Patriarchs Renew Appeal for Missing Aleppo Bishops
A 13-year-old mystery continues to symbolize both suffering and steadfast faith among Middle Eastern Christians.
DAMASCUS — Church leaders have renewed their appeal for information on two abducted hierarchs, marking more than a decade since their disappearance in Syria.
In a joint Paschal letter dated April 22, 2026, Patr. John X of Antioch and Patr. Ignatius Aphrem II (of the Syriac Orthodox Church) recalled, “On this day in 2013, our brothers, the Metropolitans of Aleppo, Yohanna Ibrahim and Boulos Yazigi, were kidnapped.” They described the case as “a scar of falsehood upon the brow of slaughtered truth,” emphasizing its lasting moral and human toll. The statement likewise noted that the hierarchs vanished after returning from a humanitarian mission and that their case reflects the broader humanitarian tragedy in the region of the Levant.
Metr. Boulos (Paul) is the biological brother of Patr. John X.
The Patriarchs stressed that despite extensive efforts, no definitive answers have been found, noting they have “knocked . . . on every diplomatic, security, political, and social door.” They added that the kidnappers’ identities and motives remain unknown, underscoring years of silence surrounding the case.
Calling for unity, the letter urged Christians to remain steadfast, declaring a shared destiny rooted in faith and endurance. It concluded with a reaffirmation of hope in the Resurrection and a call to stand together despite ongoing adversity.
Previously, the UOJ reported that more than 200 children were abducted in an armed attack on a Nigerian Catholic school.
