CWN - Two Syrian Orthodox prelates were denied permission to enter the United Kingdom to participate in the dedication of a new cathedral.

Archbishops Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf and Timothy Mosa Alshamany had planned to join in the dedication of St. Thomas cathedral, the first Syrian Orthodox cathedral in London, on November 24. But they were unable to obtain visas.

Government officials said that the Orthodox prelates—whose archdioceses have been ravaged by the Islamic State, and who are now living in Kurdistan—could not demonstrate that they had sufficient financial resources to support themselves on their visit to London, and might have filed for asylum.

References:

• Archbishops are denied visas over asylum fears (London Times)