Patriarch of Jerusalem: The Antiochian Church head may be a new ISIS target

Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem. Photo: orthodoxianewsagency

On June 30, 2025, Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem warned of new threats to Christians in the Middle East. In particular, he noted that one possible target of the ISIS terrorist group could be Patriarch John X of Antioch. The Jerusalem Patriarch made this statement in an interview with the Greek channel ERTNews.

His concern was prompted by a recent terrorist attack on the Church of the Prophet Elijah in Damascus, which belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church. Patriarch Theophilos stressed that the situation in Syria is causing him particular alarm.

“As soon as the crisis in Syria began, we got in touch with His Beatitude Patriarch John of Antioch. We had a phone conversation, and he told us about the difficulties… Later, after the terrorist attack, he admitted he was afraid,” the Jerusalem Patriarch said.

According to Patriarch Theophilos, ISIS circulated a document containing offensive language about Christians and listing five churches considered potential targets by the militants. “It mentioned Christians – Christians who ‘eat pork’ – but in extremely derogatory terms,” the Patriarch noted.

“We gave this document to the Greek Foreign Ministry, and the Prime Minister of Greece took an interest in the situation when he came here and we met,” the head of the Jerusalem Church added.

Patriarch Theophilos III also said that one of the extremists’ potential targets is the head of the Antiochian Orthodox Church himself. “I was informed that Patriarch John of Antioch has also become a target,” he said, emphasizing the seriousness of the threat.

Against this backdrop, Patriarch Theophilos called on the international community not to stop at words of sympathy, but to take concrete steps to protect Christians under threat in the Middle East. “We need not just talk, but action,” he said, reminding everyone that the situation demands a decisive and coordinated response from Europe, the U.S., and all those who care about the fate of Christian communities in the region.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Patriarch Theophilos expressed hope that the souls of those innocently killed in Damascus would find rest in the eternal light of Christ’s Resurrection.

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