him. Funeral services are being planned.

Sources indicated that the priest shot himself with a military pistol during the holy Liturgy, at St. Geórgios Cathedral. Handwritten papers were found in his possession, indicating that he was subjected to great psychological pressure.

After the medical examination, it was found that he was gunshot in his chest.