Working to promote freedom of conscience for every person, no matter who they are or where they live.

Syrian Rebels Abduct Archbishops

As you may be aware, our friend and IRLA Board of Experts member Archbishop Yohanna Ibrahim MarGregorios, along with Greek Orthodox Archbishop Metropolitan Paul Yazigi, were abducted nearly two months ago.

While it still is not clear who is responsible for this devastating event, it happened when the men were returning home from a meeting with Syrian rebels during which they successfully had negotiated the release of other captives.

Dr. Graz with Archbishop MarGregorios at Meeting of Experts Archbishop MarGregorios was with IRLA in Amman, Jordan when we held our 13th Meeting of Experts in Sydney in 2011.  

And while we missed him last year in Toronto, we pray that he will still be able to join our team in Aix en Provence, France, in January 2014.

I met Archbishop MarGregorios 15 years ago. He led a delegation to the U.S. of Christians from Syria to visit some Adventist health institutions. He was involved at that time with  hospital building project in Aleppo, where Christians and Muslims alike could be welcomed.

The last time I met with him, Syria was in turmoil. I asked about his safety, as well as about the situation in Aleppo (his hometown). He was confident that the city would not be touched by the civil war. He was still able to travel freely and attend meetings. He invited me several times to visit him and we even talked about holding a symposium there. Unfortunately, Syria continued to deteriorate into a theater of global and tragic civil war and even as he was helping a number of victims, he became a victim himself.

The media have reported on this event and many churches and religious organizations -- including Muslim groups and leaders -- have expressed their solidarity. Archbishop MarGregorios is one of the most prominent Christian leaders in the Middle East and his church, the Syrian Orthodox Church, is one of the oldest Christian churches.  He loved to comment about the fact that in the church liturgy they are still speaking Aramaic, the language of Jesus.

Last week the members of Christian Church Together sent a letter to President Obama asking him to do his best to obtain the release of Archbishop MarGregorios and Paul Yazigi. But thus far, the men are still detained.

As an important religious leader in the Middle East, Archbishop MarGregorios  is an exceptional bridge-builder between Muslims and Christians and also among Christians themselves. He embraces dialogue with others including -- as the traditional churches in Middle East called them -- the new Churches.  This is quite uncommon.

All the IRLA Members are in communion and in prayer for these men and their family and friends. We hope they will be released as soon as possible.

In closing, I would like to send Archbishop MarGregorios a message: Dear Ibrahim, my friend and brother, scores of thousands of us are with you and are doing everything we can for your release. We eagerly await your return to our team of religious freedom experts. 

 --Dr. John Graz, Secretary General, International Religious Liberty Association