For slain Russian envoy, ‘a highly unusual public expression of Christianity in a Muslim country’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwaGp0GPMXg

The number of Christians in Turkey is exceedingly small—by one estimate, the country is over 99 percent Muslim, with Christians of various denominations making up a fraction of 1 percent.  So what happened today is noteworthy—and poignant.

The Russian diplomat who was assassinated yesterday was given a very Christian farewell at the airport, complete with prayers and incense from an Orthodox priest.  You can watch it above.

A retired State Department official told Aleteia it was a “highly unusual public expression of Christianity in a Muslim country.”

From Reuters: 

The remains of Russian envoy Andrey Karlov were sent back to Moscow from Turkey on Tuesday, a day after he was shot dead by an off-duty police officer in the Turkish capital.

The white, red and blue Russian flag was draped on the casket as a Russian Orthodox priest recited prayers in a ceremony at the Ankara airport. Top ministers from the Turkish government also made spoke in memorial to Karlov.

Karlov was killed on Monday night, shot in the back by a 22-year-old off-duty policeman who shouted slogans associated with Islamic militancy as he launched the attack.

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