A meeting at the Monastery of St. Ephaim the Syrian, in Damascus, was attended by the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, His Beatitude John X, the Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, Mar Ignatius Aphrem II, and the Patriarch of the Melkite Church, Youssef Absi, while the papal nuncio in Syria, Cardinal Mario Zenari also attended.
The hierarchs discussed the situation in the wider region and the conflict’s effects over the past few years on the people, in general, and Christians in particular.
The participants affirmed the necessity of remaining firmly attached to the land of the forefathers despite the current dire circumstances. They also prayed for the safe return of the two abducted Bishops of Aleppo: Boulos Yaziji and Mar Gregorius Youhanna Ibrahim.