As Aleppo’s Christians face new ordeal, Church leaders call for courage and faith

ACI MENA, Dec 2, 2024 / 17:15 pm

The Syrian city of Aleppo, whose name has long been associated with war, began the Advent season under a new shadow. Jihadist factions, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, advanced in the city, pushing Aleppo into a new phase, now with different rulers, ideologies, and flags. 

Last week, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a militant faction affiliated with extremist groups, launched its largest operation in nearly nine years against Syrian government forces in the western Aleppo countryside. The offensive claimed several villages and towns, blocking the main international highway between Damascus and Aleppo. The attacks also targeted Aleppo’s university dorms, killing four students and wounding 10 others.

Then on Sunday, Dec. 1, Terra Santa College in Aleppo run by the Franciscans was hit by a strike. No casualties were reported.

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham is a jihadist faction often described as an offshoot of al-Qaeda in Syria. It was formed in 2017 from a merger of five groups, including Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, formerly Jabhat al-Nusra.

What does this latest outbreak of violence mean for Aleppo’s Christians, and how are their spiritual leaders responding? After years of relative calm, this renewed conflict deepens the burden of an already dire economic crisis. 

Christians await their fate

Christians in Aleppo now anxiously await more information about the future. Most have chosen to stay in their homes, either out of resolve or because leaving is not an option. Blocking the main international highway has left only one alternative route, which remains congested and potentially dangerous.

The Armenians of Syria Facebook page reported that Dr. Arwant Arslanian, a respected local physician, was killed by sniper fire while attempting to leave Aleppo.

Caught between bullets and shelling, a bus carrying young Christians from Syria’s northeastern Jazira region was stranded on the Aleppo Road. After hours of waiting, the youth reached the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese in Aleppo where they were provided with care and refuge.

There is currently limited movement in the city, marked only by residents trying to purchase essential goods. This activity halts by 5 p.m. due to a curfew imposed by the militants and lasting until 5 a.m. Bread shortages have worsened, with bakery production declining and long queues for what is available. Small vans were reportedly seen recently distributing bread and water for free in several neighborhoods, including Christian areas, where drinking water has been entirely cut off.

Churches reassure their communities

After the strike on Terra Santa College in Aleppo, the custos of the Holy Land released a statement reporting that the friars and faithful of the parish “are all well” and inviting everyone “to join us in prayer for peace in Syria, martyred by long years of war and violence.”

The Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo, Bishop Mor Boutros Kassis, stated that Christian leaders in the city have been in close contact and have decided to stay, continuing prayers and liturgies. 

They have also strengthened communication with their communities through WhatsApp groups and Facebook. 

Addressing his parishioners, Kassis acknowledged the shocking and difficult reality but urged them to face it with awareness, courage, and faith. He added that the dioceses across Syria are prepared to receive refugees.

The Maronite archbishop of Aleppo, Joseph Tobji, encouraged his parishioners to maintain inner peace, which he described as a source of strength for sound decision-making. He emphasized the importance of prayer, reminding them that “God acts, not man, for God is stronger than man.”

The Greek Orthodox archbishop of Aleppo, Ephrem Maalouli, appealed to his parishioners to remain committed to prayer and exercise wisdom by limiting unnecessary outings, staying calm, and being patient. He urged them to reach out to the church for any needs.

Meanwhile, the Latin Church leader in Aleppo, Franciscan Father Bahjat Karakach, expressed his thoughts, saying that there is no reason for panic.

“The Church knows no more than the people do,” he said. “The decision to stay or leave Aleppo is a personal choice, and no one can make it on behalf of another. We friars are staying and waiting to see how things unfold.”

The Middle East Council of Churches issued a statement recently addressing local and global policymakers as well as regional and international religious organizations. The statement urged them to exert pressure to spare civilians from harm in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Expanding territories

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The armed factions have extended their control to new areas in Idlib province, west of Aleppo, and have moved southward toward northern Hama’s countryside. While they have captured some territories there, they have yet to enter the Christian towns of Mhardeh and Al-Suqaylabiyah.

Aleppo’s Christians, though spared immediate harm for now, continue to pray and brace themselves for an uncertain tomorrow.