Aleppo, Syria, December 16, 2021
Photo: antiochpatriarchate.org
On April 22, 2013, His Eminence Metropolitan Boulos (Paul) of Aleppo and Alexandretta and Gregorios Youhanna Ibrahim, Syriac Metropolitan of Aleppo, were kidnapped by Muslim rebels in the vicinity of Aleppo.
Now, after nearly nine years, the Archdiocese of Aleppo has a new hierarch.
In October, the Holy Synod of the Antiochian Patriarchate elected His Grace Bishop Ephraim (Maalouli) of Seleucia, Patriarchal Vicar and Secretary of the Holy Synod, as Metropolitan of Aleppo. The hierarchs and faithful continue to pray for Met. Paul, who was transferred to the honorary Diocese of Diyarbakir.
And on Friday, Bp. Ephraim was officially enthroned as the new Metropolitan of Aleppo. The service in the Cathedral of the Prophet Elijah in Aleppo was presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch, reports the Antiochian Patriarchate.
The Patriarch was joined by 10 other hierarchs and a host of priests and deacons. The service was also attended by a delegation representing His Eminence Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol of the Church of Cyprus.
In his address following the enthronement, Met. Ephraim spoke to his new flock from his heart:
This enthronement is a new book in my life and the life of this Archdiocese. On the first page, God writes the title: I am the Good Shepherd, and the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. That is why our journey together in Aleppo will begin, and the Archdiocese’s door will be open to everyone, and I along with the priests of this Archdiocese will be at your ministry, and we will work together, clergy and laity, for the wellbeing of our Church. Consider me an Aleppian and every citizen of Aleppo will be close to me, as well as every person who desires to make of his heart an altar to the Lord and to his neighbor, where he sacrifices himself as an offering of love for God and every brother in humanity.
Following the service, Met. Ephraim accepted the heartfelt congratulations of the Aleppo faithful.
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