On Tuesday, March 14, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II initiated a meeting for the Church’s holy synod. There a decision was made about the future of the six bishops who demanded the resignation of the patriarch.
The holy synod was gathered to discuss the situation that occurred with the six bishops Matta Roham, Severius Melke Mourad, Augin Kaplan, Bartholomew Nathanael, Malatius Melke and Hazail Saume. What happened then was that the six bishops openly criticized and demanded the resignation of the patriarch. However, the patriarch received great support from all other bishops, church members and Syriac (Aramean) organizations of the world.
The decision communicated by the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate about the future of the six bishops can be read in its entirety in the gallery at the bottom of the page, but to summarize, one can read that the holy synod has decided to suspend bishops Matta Roham and Hazail Suomi from all priestly services.
The remaining four bishops have until the 30th of April to sign a written apology that the synod accepts. If they on the other hand does not sign the said letter, The Patriarch is given full authority to take the measures he deems appropriate surrounding their future.
