Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Netherlands denounces false reports on Archbishop Aydin’s absence

THE NETHERLANDS — The Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Netherlands issued an official statement addressing recent false claims that Patriarchal Vicar Archbishop Mor Polycarpus Augin Aydin had abandoned his archdiocese and fled to the US.

In the statement, the secretariat clarified the reasons for the Archbishop’s visit to the US, confirming that it was a planned mission, known to all priests of the archdiocese in advance.

The Archbishop is currently at the Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research in Minnesota, USA, where he is working with the museum and library of historical documents, which houses around 8,000 digital records related to the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people. The secretariat emphasized the importance of preserving these documents for future generations.

The Archbishop is expected to return to the Netherlands on 2 October.

Syriac communities and various institutions have expressed their support for Archbishop Aydin, condemning the false news aimed at damaging his reputation. The secretariat praised his dedicated service to the archdiocese.