Christians Offer Prayers for Kidnapped Leaders on Christmas in Rojava

(ANF)/Hesekê – Local Orthodox Syriac and Arab Christians have flocked to churches in the town Hesekê to celebrate the Christmas Holiday.

At one service, Father Gabriyêl Xac asked his parishioners to offer prayers for “all of the Christian religious leaders who have been kidnapped in Syria.” Father Xac noted that in the past Syria had been a country of peace for all Godly religions, but that “today we are faced with great war and destruction.” In particular he drew attention to the fates of the Syriac Orthodox and Greek Orthodox Archbishops of Aleppo, Yohanna Ibrahim and Paul Yazigi, who were abducted by unknown individuals in April, as well as the fates of the 12 priests abducted from the Mar Tıqla Monastery in the historical town of Ma’lula. He called for all of them to be released.

Finally Father Xac spoke of the need for Christians to resist pressures to emigrate, saying “There is no need to move away, and no one should abandon their lands and their homes. For peace in Syria everyone needs to defend their homes and land.”

 Many Christians celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December. The holiday commemorates the birth of Jesus.