Official Statement by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch
Concerning the Martyrdom of Rev. Fr. Fadi Haddad of Qatana

"O Lover of Mankind, inasmuch as You are the God of Peace and Father of Mercies"

With sorrowful hearts, we entreat You, Almighty God, for mercy and forgiveness, that in Your long-suffering, may lead us to peace and compassion, and guide us to right reasoning and watchfulness, we humans who are created in your divine image and likeness.

On October 18, 2012, the Reverend Father Fadi Haddad, parish priest of the Prophet Elias Church in Qatana went out on a noble humanitarian mission to bring back a member of his parish who had been kidnapped a few days earlier. Then tragic series of events unfolded, and the unexpected complication occurred. Father Fadi himself did not return as he was also kidnapped. The kidnappers took along the other intermediary accompanying Father Fadi, the monetary ransom, and a private vehicle. Negotiations began with the kidnappers who demanded an enormous sum of money as a ransom.

There had been hope that consciences would be sober, lest a painful tragedy occur. However, the body of Father Fadi Haddad was found on the morning of Thursday, October 25 in the region of Drousha. Indescribable marks of torture and brutal mutilation was left on his body. He was identified by the Reverend Father Elias el-Baba, priest of the town of Hina and was transported to the town clinic. The Patriarchate in Damascus was informed of his martyrdom. May his pure and blameless blood be a sacrifice offered for reconciliation and harmony.

We turn to the Almighty God, asking for mercy and forgiveness. At the same time, however, we condemn in the harshest terms this beastly and barbaric act aimed at innocent civilians, and clerics. In these difficult times, our clergy strive to be apostles of peace and reconciliation, amending the wounds of the suffering, comforting the sorrowful, and strengthening the weak. Thus, we express our deep grief as our beloved nation witnesses atrocities that are unprecedented in its long history and life of love, cooperation, peace, and harmony.

We urge all citizens, humanitarian organizations, and all those of good will and good intentions, the people who are kind, peaceful, and life-loving, to join with us in condemning the kidnapping, murder, destruction, robbery, and assault against the security and well-being of citizens. We call upon all of them, and especially the clerics, to initiate dialogue, peace, and harmony.

We likewise call children of this country to cooperate and support each other in these difficult circumstances in order to contain the evil that is besetting us. By this, we hope to stop this evil work and the killing of innocent people from all social status that is taking place every day in our nation. We hope to do this through humanitarian means which lead to the outbreak of peace instead of war, love instead of hatred, rapprochement instead of estrangement, as our common history attests.

We turn to our beloved children and affirm that we are children of the Resurrection and Life because our Lord said: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life"

We are children of the hope that conquers all human feeling of weakness. We remind them that the Savior's Crucifixion preceded His Resurrection from the dead. The path to Golgotha ends with life bursting forth from the tomb with the light of the Savior's glorious Resurrection.

We affirm to all our children that we remain steadfast in our faith and our hope by the power of our Lord who desired that we have life, and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). We call on them in the love of Christ to remain in their land and their nation. We have to move on out of the tragedy, since Christ calls us to grow in faith and hope in life. We urge them to look to our future which we are building by the power of faith, to realize free and dignified life for the children of our nation and our people.

We pray to God that the martyrdom of Father Fadi Haddad be a sacrifice offered for the children of this nation and an end to the painful events that we are living in this terrible time.

May God's rich and abundant mercy encompass our beloved departed martyr, along with our people, our beloved nation, and all the peoples and countries of this afflicted Middle East

Issued at the Patriarchate’s Headquarters on October 25, 2012.