Letter from Frére Christian de Chergé, Trappist monk of Notre Dame de l’Atlas, Algeria, who was killed by Islamic fundamentalists on 21 May 1996, together with six of his brothers.
Frére Christian de Chergé was prior of the Trappist monastery of Notre Dame de l’Atlas, in Tibihirine, Algeria; he was kidnapped and killed by terrorists of the Armed Islamic Group, together with six of his brothers, on 21 May 1996. The Tibihirine Monastery was a place of prayer, dialogue and meeting, well known and appreciated by the Algerian Muslim population. Despite the worsening crisis and increasing attacks, the brothers had decided not to leave the monastery and to share dangers and suffering with Algeria and their Muslim friends.