The Greek Orthodox Church denied Tuesday circulating reports that the two archbishops abducted in Aleppo, Syria, had been released.
The fate of Greek Orthodox Archbishop Paul Yazigi and Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Yohanna Ibrahim remained mired in mystery after the two clergymen were abducted and their driver killed in Aleppo Monday night.
The news prompted global concern that the incident risked escalating regional hostilities.
John Yazigi, the patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church in the Levant and a brother of one of the kidnapped, denied reports of the bishops’ release.
In a phone call to Metropolitan Philip of North America, he said, “these reports are false and the release of these two hierarchs has not taken place,” said a statement on Philip’s website.
Tuesday afternoon, the pair were reported to have been released, a senior church figure told Reuters.
“The two are on their way to the patriarchate in Aleppo,” Bishop Tony Yazigi said.
But by Tuesday evening, with no word on the bishops’ arrival, it was not clear whether they had reached the city.
Details about the circumstances and location of the initial abduction were also unclear.
(source: dailystar)
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