Middle East Council of Churches releases statement on fate of kidnapped bishops

Still missing: Bishop Boulos Yazigi and Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim

Source: WCC

The Middle East Council of Churches has issued the following statement related to the case and fate of two Metropolitan Archbishops of Aleppo, 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 endeavours 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 endeavours in bringing this humanitarian case to an end to contact the churches through the official, designated channels."