Holy Mass is celebrated in Mariamite Greek Melkite Catholic Cathedral, Damascus, on Dec. 15, 2024. / Credit: Lama Ghosn/ACI MENA

ACI MENA, Dec 17, 2024 / 14:00 pm (CNA).

After more than 13 years of death, oppression, and destruction, the bells of Syrian churches are once again ringing with hope. It is a hope for the rebirth of Syria — a once-lost aspiration whose absence has been a source of profound anguish for Syrians everywhere.

This past Sunday, churches in Syria witnessed a remarkable surge in attendees across cities and towns as people gathered to pray freely with a renewed spirit of hope.

Not a single incident of assault or restriction was reported. Christmas decorations adorned church facades and even some neighborhoods with a significant Christian presence. The Latin Church in Latakia announced plans to illuminate its Christmas tree on the evening of Dec. 17.

During the Sunday Mass at the Holy Cross Church in Damascus, the Greek Orthodox patriarch of Antioch and all the East, John X (Yazigi), emphasized that Christians are not mere guests in this land but rather “a deep-rooted part of Syria, as ancient as the jasmine of Damascus and the apostolic heritage of Antioch — this land that has marked the world with the name of Jesus Christ.”

He addressed Muslims directly, declaring: “My Muslim brothers, between the ‘you and us,’ the divisive ‘and’ should fall… Leaving behind it ‘we.’ We are one, sharing a history filled with victories and downfalls, and we share one destiny.”

Articulating the vision for Syria’s future, Yazigi explained: “We want a civil state where everyone is equal in rights and duties, preserving the personal status laws for all components. We want a state of citizenship, coexistence, and civil peace. A state governed by laws, where religion, freedom, and human rights are respected. A democratic state, where power transitions peacefully.”

The patriarch stressed that achieving these goals hinges on drafting a new constitution. He cautioned against misappropriating Christian narratives in the media and warned of false rumors propagated through media outlets and social media.

In a similar vein, Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan called for the establishment of a transitional government that upholds transparency, reconciliation, and justice for all citizens. He urged a smooth political transition that shields Syrians from retaliation and revenge. Younan also warned against any ventures aimed at demographic or religious changes in the country.

The Sunday liturgies coincided with the return of students to schools and universities. 

George Daekh, principal of the Melkite Catholic Al-Woroud School in Aleppo, revealed to ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, that Christian schools resumed on Monday, maintaining Sunday as a day off along with Saturday. He shared that the administrative and support teams had spent hours in the preceding days removing symbols of the old regime and raising Syria’s new flag.

As Christmas approaches, church groups and associations across Syria have launched humanitarian, service-oriented, and spiritual initiatives. These include visiting the elderly, cleaning and painting streets and sidewalks, distributing awareness flyers, organizing Christmas markets with sales stalls, and hosting evenings of carols and prayer.