WCC encourages prayer for release of archbishops of Aleppo

Source: WCC

As the ninth anniversary of the abduction of the archbishops of Aleppo approaches, World Council of Churches acting general secretary Rev Prof Dr Ioan Sauca has called for prayers for the safe return of the two religious leaders, as well as others missing amid conflicts and crises.

Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Yohanna Ibrahim and Greek Orthodox Archbishop Paul Yazigi, were kidnapped by gunmen on 23 April 2013 when they were on their way back from the Turkish border to their city of Aleppo.

"These beloved bishops have become iconic figures of all those innocent unjustly detained, tortured, and forcibly disappeared persons, reduced to silence and oblivion, not only in Syria and the region, but all over the world," said Sauca. "In this time of prayer, reflection and celebration of Easter, we must keep in our prayers the bishops and all those others missing, detained and disappeared so that they are not forgotten and that appeals for their safe return are maintained and amplified."