Patriarchs Call on Region's Christians to Hold on to Their Lands

Assyrian International News Agency ^ | 7/3/14 | Antoine Amrieh

[marshmallow]

Balamand, Lebanon -- The patriarchs of Eastern churches Tuesday deplored the raging violence in Iraq and Syria that has caused a massive wave of refugees, exhorting Christians to maintain their presence in the region's war-torn countries and keep hold of their lands.

In a statement released at the opening of their Holy Synod in Lady of Balamand Convent in north Lebanon, Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai, Melkite Gregorius III Lahham, Syriarc Catholic Patriarch Ignatius III Younan, Syrian Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Ephrem and Greek Orthodox Patriarch John Yazigi released a statement on local and regional developments.

"The patriarchs prayed for the people of Mosul and north Iraq and urged the world to prevent Iraq's disintegration and save its people from the scourge of a devastating war," the statement said. "They also called upon the international community to preserve Iraq's civilizations, including the deep-rooted Christian civilization, and encouraged their sons to cling on to their land and not give it up under the pressures of current conditions."

The statement followed ISIS' declaration of an Islamic caliphate over territories it has seized in Syria and Iraq, which have further raised fears of the rise of extremism in the region.

The patriarchs demanded the release and safe return of all kidnap victims, whether civilians, clerics, or nuns, notably bishops Yohanna Ibrahim and Paul Yazigi, who went missing in Syria 14 months ago.