We remember Patrick with affection and great respect for his faithful work for the persecuted Church over many years. More than once he was such a good Guest Speaker at our national Women’s Intercession and Bible Week, equipping us to see the dangers of Islam to the UK as well as enabling us to pray for the persecuted Church. In particular, we remember how he stood firm with grace and dignity when he faced such opposition to his work as he shared, in a measure, in the sufferings of Christ. May his reward be great from the Lord he so loved. Gay Hyde. (and on behalf of the women’s work of intercession).

It was with great sadness that I received the news of the passing of Very Rev. Fr. Patrick Sookdeo. His departure has touched me deeply. Over the years, I had the privilege of meeting Fr. Patrick on several occasions, and I always experienced him as a remarkably kind, compassionate, and thoughtful person. His warmth, wisdom, and sincere concern for others left a lasting impression on all who had the blessing of knowing him. While our hearts mourn his loss, we are comforted by the certainty of our Christian faith. I firmly believe that Fr. Patrick is now with Christ, whom he served faithfully throughout his life and ministry. May the Lord grant him eternal rest among the saints and reward him abundantly for his devoted service to the Church and to so many people around the world. Please accept my heartfelt condolences. I assure you of my prayers for Fr. Patrick, for his family, and for all who grieve his passing. With deepest sympathy and in the hope of the Resurrection, Dr. Dr. Josef Önder, M.A., Germany

It was with deep sorrow that I received the news of the passing of our beloved brother in Christ, Ahuna Chorepiscopos Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo. This painful and unexpected news has deeply moved me and the faithful of my Archdiocese. In Abuna Patrick, Christendom has lost a faithful servant of God whose faith, scholarship, and tireless dedication to the Gospel touched and inspired many lives. With gratitude, I recall our warm and fraternal meetings here in Istanbul, most recently last year. His sincere attachment to the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch and his steadfast support for our Church throughout the world will remain unforgettable. He was a man of deep faith, great kindness, and genuine Christian brotherhood. In the hope of the Resurrection, we pray that the Lord may grant rest to his soul and receive him into the communion of the saints. May Christ, the Resurrection and the Life, grant comfort, strength, and peace to you and to all who mourn his passing. Please accept my heartfelt condolences, united with the prayers of the clergy and faithful of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch in our Archdiocese. In fraternal fellowship and in the prayer of our Risen Lord, Filuksinus Yusuf Cetin Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir        

I met Rev. Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo for the first time at a church in London in 2008 when I was a theological student in England. On that night at a London church, he eloquently reported on the persecution of Christians around the world and the challenges of religiously inspired terrorism in the West and beyond. His highly clear, articulate, and persuasive communication style greatly inspired my mind and touched my heart. In subsequent years, I got to know Patrick as an individual through personal interactions and as an intellectual through reading his books. Patrick had a high academic capacity for writing books and exceptional organizational skills to lead a large charity, which he was also a founder of. He was uniquely gifted to simultaneously engage with the academic world and arrange distribution of relief among persecuted Christians. If his mind was occupied with complex intellectual ideas, his heart would be burning with sheer compassion for the persecuted church. The breadth and depth of his knowledge was also very wide-ranging. He could preach expository sermons at Christian leaders’ gatherings and deliver lectures on Jihadist ideologies and global security in military settings.  And he would not disappoint his audience in either context. His ability to distill complex ideas into a clear, concise, and comprehensive speech would captivate the audience. Patrick Sookhdeo was an outspoken and brave advocate of the persecuted church. Through his words and actions, he expressed resolute solidarity with the majority world Christians who were hated for no reason except for their faith in Christ. He led initiatives in providing food, housing, education, legal aid, and other forms of support to suffering brothers and sisters all over the world. These acts of compassion and support were performed irrespective of a Christian community’s denominational background. That is why he was much…

None of Patrick’s outstanding global ministry would have been possible without the many relationships he was able to form with influential people of all faiths who appreciated his intellect, grasp of theology, compassion, and sincerity. He was also able to adapt and both creative and effective when addressing the many sudden political and other crises that those working in the field of minority persecution often face. The work goes on and, in many ways, the persecution continues to already and to deepen. Patrick showed how it could be done, particularly through working with local partners which enabled the overheads of Barnabas Fund ti remain so low thereby ensuring the maximum possible connection between donor and recipient. Patrick regularly risked his life travelling to dangerous areas in order to bring spiritual and practical comfort to those who were often the poorest of the poor. Despite suffering from several chronjc illnesses which would debilitate a lesser man Patrick showed an energy and drive which exhausted those around him. In this he was ably supported by his wife Rosemary, and his manager and secretary Caroline Kerslake, who travelled everywhere with him and shared the hardships and risks. It was my privilege to know him and to be able to support his work during some of the darkest times and he was, without exaggeration, a great man called by God. May he now enjoy his much-earned rest in the company of the Lord he loved and served. Dr Russell Blacker