Given that nearly nine years have passed since the kidnapping of Metropolitan Paul Yazigi without knowing anything about his fate, the Holy Antiochian Synod that is held in Balamand took a decision to transfer Metropolitan Paul Yazigi to be the bishop of the honorary diocese of Diyarbakir.
Bishop Ephraim Maalouli, the Patriarchal Vicar and Secretary of the Holy Antiochian Synod was elected as Metropolitan over the Archdiocese of Aleppo, Alexandretta, and their dependencies.
Source: Patriarchate of Antioch