Patriarch of Antioch honors memory of abducted metropolitans in Syria

Patriarch John X of Antioch inspects restoration work at St. George Church in the Syrian village of Sourieh. Photo: Orthodoxia News Agency

On April 22, 2026, Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East honored the memory of the abducted metropolitans of Aleppo during a pastoral visit to the Syrian village of Sourieh and urged believers to remain steadfast in faith and unity, Orthodoxia News Agency reports.

The visit took place during the Paschal season and was timed to the feast of the Great Martyr George. The Patriarch visited the church under construction, inspected the progress of restoration work, and emphasized that its rebuilding had become a sign of hope and life after destruction.

During the evening service, he addressed the faithful and gave special remembrance to the abducted hierarchs. “On this very day, the day of our bleeding Antiochian wound, we honor the memory of our two brother metropolitans, Paul and John. Though their bodies are absent, their spirits are present among us,” the Patriarch said. He also added: “We honor the memory of Metropolitan Paul, who left an indelible mark on the pastoral ministry of this region, and his voice continues to resound in this land.”

The Patriarch was referring to the Metropolitans of Aleppo, Paul Yazigi and John Ibrahim, who were abducted on April 22, 2013, by armed men in the suburbs of Aleppo. Their driver was killed at the scene, and the two hierarchs have been considered missing ever since, with no reliable information about their fate to this day.

The Patriarch also stressed the spiritual bond between the faithful and the missing bishops: “Their absence does not mean they are not with us – they are present in our prayer, in our Church, and in every stone of this land.”

During the visit, words of support were offered to the local community, which has endured both war and the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. In conclusion, John X blessed the faithful and urged them to preserve steadfastness, faith, and devotion to their land and church tradition.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that during a New Year service in Damascus, the Primate of the Antiochian Church said that Christians would not leave the region despite wars and pressure.

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