With the elapse of two thousand days since the abduction of H.E. Mor Gregorious Youhanna Ibrahim and his brother in Christ Bishop Boulos Yazigi, we have been praying to Our Lord and God Jesus Christ, seeking the supplications of the Mother of God the ever Virgin Mary and the sacred saints for the release of all the abducted, including H.E. Ibrahim and Bishop Yazigi.

Those are difficult times for human kind, for our beloved Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, our brothers and Sisters in Christ and others living in the Cradle of Civilization Mesopotamia. They have been the target of persecution, destruction of their worshiping places, monasteries, homes and their businesses. But, we repeat with St. Paul saying:

On the 4th anniversary of the abduction of Ibrahim and Yazigi, both H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, the Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and his brother in Christ John X the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, issued a joint statement . From this statement we share here:

In giving his peace, Christ said, “Fear not, for lo, I am with you until the end of the age.” We remind ourselves and our children and the whole world that the open-minded Christian presence in this East is more than a presence; it is an identity rather than a boast. Our summons today brings to the attention of the world, organizations, states, governments, associations and embassies, a cry of truth: We want to live in this East in harmony and peace with all faiths. We are not in need of sympathy for us or denunciation of others, but we are in need of serious and sincere good will from all parties to foster peace in our land. The lives of our people are not cheaper than anyone else’s life.

Archbishops Paul Yazigi and John Ibrahim were kidnapped and no one troubled himself to issue more than a mere statement of denunciation or promise yielding no results up to this very moment. We value and appreciate the work and zeal of some who have worked with all their strength in behalf of this issue, but the truth must be said: We were, and are still awaiting more than that, especially from those who have the power of binding and loosing internationally and regionally.

Later, in June, 2018, following discussions among the members of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) during their meeting held in Geneva, the Central Committee issued a statement calling for the safe return of H.E. Ibrahim and Bishop Yazigi, from this statement we share here:

“The central committee recalls with heavy hearts the abduction five years ago of the archbishops of Aleppo, Youhanna Ibrahim and Paul Yazigi. We continue to pray for their safe return to their churches, their communities and their families, as a sign of hope for all the Christians of Syria and the region.”

This Central Committee of the WCC's June 2018 statement, also noted with grave concern the deteriorating situation of the Christians in the Middle East, and called for the awakening of the world to what the negative consequences on Christianity presence in the Middle East following the recent events:

“The Middle East is the cradle of Christianity, from the Holy Land to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Cyprus where the apostles of Christ proclaimed the Good News to the world. Since the time of Jesus Christ Christians have lived in the Middle East and their significance cannot be reduced to mere minorities. The contribution of Christians to civilization, society and culture in the Middle East exceeds by far any effort of quantification. However, conflict, violence, discrimination, demolition of churches and forced displacement put the presence and witness of Christianity in the region of its birth at great risk. We hold all the churches of the region – especially those in Israel and Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Cyprus – in our hearts and prayers as they confront the crisis facing their future presence and witness in the region.”

Further, and during the Holy Qorbono that was celebrated by H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, the Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, held at Mor Severus Church of the Patriarchal Residence in Atchaneh, Lebanon marking the commencement of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch's 2018 Holy Synod, prayers were said for peace to prevail. In addition, in this Holy Qorbono, remembered the two abducted Archbishops of Aleppo Mor Gregorius Youhanna Ibrahim and Boulos Yazigi, asking God that they return safe soon.