Twelve Years On: Antiochian Patriarchs Renew Plea for Justice in Bishops' Abduction

On the twelfth anniversary of the abduction of Bishops Boulos Yazigi (Greek Orthodox) and Youhanna Ibrahim (Syrian Church of the East), the Patriarchs of Antioch have issued a joint statement renewing their appeal for justice, transparency, and international accountability.

The two bishops were kidnapped on April 22, 2013, near Aleppo while on a humanitarian mission. Despite years of sustained diplomatic and ecclesiastical engagement—including appeals to governments, embassies, and religious institutions across the globe—no definitive answers have emerged about their fate.

Patriarch John X and Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II emphasized the gravity of the case, calling it a vital concern for both Churches and a reflection of the broader suffering of Christians in the Middle East. They criticized the political exploitation of the case and urged media and public discourse to treat it with dignity and responsibility.

Amid the season of Pascha, the Patriarchs called the faithful to perseverance in prayer and hope, affirming that the plight of the abducted bishops symbolizes the broader suffering of a region still bearing the weight of violence, displacement, and uncertainty.

“The Church of Antioch,” they concluded, “continues to pray and labor in hope, lifting up the cross of the East and seeking the dawn of Resurrection.”

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