Church leaders in the Holy Land say an attack at a church in Jordan which killed seven people won’t succeed in driving Christians from the region.

Around 40 people were injured when gunmen opened fire during a funeral at St George's Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hamoud in Karak which is home to a longstanding Christian community.

In a statement which described Friday's attack as “vile and cowardly”, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, along with members of the Holy Synod, and the Metropolitan Christophoros of Jordan extended their “deepest condolences” to the bereaved families and to the Jordanian people.

But striking a defiant tone they said “despite the immense pain felt throughout all of Jordan, and by all honourable people across the world, this abhorrent, bloody act will not undermine our national unity or our steadfastness. On the contrary, it only strengthens the bond between Christians and Muslims, uniting us more firmly around our Hashemite leadership”.

Calling on Christians in Jordan to remain steadfast against “dark, extremist ideology”, the leaders said “If the intent behind this message is to uproot us from our Holy Land and displace us, it will only serve to strengthen our attachment to it and deepen our roots within it. No matter how intense the events around us may become, or what hardships may befall us, we shall not be driven to leave our land. We are the children of this land, its very roots, and partners in its history, its present, and its future. We shall remain here as witnesses to the faith, regardless of how great the challenges or how severe the trials may be”.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.