Syrian Christians Embrace Christmas Amid Hope and Fear Under Islamist Rule. (Photo/REUTERS/Amr Abdallah)
Damascus (EPICSTORIAN) – Syria’s Christian community, congregants gathered for Christmas Eve services in Damascus on December 24, marking their first such celebration since the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad earlier this month.
The Lady of Damascus Church was filled with worshippers of all ages, their candlelit hymns resonating through the sanctuary. Security was notably tight, with members of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), now the country’s ruling authority, stationed around the church to ensure safety.
Burning of a Christmas Tree in Suqaylabiyah
This religious observance comes amid heightened tensions following recent attacks on Christian symbols. Earlier in the day, hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Damascus to condemn the burning of a Christmas tree in Suqaylabiyah, a predominantly Christian town in Hama province.
Demonstrators, bearing wooden crosses, chanted slogans such as “We are your soldiers, Jesus” and “With blood and soul, we sacrifice for Jesus,” underscoring their demand for protection and rights under the new regime.
Laila Farkouh, a protester, expressed the community’s concerns: “We are protesting to demand our rights and denounce the burning of the Christmas tree and attacks on churches. We do not accept this.”
HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has sought to reassure religious minorities, including Christians, of their safety in the new political landscape. Formerly affiliated with al-Qaeda, HTS has been striving to shed its extremist image, with al-Sharaa appearing in business attire during recent public engagements. He has assured Western officials that there will be no retribution against members of the former Assad regime, predominantly composed of Alawites, nor suppression of other religious minorities.
Despite these assurances, skepticism persists among Christians. The Christmas tree burning is one of several incidents fueling apprehension. On December 18, unidentified gunmen attacked a Greek Orthodox church in Hama, attempting to destroy a cross and vandalizing a cemetery. Additionally, reports have emerged of vehicles in Christian neighborhoods of Damascus broadcasting jihadist songs, exacerbating fears within the community.
The international community is closely monitoring HTS’s governance, particularly its treatment of religious minorities. While the group has pledged to respect the rights of all Syrians, its history as a jihadist organization raises concerns about the sincerity of these commitments.
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The recent incidents targeting Christian symbols and places of worship have intensified these apprehensions, with many awaiting concrete actions from HTS to protect minority communities and uphold religious freedoms.
The coming months will be critical in determining whether HTS can transition from an insurgent group to a governing body that genuinely embraces Syria’s diverse religious and ethnic fabric. For now, the cautious participation of Christians in Christmas celebrations reflects a blend of hope and uncertainty about their future in a post-Assad Syria.
The resilience of Syria’s Christian community remains evident, even as they face emerging new political order, upholding a steadfast commitment to their faith and cultural identity until after the fall of president Bashar al-Assad.
