Winner WCA Art Prize
- Post 22 April 2021
We are thrilled to announce the winners of the WCA Art Prize contest! The first prize goes to Fouad Roham from Austria, the second place to Samir Sherro from Canada. Heartfelt congratulations to these two winning artists! They will receive the symbolic amounts of €250 and €150, respectively.
WCA is grateful to the dozens of artists who have contributed to this exciting competition. We will soon publish on our website an online art gallery of the Top 10 Artworks!
WCA ART PRIZE
MOR GREGORIOS YOHANNA IBRAHIM
22 APRIL 2021
1st Prize: Fouad Roham from Austria
We further express our sincere gratitude to the following 11 independent female jury members of the WCA Art Prize: Hala Nahoum Nehme and Sarah Bakir from the Netherlands; Eva Aksan from Austria; Christina Gergin and Caroline Atas from Belgium; Maria Ego and Sara Mado from Sweden; Sara Brahm, Anja Türkan, Michelle Toko and Teodora Messo from Germany.
Recently, WCA invited Arameans worldwide to paint a portrait of H.E. Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim or to send a calligraphy reflecting on the Archbishop of Aleppo, Syria. The main reason is because today, it is precisely eight years ago that he was kidnapped together with H.E. Boulos al-Yazigi, the Melkite (Greek) Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo and Iskenderun.
During a humanitarian mission on 22 April 2013, both prelates were kidnapped in the outskirts of Aleppo. Due to the ongoing wall of silence and the denial that has shrouded the case all along, we are no closer now than we were eight years ago about their position, wellbeing or kidnappers, with whom one could negotiate the terms of their safe and dignified release.
Johny Messo, the WCA President, commented: “The dozens of artworks and many messages we have received are telling. They show that Arameans internationally duly remember and honor Mor Gregorios for his great services to his church and people. They also remain hopeful of his possible return and tell us not to give up our search for the truth and his whereabouts.”
On today’s occasion of the 8th anniversary, WCA has been granted the permission to share a digital copy of this popular book by M. Oez and A. Abdul-Nour, Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim: Pluralism, Dialogue, and Co-Existence (London, 2016). This beautiful tapestry of the world of Mor Gregorios has 100 contributors recalling their memories of the kidnapped Archbishop. WCA encourages everyone to read this interesting book.
2nd Prize: Samir Sherro from Canada
For more on this peculiar abduction case, here is a brief selection of the many and diverse initiatives WCA has undertaken these last eight years in honor of the two bishops:
- WCA Report of 22 April 2016: The forgotten case of the two kidnapped Archbishops of Syria
- 5th Anniversary of the Abduction of the Metropolitans of Aleppo Highlighted at an International Symposium in Germany (photos and stamps)
- Press Release | 500 Days Abducted: No Sign of Life and World Still Silent!
- Collection Statements by world Leaders condemning Abduction Bishops in Syria
- WCA Letter to UNSC: Condemn abduction of missing Archbishops in Syria
- Christian Leaders Still Missing: Appeal to Security Council and Kidnappers
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