Earlier, Ukrainian religious observers lobbying for the OCU in the media accused the Patriarchate of Antioch of being favorable to Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church. The reason for such relations, the “experts” say, is the significant funds that Russia allegedly allocated to support the Church of Antioch. That is why, according to observers, the Patriarchate of Antioch did not participate in the Cretan Council of 2016 and later did not recognize the OCU.
Leaders of Syrian Christian denominations issue joint appeal in response to intensified ethnic and religious cleansing in the country
On March 8, 2025, the leaders of the main Christian denominations in Syria, including the Patriarchate of Antioch, issued a joint statement in connection with the religious and ethnic cleansing carried out in Syria by radical Islamic groups. In a joint statement, the heads of the Syrian Christian churches strongly condemned the impunity of the violence taking place in the country’s cities, calling on the interim government to stop the bloodshed and return to the fragile peace in Syria. The statement was signed by His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East, the head of the Syrian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Ignatius Ephraim II of Antioch and All the East, and Patriarch Youssef I Absi of the Melkite Church. This was reported by the Orthodoxia Info website.
“In recent days, Syria has witnessed a dangerous escalation of violence, brutality and murder, which has led to attacks on innocent civilians. The Christian churches, strongly condemning any action that threatens civil peace, condemn and denounce the massacres of innocent civilians and call for an immediate end to these horrific acts that are in stark contrast to all human and moral values. The Churches also call for the speedy creation of conditions conducive to achieving national reconciliation of the Syrian people. They call for efforts to create an environment that facilitates the transition to a state that respects all its citizens and lays the foundation for a society based on equal citizenship and genuine partnership, free from the logic of revenge and exclusion. At the same time, they reaffirm the unity of the Syrian territory and reject any attempts to divide it,” – the statement reads.
The churches call on all stakeholders in Syria to “fulfill their responsibilities, put an end to violence and seek peaceful solutions that uphold human dignity and preserve national unity.”
“We pray that God will protect Syria and its people, and that peace will reign throughout the land,” – the heads of the churches conclude their message.
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