On the 22nd of April in 2013, Yohanna Ibrahim, Bishop of the Syrian-orthodox Diocese, and Boulos Yaziji, Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Diocese were kidnapped at around 6:00 p.m. in Kafr Dael, 10 km from Aleppo.

As the car that transported the two bishops and other foreigner passengers who did not speak Arabic arrived at a checkpoint, it was attacked by Chechen jihadists, who shot the driver of the car and kidnapped the passengers. According to eyewitness reports, most of the passengers in the vehicle were foreigners.

The Federation of the Aramaeans in Switzerland welcomed the news of the attack, and considered it a success, that “made the souls of Christians bitter” and “contributed to the massive and inevitable exodus of many Christians from Aleppo and its surroundings,” Asia News reported.

Fr. Paolo Dall’ Ogliois is an Italian missionary who was kidnapped on the 29th of July in 2013 when he tried to intercede for the release of the Orthodox bishops.

Today, the 22nd of April, Syrian Christians will pray for the release of those kidnapped and the curbing of the coronavirus infection, in an ecumenical prayer service. The prayer service will take place in the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Aleppo.

Source: Aciprensa