In the midst of the civil war, churches and Christian-owned businesses have been targets of bombings by the Islamic State and other extremist groups, and there have been many reports of Christians being abducted, harmed and killed. Even so, many of Syria’s remaining Christians are committed to staying and rebuilding their country. Others are now returning home following IS’s military defeat.
Sabra now says he doesn’t know bishops’ whereabouts
The leader of the Syrian opposition coalition is backing away from previous reports that he is certain of the location and condition of two Syrian Orthodox bishops kidnapped April 22. George Sabra, president of the Syrian National Coalition, told World Watch Monitor on May 21 he is not informed of […]
‘Groping in the dark’
That’s how Mgr. Jeanclement Jeanbart, the Greek-Melkite Archbishop of Aleppo, describes to Asia News the absence of any information about the current fate of Yohanna Ibrahim and Boulos Yazigi, respective heads of the Syriac and Greek Orthodox Churches in Aleppo. They were kidnapped on April, and little information has emerged […]
The Camp
Earthwork at the site of a planned refugee camp for Syrian Christians at Midyat, Turkey. The Mor Abrohom Monastery is in the background, right.Saima Altunkaya for World Watch Monitor Hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing the violence in Syria live in camps just inside Turkey. So the April 10 […]
Zahle dispatch: Life among Syria’s Christian refugees
Lisa Pearce is deputy CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland, which works with partners worldwide to support Christians who are under pressure for their faith. She traveled to Lebanon in April to meet with Syrian Christians who have fled the violence in their homeland. Here are some of her […]
Archbishop’s life ‘under threat’
Kidnapped archbishop Yohanna Ibrahim is reported to be without access to prescribed medication vital for his health. The Syrian Orthodox archbishop for Aleppo, who was kidnapped alongside his Greek Orthodox counterpart Boulos Yazigi, takes regular medication for high blood pressure and diabetes. A spokesperson from the Greek Orthodox Church in […]
Kidnapped archbishop urges Christians to stay in Syria
The nephew of Yohanna Ibrahim, one of the two archbishops kidnapped in Syria on Monday, said he hopes Syrian Christians will not use the incident as an incentive to flee the country. Jamil Diarbakerli, who represents the Assyrian Democratic Organisation (which petitions for the rights of the Assyrian minority) said […]
My cousins in Qamishly
Correspondent Nuri Kino lives in Sweden. Parts of his family remain in Syria. He writes: It’s mid-April, Friday, almost 9pm. I’ve showered, had a bite to eat and sat down in front of the TV. After a long day of work, I want to relax in front of a good […]
Kidnapped archbishops ‘not’ released
Confusion surrounds the whereabouts of two Orthodox archbishops kidnapped on Monday and reportedly released on Tuesday. The latest reports claim the archbishops have not been released, while it remains unclear who abducted them. The archbishops’ driver, identified as a deacon, was killed, while a fourth passenger escaped. Yohanna Ibrahim and Boulos […]
Syrian Christians targeted for their politics or their faith?
Wednesday 28th’s twin deadly car bombs in the Christian and Druze suburb of Jaramana in the Syrian capital Damascus appeared to target two communities which so far have not joined the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad’s government. State media said “terrorists” were behind the blasts, which killed at least 38 […]