[lightman]

We follow with great sorrow and concern the persecutions of Christians, the destruction and sacrilege of sacred churches, the abduction and assassination of clergy and monastics, even of hierarchs, such as the long kidnapped Metropolitans of Aleppo, Paul of the ancient Patriarchate of Antioch and Yuhanna Ibrahim of the Syrian Jacobite Church, whose whereabouts have since been unknown.

Before this phenomenon, which threatens the very existence of the Orthodox Churches, we are called to raise a voice of protest, not as isolated individuals or Churches, but as the one, united Orthodox Church throughout the world.

[lightman]

Orthodox Ping!

Save Thy people, O Lord,
and bless Thine inheritance.
Grant victory to Thy Church over her enemies,
and protect Thy people by Thy Holy Cross!

[lightman]

Metropolitan PHILIP of the Antiochian Christian Archdiocese of America has ordered that this petition be used in the Great Ektania, placed between the petition for the hierarchs and the petition for "those in public service":

For Metropolitan Boulos,
Archbishop Youhanna,
Mother Pelagia and her nuns and orphans and for their quick release from captivity and safe return,
let us pray to the Lord.

[eleni121]

All praise and worship in the one true Orthodox Church of the triune Creator of the Universe.