More than 1,000 people, including Christians, were killed in early March as the country’s new government, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), clashed with forces loyal to the recently deposed Assad regime. Entire families were massacred, according to reports.
It is estimated that there are only 300,000 Christians remaining in Syria, a significant decrease from 1.5 million before the country’s civil war began in 2011. This decline has raised concerns that one of the oldest Christian communities in the world could be at risk of disappearing.
Syrians were among the first people identified as Christians in the Bible, with roots tracing back 2,000 years to when St. Paul was converted to Christianity on the road to Damascus, the capital of Syria.
“Since the war began, thousands of Christians and other minorities have fled the country, and those who stayed now face an extremely uncertain future with HTS and its leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda fighter, in charge,” said Dr. Rex Rogers, president of SAT-7 USA, a Christian media organization that broadcasts programs in Syria in the Arabic language.
As fear and uncertainty grow, Syrian Christians are turning to satellite television channels and scrolling through social media for hope and encouragement. With limited support, hundreds are posting prayers on social media, participating in online discussions, and reaching out to SAT-7’s Arabic-speaking support team for counseling.
“Because of the religious sectarianism and all the terrorist factions in Syria… I cannot approach a church or express my secret belief in God,” one Syrian viewer told them.
Local pastors also face overwhelming challenges, supporting fragile congregations including many that have lost members who’ve fled the country or been killed.
Speaking on the “You Are Not Alone” talk show that is broadcast across the Middle East and North Africa, local pastor Maher Samaan said Christians were a “main component” in Syria and he has felt God’s protection amid the war and recent turmoil.
“We have a role as a church by sticking to each other and supporting each other for a better Syria,” said Samaan, who pastors a church in the city of Homs in central Syria.
“If we leave, how can we rebuild our country?”
Image Credits:
• Our Lady of Saidnaya Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in the world via Wikimedia Commons by Soman with usage type - GNU Free
Featured Image Credit:
• Our Lady of Saidnaya Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in the world via Wikimedia Commons by Soman with usage type - GNU Free