On March 2, 2025, Deacon Johnny Fouad Dawoud was unexpectedly released from a Syrian prison after spending ten long years in captivity.
This moment, filled with emotion and joy, marked the end of an unimaginable ordeal that began when he was captured by the Al-Nusra Front.
As he was reunited with his family, Johnny shared his powerful story with ACI MENA, revealing his reflections on faith, suffering, and the light that now fills his life.
Early Life and Journey into the Church
Johnny’s path to the Church began in his childhood. Raised in a deeply religious family, he was drawn to pastoral activities from a young age.
At 12, he entered the minor seminary and later pursued his theological and philosophical studies at the University of the Holy Spirit in Kaslik, Lebanon, graduating in 2009.
Afterward, he returned to Homs to prepare for priestly ordination, but as the time approached, Johnny faced doubts about his readiness for the role and his commitment to celibacy.
After much soul-searching, he made the difficult decision to step back, a choice that surprised many, including his uncle, Cardinal Patriarch Mar Ignatius Moses I Daoud.
While Johnny would not become a priest, he eventually became a permanent deacon in the Syriac Catholic Church, taking on a role that allowed him to read the Epistles during liturgies.
Life’s Challenges: War and Captivity
Following his decision to step away from priestly life, Johnny married and was blessed with a child. However, the outbreak of the Syrian revolution brought chaos to his life.
His home in the Christian district of Hamidiyah, in Old Homs, was destroyed in the crossfire of the conflict.
He was forced to move between various military fronts, with one of the most harrowing experiences occurring at Abu Dhuhur airport, where he and other soldiers were besieged for months.
Starvation and disease ravaged the area, and when the rebels finally stormed the airport in September 2015, only 38 out of 300 soldiers survived.
Johnny’s life would take another tragic turn when he was captured by the Al-Nusra Front.
Taken to prison, he found himself enduring an experience that tested his faith and resilience like never before.
A Decade in Prison: Faith and Suffering
Johnny’s captivity lasted for ten long years, and during this time, he experienced both spiritual highs and lows.
Held in the hopes of a prisoner exchange, his captors initially showed little interest in negotiating, even suggesting that the prisoners be killed.
Despite this, Johnny and his fellow captives were generally treated well and were not subjected to torture, though the first few months were particularly harsh.
The hardest part, Johnny shares, was the isolation. “Living in the unknown, as if you were dead, caused constant turmoil,” he recalls.
The uncertainty of not knowing if you would ever see your loved ones again weighed heavily on their hearts. Despite the difficulties, Johnny’s faith was a source of strength, even as it began to falter.
He would pray at night and call out to God during the day.
Yet, as the years wore on, doubts crept in.
Why was he being punished? Why did God not respond to his suffering?
At times, Johnny found himself engaging in religious debates with his Muslim captors, some of whom were deeply fanatic.
However, he also found common ground with others who were more open to discussion.
In these conversations, Johnny found solace in witnessing to his faith, much like the early Christian martyrs.
The Moment of Freedom: A New Beginning
On the morning of March 2, 2025, Johnny’s life changed forever.
Without any prior warning, he was called to prepare for his release.
Standing outside the prison gates, he could hardly believe that he was finally free.
He was transferred to the Christian village of Ya’qubiya in Idlib, where the locals and Father Louai, a Franciscan priest, welcomed him with open arms.
It was there that he first contacted his family, leading to a tearful reunion.
Arriving in Homs, Johnny was greeted by Bishop Jacob Murad, along with his wife, son, and many friends and family.
A mass of thanksgiving followed, where Johnny received holy Communion from the bishop.
The celebrations continued as he made his way to his village, Maskanah, where Christians and Muslims alike gathered to celebrate his return.
For Johnny, seeing the joy of those around him made the suffering of the past ten years seem distant.
A New Chapter
Deacon Johnny Fouad Dawoud’s story is one of perseverance, faith, and hope.
After ten years in captivity, he was not only freed from prison but was also restored to a life of faith and family.
As he steps into this new chapter of his life, he carries with him the strength and resilience that helped him survive the unimaginable, and the deep conviction that faith, even in the darkest of times, can light the way forward.
