Orthodox priest shot at his church with sawn-off shotgun in France

An Orthodox priest has been wounded in a shooting in the French city of Lyon.

The Telegraph reports that the priest was critically injured in the attack, which occurred as he was closing his church. 

A police source told AFP news agency that the gunman used a sawn-off shotgun and had fled the scene. 

Another police official told Reuters news agency that the priest had received treatment at the scene for "life-threatening injuries". 

Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, said the attack was "sad and concerning". 

"Our condolences and prayers are with our sisters and brothers in the Greek Orthodox community in Britain and France," he said. 

It comes just days after a terror attack on a church in the southern French city of Nice in which three people were killed, including a 60-year-old woman who was beheaded as she prayed. 

Eyewitnesses said the suspect in the Nice attack, Brahim Aoussaoui, 21, had arrived in France from Tunisia just last month. 

Responding to the Nice attack, French President Emmanuel Macron promised to escalate security at churches.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, said he was "horrified" by the attack, especially as it had taken place in a place of worship.

"People have been killed in a sacred place, which they had entered in order to pray. I know the Basilica well. It is much loved by the people of Nice and by so many visitors," he said.

"Its violation deepens the horror of three brutal killings. May these three innocent people rest in peace. May all people reject utterly the pathway of senseless violence. May God bless Nice."

News
Richard Moth appointed as new Archbishop of Westminster
Richard Moth appointed as new Archbishop of Westminster

Bishop Richard Moth has been confirmed as the new Archbishop of Westminster, the most senior post in the Catholic Church in England and Wales. 

The mystery of the Wise Men
The mystery of the Wise Men

The carol assures us that “We three kings of Orient are…” and tells us they were “following yonder star”. Can we be sure there were three of them? Were they kings? Where in the Orient were they from? What was the star they followed? In fact, there is a lot that we just do not know. This is the story …

English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day
English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day

English Heritage has admitted it got it wrong when it shared false claims that the date of Christmas is derived from a pagan Roman festival in honour of a sun god.

Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'
Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'

Pam Knowles started helping out her church Sunday school in 1951 at the age of 13.