Six bishops of the Syrian Orthodox Church have accused their
Patriarch Ignatius Ephem II of “betrayal of the faith,” after the
Patriarch made a gesture of respect for the Qu’ran and referred to “the
prophet Mohammed.” During a meeting with Muslim leaders, the Syrian Patriarch raised the Qu’ran in an indication of reverence.
That gesture outraged some Syrian prelates, whose protests were acknowledged by the Patriarch as a “serious internal problem” for his Orthodox community.
The Patriarch defended his expressions of respect for Islam. “Christ loves everyone, and calls us to be peacemakers with everyone,” he explained.