Prayers for Metropolitans Paul Yazigi & Youhanna Ibrahim who were KIDNAPPED..

[Gxg (G²)]

Just found this out - and indeed, Lord Have Mercy! Praying for their well-being and safe return

• Syria: Metropolitans Boulos Yazigi and Mor Youhanna Ibrahim

• Notes on Arab Orthodoxy: Met. Boulos Yazigi Kidnapped Outside Aleppo along with Syriac Orthodox Metr

Metropolitan Paul Yazigi​

Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim​

Metropolitans Paul Yazigi of the Antiochian Orthodox Church and Youhanna Ibrahim of the Syriac Orthodox Church (Jacobite) were kidnapped earlier this morning in Northern Syria. The driver of Aleppo Archbishop and the deacon of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo and the Syrian-Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo, were killed during the attack. The NNA reported that the men were driving from a village near the Turkish border to Aleppo. As they approached the city, they were met with an armed group that forced them out of the car. ALthough the bishops are believed to be alive and efforts are ongoing to secure their release, anything can happen. Pray for them, and all our brothers suffering in Syria due to the ways that there has been such social disorder of late and outsiders are doing much harm toward the Syrian people..

 

[MariaRegina]

Prayers for the Antiochian bishop who was also kidnapped with the Syrian-Orthodox bishop. Their driver was killed.

Lord have mercy

 

[Anhelyna]

Lord have mercy

 

[RobNJ]

Lord have mercy

 

[Dorothea]

Lord, have mercy and help your servants!

 

[Fotina]

Metropolitan Paul Yazigi is brother of the Patriarch John X, I believe.

Lord have mercy!

 

[E.C.]

Same story from Lebanon: خطف المطرانين ابراهيم ويازجي قرب مدينة حل

الله يرحمهن!

 

[gracefullamb]

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[rusmeister]

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Same story from Lebanon: خطف المطرانين ابراهيم ويازجي قرب مدينة Ø[bless and do not curse]ل

الله يرحمهن!

• Notes on Arab Orthodoxy: al-Joumhouria: Details Emerge about the the Metropolitans' Kidnapping

 

[E.C.]

From the Notes on Arab Orthodoxy blog: an article translated into English from Lebanon on some more details on the two bishops and the kidnapping.
Notes on Arab Orthodoxy: al-Joumhouria: Details Emerge about the Metropolitans' Kidnapping

The two bishops were on their way on a humanitarian mission to rescue two kidnapped priests (one Orthodox and the other Catholic) when they were attacked and kidnapped. According to the details that they have, the kidnappers were NOT Syrians, but were foreigners; either Chechen, Afghan or Libyan.

The only way for them to be kidnapped would by by foreigners because what is unique in Syria is the peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians. My teachers from Syria, who are Muslim, have affirmed this since the first time religious topics entered the classroom. This article also affirms it. The Christians in Syria have tried to remain neutral since the war broke out. God willing they can remain neutral, but I fear that this will push them out of neutrality and not in a good way and not good after the war is over.

 

[ikonographics]

Lord have mercy!

 

[Trying_to_be_Orthodox]

Lord, have Mercy!!!

 

[Monica02]

 

[Lukaris]

Lord, have mercy that be freed unharmed, that the other captives be freed, memory eternal to the driver, & prayers that the demons be exercised from their captors & that they repent of their evil.

I guess those USA supplied arms via Jordan help perpetuate these atrocities from Aleppo to Boston. Lord, have mercy.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Lord have mercy on them! memory eternal for their driver, who was a deacon from what I have read

 

[rusmeister]

They've already been freed, it seems.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

From the Notes on Arab Orthodoxy blog: an article translated into English from Lebanon on some more details on the two bishops and the kidnapping.
Notes on Arab Orthodoxy: al-Joumhouria: Details Emerge about the Metropolitans' Kidnapping

The two bishops were on their way on a humanitarian mission to rescue two kidnapped priests (one Orthodox and the other Catholic) when they were attacked and kidnapped. According to the details that they have, the kidnappers were NOT Syrians, but were foreigners; either Chechen, Afghan or Libyan.

The only way for them to be kidnapped would by by foreigners because what is unique in Syria is the peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians. My teachers from Syria, who are Muslim, have affirmed this since the first time religious topics entered the classroom. This article also affirms it. The Christians in Syria have tried to remain neutral since the war broke out. God willing they can remain neutral, but I fear that this will push them out of neutrality and not in a good way and not good after the war is over.

Very true what you noted, as others have noted the same reality in how others not connected to Syria have sought to take advantage of the chaos to do their own thing - with others on the outside watching/assuming it's solely a matter of Syrians harming Syrians.

Although there's potential for believers to react to the situation, I do think they have much wisdom in knowing what's at stake if they forget the peace that has been between them and other non-Christians and how many don't have their best interest (be it Non-Christian terrorists or even other Christians in the West who demonize all Muslims/harm the relationships the Eastern Christians have worked for whenever invasions of their countries occur in the "war against terrorism"...)...and yet those who bear ill will don't have to sour those with good.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

From the Notes on Arab Orthodoxy blog: an article translated into English from Lebanon on some more details on the two bishops and the kidnapping.
Notes on Arab Orthodoxy: al-Joumhouria: Details Emerge about the Metropolitans' Kidnapping

Although there have been reports of the release already taking place, it seems to be the case that the reports are not necessarily true.

The Antiochian Archdiocese of North America has released the following statement:

"There have appeared many reports in both the Eastern and Western press that the two hierarchs who were abducted yesterday by terrorists in Syria, Metropolitan Boulos Yazge, Antiochian Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo, and Archbishop Youhanna Ibrahim, Syriac Archbishop of Aleppo, have been released. His Eminence Metropolitan Philip spoke by phone this morning to His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East (pictured), who said that these reports are false, and that the release of these two hierarchs has NOT taken place.



​

According to Notes on Arab Orthodoxy

"We ask you to continue to pray for their safety, and eventual release. Confirmed updates will be published as soon as they are known."....

This is in response to reports such as the ones here and here, here, and (in French) here. Their apparent source in French can be read here. The Guardian's live feed on Syria, which is closely following the kidnapping, can be read here. They are reporting that the bishops have been released--- citing a non-existent bishop named "Tony Yazigi"!!! The BBC cites the same (fictitious?!) source here. The NYT relays the same non-existent source from Reuters, here. This should be a lesson on the reliability of English-language media about what goes on in Syria!


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[gracefullamb]

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