Joint Communiqué about the Two Abducted Bishops 25-Apr-2013

Source: Syriac Orthodox Church - UK News 25-April-2013

Please Pray for Their Safe Return Joint Communiqué of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East and the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East 25-April-2013 On Thursday morning 25/04/2013, His Beatitude Mor Yohanna X Yazijy the Patiararch of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch and All the East has paid a brotherly visit to His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox of Antioch and All the East at his residence in Atchane, Lebanon. They have discussed the latest issues related to the two abducted brothers H.E. Mor Paulos Yazijy Greek Orthodox Bishop of Aleppo and Alexandretta and H.E. Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim Syriac Orthodox Bishop of Aleppo. They have criticized again the fact that they have not been set free until now despite all the efforts being made. They have reiterated their call for the release of the two captive bishops. They call upon the international community to do all efforts to ensure their release and the stopping of all sort of violence in Syria and for the peace to prevail through dialogue and political means. Also, they agreed about the symbols for the common coexistence, tolerance and national unity. Also, they have agreed about the steps to be taken if the two bishops are not released within the next few hours. They are both hoping that the two abducted bishops will be in their Archdioceses to celebrate Palm Sunday, which will fill us and our people with joy. بيان صادر عن بطريركية السريان الأرثوذكس و بطريركية الروم الأرثوذكس 25 نيسان 2013 في صباح يوم الخميس 25/4/2013، قام صاحب الغبطة البطريرك يوحنا العاشر بطريرك الروم الأرثوذكس بزيارة أخوية إلى قداسة البطريرك مار إغناطيوس زكا الأول عيواص بطريرك السريان الأرثوذكس في مقرّه البطريركي في العطشانة ـ لبنان، و تداولا في المعطيات الأخيرة المتعلّقة بالمطرانين المخطوفين بولس يازجي و يوحنا إبراهيم، و إستنكرا مجدداً عدم الافراج عنهما حتى اليوم رغم الجهود التي تُبذل. و هما يجددان بهذه المناسبة دعوتهما للافراج عنهما و يدعوان المجتمع الدولي لبذل كافة الجهود في سبيل ذلك، و إيقاف العنف بكل أشكاله في سورية و إحلال السلام عبر الحوار و الحل السياسي. كما و يؤكدان على رموز العيش المشترك و التسامح و الوحدة الوطنية. و توافقا على اتخاذ الخطوات المناسبة، في حال لم يتم الإفراج عن المطرانين المخطوفين خلال الساعات المقبلة، آملين أن يكون المطرانان المخطوفان في أبرشيتيهما يوم الشعانين المقبل فنفرح و شعبنا بهما.

Press Release: Statement by HG Bishop Angaelos following the attack on the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in Cairo on 7 April 2013

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate use
7 April 2013

The Coptic Orthodox Church UK

Media and Communications Office

Statement by His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom following the attack on the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in Cairo on 7 April 2013

While the Arab Spring and uprising in Tahrir Square were expected to bring about a fresh start for Egypt, the only true difference is that the situation seems to have become progressively worse for many millions of Egyptian citizens. 

Today, Egypt saw an unprecedented attack on the See of the Pope of Alexandria, the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in Cairo, by mobs, with the police arriving far too late and doing very little, if anything at all, to prevent them. 

Reports have indicated that Egypt’s president, Mr Mohammed Morsi had made telephone contact with the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St Mark, saying that ‘the protection of the lives of all Egyptians, Muslims and Christian, is the responsibility of the state.’ It is now clear that the state needs to take that responsibility far more seriously.

We have seen escalating and increasing attacks on Christians, Christian communities, churches and now the Patriarchate during this past period of expected improvement, and so questions must be asked. What are the authorities waiting for? More bloodshed, violence, hostility, alienation, marginalisation, division, or just more anarchy? It is clear that without intentional, pragmatic and proactive leadership by the state, and the effective law enforcement by its security forces, that this pattern of increasing violence and lawlessness is the only possible outcome. With these incidents being dealt with in this way, we see a growth of expectation of impunity and thus encouragement by some to continue breaking the law while assured that they will not be held accountable. 

Last year, the streets of Abasseya around the Grand Cathedral of St Mark saw many thousands of Egyptians, Christians and Muslims alike, standing to pay their respects at the departure of our late Pope Shenouda III. Now those streets see an attack on that same Cathedral. So what has changed, and how can we return to the collective pride, passion and faithfulness of Egypt that we saw in Tahrir Square in 2011 with the thousands flying Egyptian flags, and calling for a unified state for all Egyptians? 

We pray for Egypt because we believe that Egypt, as blessed by God, still has a chance. This chance however, hinges on faithful, pragmatic and visionary leadership, otherwise these coming months and years will only introduce more heartache, bloodshed and division that will inevitably lead to the decline of the nation, that was once the birthplace of civilisation, and its individual members.

*Ends*