Paul KeenanGreek Orthodox Patriarchate has expressed further concern for the fate of a group of nuns kidnapped from the monastery of St Thecla in Maalula on December 2
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate has expressed further concern for the fate of a group of nuns kidnapped from the monastery of St Thecla in Maalula on December 2. Amid reports of fierce fighting in the region of Qalamoun, location for the city of Yabroud, where the nuns are reportedly being held by Islamist fighters, the patriarchate has said further updates are now urgently required since the December 6 video which featured the sisters, apparently in good health.
There was speculation that December 9 would see the abductees released, but that date passed with no further word as to the fates of the 13 sisters (up from a previously reported 11), and three orphans in their care.
Unreliable
“Since then,” a patriarchate spokesperson said, “no one has been in touch with us and most of the news we read on the internet like the rest of the world. We have seen the video but we have no confirmation on the real condition of the sisters, nor the reasons for their seizure and we think that the video is unreliable and further investigation is required.”
The fighting in Qalamoun has reportedly resulted in the Syrian army regaining control of the previously seized Christian villages of Nabak, Deir Attiya and Qara.
