Christianity in Syria

Christianity in Syria
Our Lady of Saidnaya Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in the world
Total population
~300,000 (2022 estimate)
Religions
Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, Maronite Church, Assyrian Church of the East, Syriac Orthodox Church, Syriac Catholic Church, Armenian Orthodox Church and Armenian Catholic Churches, some Protestant
Languages
Arabic, Syriac, Assyrian

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    Christianity in Syria has among the oldest Christian communities on Earth, dating back to the first century AD, and has been described as a "cradle of Christianity".[1] With its roots in the traditions of St. Paul the Apostle and St. Peter the Apostle, Syria quickly became a major center of early Christianity and produced many significant theologians and church leaders. Of the 325 bishops who took part in the First Council of Nicea in 325 AD, twenty were from Syria. Over the centuries, Syrian Christians have played a vital role in shaping Christian thought and practice, contributing to the development of various liturgical traditions, monastic movements, and theological schools. St. Paul the Apostle famously converted to Christianity on the road to Damascus, and Syria has produced three Popes: Pope Anicetus (157–168 AD), Pope Sergius I (687-701),[2] and Pope Gregory III (731–741 AD). Their legacy includes the establishment of some of the most ancient churches, monasteries, and pilgrimage sites, such as the 5th century remains of the Church of Saint Simeon Stylites, Our Lady of Saidnaya Monastery, and the Cathedral of Constantine and Helen.[3]

    However, in recent times, the Syrian Christian community has faced numerous challenges, including ongoing and severe persecution, displacement, and emigration. Christians in Syria made up about 10% of the pre-war Syrian population but now makes up less than 2%, falling from 1.5 million in 2011 to just 300,000 in 2022 due to widespread persecution by Islamic terrorists and the impact of the Syrian Civil War. Christians in Syria have also been subjected to violence and discrimination by Islamic State fighters during their control of large areas of the country. Their churches have been converted into military headquarters, and their property confiscated. Persecution of Christians in Syria has further intensified since.[4][5][6] In Aleppo, the country's second largest city, the proportion of Christian residents fell from 12% pre-war to 1.4% in 2023 with more than 20 churches damaged during the war.[7] The city of Idlib has been almost entirely depopulated of its Christian population under Islamist rule.[8] Some governments and organisations including the United States have claimed that the persecution of Christians in the Middle East and North Africa, especially in Syria and Iraq, constitute an act of genocide.[9][10][11][12][13][14]

    The country's largest Christian denomination is the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch,[15][16] closely followed by the Maronite Church and the Assyrian Church of the East.[16] There is a small minority of Protestants in the country.[17]

    1. ^ Pontifex, John (2024-08-06). "Christians in Syria hit new low". The Times. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
    2. ^ "Pope St. Sergius I - The 84th Pope". Pope History. 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
    3. ^ Marlow, Christine (2013-10-16). "The damage done to 'Syria's oldest church' seen first hand". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
    4. ^ Joseph, Ben (2022-12-08). "Churches in Middle East hapless as Christians migrate en masse". Union of Catholic Asian News. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
    5. ^ Kino, Nuri (2024-01-30). "Don't Forget About the Persecuted Christians of Iraq and Syria". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
    6. ^ "More than 120 churches in Syria damaged or destroyed by war". The National. 2019-09-11. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
    7. ^ Campbell, Hannah (2023-12-19). "Aleppo's Christians Face Ongoing Struggles from War and Displacement". International Christian Concern. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
    8. ^ Saad, Hwaida; al-Omar, Asmaa; Hubbard, Ben (2022-01-23). "'Now There Is No One': The Lament of One of the Last Christians in a Syrian City". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
    9. ^ Wintour, Patrick (2019-05-02). "Persecution of Christians 'coming close to genocide' in Middle East". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
    10. ^ "Trump administration denounced ISIS for committing "genocide" against religious groups". NBC News. 2017-08-15. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
    11. ^ Safi, Marlo (2018-09-13). "U.N. Is Called to Recognize Christian Genocide". National Review. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
    12. ^ Sherwood, Harriet (2016-03-10). "Calls grow to label attacks on Middle East Christians as genocide". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
    13. ^ Holpuch, Amanda; Sherwood, Harriet; Bowcott, Owen (2016-03-17). "John Kerry: Isis is committing genocide in Syria and Iraq". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
    14. ^ Croucher, Shane (2019-05-03). "Persecution of Christians Becoming a Genocide, Report Warns". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
    15. ^ Bailey, Betty Jane; Bailey, J. Martin (2003). Who Are the Christians in the Middle East?. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans. p. 191. ISBN 0-8028-1020-9.
    16. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference US2022 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
    17. ^ The ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-28