| World Council of Churches |
23 January 2020
The Middle East Council of Churches issued a statement
related to the case and fate of two Archbishops, Boulos Yaziji and Mor
Gregorius Youhanna Ibrahim, who were kidnapped on 22 April 2013.
“Over the past couple of months, many worrying reports
and claims regarding the case and fate of the two Archbishops Boulos
Yaziji and Mor Gregorius Youhanna Ibrahim who were kidnapped on April
22, 2013 in the western countryside of Aleppo – Syria, went viral in
media outlets,” reads the statement.
“The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the
East, and the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East,
have been closely monitoring these reports that are totally independent
from our relentless efforts and endeavors in the search for our two
missing Archbishops and we are determined to leave no stone unturned
until we identify their whereabouts and their fate.”
The statement continues: “In that respect, we neither
confirm nor deny the validity of these reports, or the different other
claims we have been receiving from various sources on a daily basis.”
The statement concludes: “While we extend our sincere
gratitude to all individuals and entities who are concerned about the
fate of our Archbishops and especially those who are undertaking
initiatives to help shed the light on their ordeal, we ask all to pray
for the two Archbishops and invite all those who can help our official
endeavors in bringing this humanitarian case to an end to contact the
churches through the official, designated channels.”