His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II Prays for the Abducted Archbishops of Aleppo
The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs:
During my reading of the book "A Citizen's Vision" by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Gregorius Youhanna Ibrahim, I was hearing the cry of a citizen leader, a visionary with an insightful view of things and an open mind
Photo source: Facebook Page of His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II
Photo source: Facebook Page of His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II
On the occasion of the tenth yearly commemoration of the abduction of their Eminences Archbishops of Aleppo Boulos Yaziji and Mor Gregorius Youhanna Ibrahim, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, held a Prayer meeting on the intention of the Archbishops’ safety and destiny. It was on the evening of Sunday 16 April 2023, at Mor Aphrem Cathedral in Aleppo, Syria.
Their Eminences Archbishops Mor Boutros Kassis, Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo and Environs, and Mor Joseph Bali, Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Assistant, attended the Prayer, along with Bishops and Priests of Churches in Aleppo. Attendees were also the Mufti of Aleppo His Eminence Dr. Mahmoud Akkam, as well as intellectuals and invitees.
Following the Prayer, a new book entitled "A Citizen's Vision" was launched, including articles and interviews by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Gregorius Youhanna Ibrahim, which were assembled in order to be published for the first time as printed. Noting that these articles and interviews focus on various topics, such as citizenship and coexistence, as well as Syriacism, immigration and displacement.
Photo source: Facebook Page of His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II
The event also included speeches for the occasion which were centered on the importance of the book and its content. The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs delivered a speech vi video under the title "A Citizen's Cry", in which he said “During my reading of the book ‘A Citizen's Vision’ by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Gregorius Youhanna Ibrahim, I was hearing the cry of a citizen leader, a visionary with an insightful view of things and an open mind”.
As well as speeches were delivered by Dr Assaad Al-Sahmarani, and the Mufti of Aleppo His Eminence Dr. Mahmoud Akkam.
At the end, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II delivered a speech addressed to His Eminence, the abducted Archbishop Youhanna Ibrahim, wishing him a blessed Easter, and stressing his constant presence in the Church's Prayers. He mentioned that "the abduction could not exclude him from the Archdiocese of Aleppo, which loves him and still shows loyalty to him." He also said that "Archbishop Youhanna Ibrahim was not only an Archbishop of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Aleppo, but rather was an Archbishop of the entire Church, striving to defend the principles he believed in and called for."
Photos’ source: Facebook Page of His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II.
