The jihadis are trying to “strike terror in the enemies of Allah” (Qur’an 8:60), and Metropolitan Ephraim is refusing to be intimidated.
“Antiochian hierarch: We continue our ministry in Aleppo despite threats,” SPZH.eu, December 2, 2024:
On December 1, 2024, reports emerged that terrorists attacking Aleppo are planning to find and behead Metropolitan Ephraim.
Metropolitan Ephraim (Maalouli) of Aleppo and Iskenderun, a hierarch of the Antiochian Orthodox Church – the largest Christian community in Syria – delivered a pastoral message to his flock in Aleppo:
“…our beloved children in Aleppo, we remain here, in Aleppo, with our flock in all circumstances – from the most difficult to the most joyful. This is our pastoral ministry, and we will steadfastly continue to fulfill it. In times of need, we will be your support, so do not hesitate to reach out to us directly.
We assure you that prayers in our churches will continue as circumstances and available means allow. In prayer, dear ones, we cast our burdens upon God and trust in Him. Therefore, I urge you: pray without ceasing! Let us patiently follow Christ’s path to the cross, until we rise with Him in His Resurrection! May the intercession of St. Simeon the Stylite, the patron of the Aleppo Diocese, be with you always!”…
On December 1, 2024, reports indicated that terrorists attacking Aleppo are planning to locate and behead Metropolitan Ephraim.
Mike says
Lord God, please protect this bishop and allow Your worship in Aleppo to continue. Please assist in stopping the murderous jihadi forces against your followers and against everyone else whom they target. Amen.
Keys says
Amen.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Good for them
JS says
Isn’t it time the Christians start fighting back instead of being “followed in Christs path?” Wouldn’t it be better to fight now instead of later and going on and having another crusade? How many cheeks can you turn? What about your women and children? I love Christianity and I’m half Christian and half Jew, but I’m with Jewish Israel’s side on this one!
Mike says
JS: I agree with you. “Turning the other cheek” implies using some restraint in dealing with a personal insult.
In dealing with felons such as jihadists however, “there is a time for peace, and a time for war,” as President Netanyahu has correctly said.
somehistory says
Yes, Mike, turning the other cheek is just as you say
Recall that Jesus told His Apostles that if they did not have a sword, they should sell an outer garment and buy one. That was a warning and direction for what was to come.
Before taking action, each Christian should pray for Holy Spirit and direction.
Spiro says
Attaching him only makes him and his orthodox faith stronger
The Russian orthodox church survived years
Of communist oppression.
Yes it was weakened but survived
Tony says
Islam and its Muslims are a continuous threat to ALL Non-Muslims as taught by Allah’s Quran. Islam is a deceitful, totalitarian, terrorist, pedophilic Criminal Gang Enterprise against all Non-Muslims by using discrimination, deceit, hatred, and violence to gain ultimate power and control as taught in Islamic Law and in Islam’s Quran. Moreover, Islam’s supremacist-genocidal Ideology, its tyrannical Muslims, its propaganda Schools, its foreign terrorist Organizations, and its ‘Convert-or-Die’ Mosques fund, teach, inspire, and promote ‘Threats and Incitement of Violence’ as well as never-ending terrorism, loathing, and segregation against women, children, and all Non-Muslims(eg. Quran 2:191-3; 4:89,100; 5:82; 8:65; 9:5,14-15,29; 33:26; 47:4; 65:4; 98:6-7 and more).
Leonidas says
Islam ( submission)will collapse ,like USSR in 1989,if we DENOUNCE PSEUDO PROPHET MUHAMMAD,who according to his biography( Sira) and traditions( Hadith) was a pedophile( wife Aisha was 9 yo), rapist, murderer, bandit (keeping20% of the booty for himself),liar and sex-slave trader and also LIBERATE THE MUSLIM WOMEN from barbaric Sharia Law.The Koran states women are dumb, less intelligent than men,wives must be beaten for disobedience by their hudbands ,all women will go to hell unless in the last day their husband says he was pleased with her and all women must hide their curves and wear burkas ,so that men will not be aroused to rape them.Islam is a misogynistic ,violent , imperialist political ideology of Arab male supremacy ISLAMOFASCISM(~70%), DISGUISED AS A RELIGION(~ 30%) that strives through violent Jihad and soft cultural Jihad of immigration ( dawa)to subjugate the World.Jihadists are promised, if killed battling infidels-kafirs,) they will go to Paradise to enjoy 72 virgins ,taking along 70 of their relatives regardless of their sins!Withdraw from UN MIGRANT COMPACT ,that falsely claims immigration is a Human Right expecting Western countries to accept and provide for an endless number of muslim illegal immigrants ,thus islamizing them. Muslim “refugees “should stay in Turkey or vast rich Saudi Arabia ,until they can return to their countries.We must denounce islamic Sharia (=way)law of blasphemer,apostate ,homosexual , adulterer and hypocrite executions,misogyny,honor killings by stoning,hand amputations for theft,child brides,girls exclusion from schools,halal meat from tortured animals,clitorectomies,circumcisions,subjugation and segregation of women,burkas and Sharia banning of short skirts,bikinis,dancing,singing,painting ,sculptures of people,dogs,pork,alcohol and beauty contests .Demand gender equality for ALL muslim women.Punish severely those that kill apostates from Islam,blasphemers,adulterers or muslim hypocrites.Islam is incompatible with our freedom of speech, gender equality, values,way of life, Human Rights,