Syria: Christians mark 1 month since bishops' kidnapping
(Vatican Radio) Below we publish the statement issues by the Christians of Aleppo,
Syria who are marking one month since the kidnapping of two bishops near the Turkish
border:
One month lapsed and we are still living the nightmare of the abduction
whereabouts our two Archbishops Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim Metropolitan of the
Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo, and Boulos Yazaji Metropolitan of the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo, were kidnapped on the 22nd of April 2013.
An unknown group has abducted them without claiming its responsibility until now,
neither announcing the reasons for the abduction nor knowing their place.
We
the Syriac and the Greek Orthodox Archdioceses of Aleppo and in coordination with
our two Patriarchates in Damascus, express day after day our sadness and increasing
pain about the abduction and the absence of these two eminent Prelates, and to what
they represent in terms of their holiness, their local and international rank, their
active role on all levels including the spiritual, the thoughts, the academic, the
education and the social; but above all the humanitarian work which they were carrying
within the current crisis which is engulfing our country Syria.
Today, and
after one month of abduction, and despite all the prayers and the supplications in
the local churches and worldwide; as well as the calls, the statements and the efforts
from the Christian and Muslim organizations in the world and the international community,
we renew our request for the abductees to revise their action, fear God, and release
the two Archbishops without hurting their health or physical situation; and release
all other abducted priests and innocent civilians. One month in abduction is more
than enough for the two Archbishops. As it is painful for them in their abduction,
it is also painful for all the faithful of their two communities, the people of Syria
and the world. The continuous abduction of the two Archbishops is damaging the structure
of Syria in its diverse components and its long history of coexistence and citizenship.
Such a catastrophe will be remembered and recorded in history, likewise the devastating
and the grieve of Syria. Such acts will not terrify us because we are the sons of
the “Resurrection”. We trust that the mercy of the one God whom we all believe in,
will guide the abductees and induce them to release the Archbishops without any pre-conditions,
because there is no price equals the freedom of the two Archbishops, and no condition
equals their safe return to their communities and churches.
We renew our supplication
and continue our prayers with solemnity to our God for the release of the Archbishops,
the priests and all those who are in abduction.