Name: Syria’s Christians celebrate Christmas amid pain and insecurity
Uploaded: 2025-12-25T14:40:59.488Z
Duration: 2 min 11 s
Description: One year after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, Christmas festivities are taking place this year under a cloud of pain and worry. In the capital Damascus and the nearby town of Maaloula, Christian communities are trying to celebrate, despite the scars of previous violence and an ongoing climate of insecurity.

One year after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, Christmas festivities are taking place this year under a cloud of pain and worry. In the capital Damascus and the nearby town of Maaloula, Christian communities are trying to celebrate, despite the scars of previous violence and an ongoing climate of insecurity.

Damascus

In Damascus, the Church of Prophet Elias commemorates Christmas by honoring parishioners killed in a suicide attack earlier in the year, with portraits of the victims displayed on a Christmas tree. Despite ongoing repairs and heightened security, the congregation continues its celebrations, expressing both grief and hope for peace.

In the nearby village of Mangula, only a few faithful gather at the St. Thekla Monastery, which was previously vandalized. Residents express ongoing fears due to the threat of radical factions, but maintain their traditions and faith, displaying Christmas symbols discreetly and emphasizing the importance of love and resilience.

Syria’s Christians celebrate Christmas amid pain and insecurity

At the Church of Prophet Elias in Damascus, Christmas is being celebrated differently this year. On the illuminated shape of a Christmas tree hang the portraits of parishioners killed in a suicide attack this past June. Among the victims was Simon Haddad. It's been very difficult having lost my father. He was well-known in this church. Today, I still feel unsafe. Even after six months, everyone is still feeling the impact. But our faith is stronger. Without it, we wouldn't be here. Despite her pain, Jenny still attends the church she grew up in, even helping to hang the Christmas decorations. I hope each Christmas will be a celebration of peace and love, and that all Syrians will be safe. This is where the attack took place. Candles burn in homage to the 25 victims. With repairs ongoing, Christmas prayers are held in an adjoining hall. Our sadness is immense, but our joy and hope are greater. We've decorated our tree with photos of our marchers to let everyone know that we're still celebrating. The celebrations are taking place under heightened security precautions. Some 30 kilometers away, in Mangula, just a few faithful have come to pray at the St. Thekla Monastery, vandalized by the Al-Nusra Front in 2013. This icon was at the entry of the sanctuary. It represents St. Thekla. With love, anything is possible. In this historic Christian village, Christmas symbols are done discreetly. The atmosphere stands in Mangula this Christmas. We're afraid of incidents at churches and across Syria. A year after the fall of Assad, the threat of radical factions is feeding fear and weighing on the future of Syrian Christians.

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