We Fear for the Safety of Our Friend as Islamic State Attacks Aleppo

Previously, I reported on our meeting with Archbishop Jean-Clément Jeanbart (May 6, 2015), leader of the Melkite Church in Aleppo.  Today brings news of the Islamic State’s offensive against Aleppo, a city with a large and diverse Christian population.  Here are two very informative articles taken from the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/islamic-state-fighters-battle-militants-in-northern-syria/2015/06/02/b819e314-092d-11e5-951e-8e15090d64ae_story.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/islamic-state-militants-open-major-new-offensive-in-aleppo/2015/06/01/9b834f64-085c-11e5-951e-8e15090d64ae_story.html

Archbishop Jeanbart told us of his heroic efforts to sustain his people in the midst of the horrific civil war in Syria.  We pray for his safety, and the safety of his people, and the safety of all religious and lay Christians in Aleppo.  I am reminded of the plea to the world by Melkite Patriarch Gregorius, “send no arms to Syria.”  Would he had been heeded.