🇸🇾 🇸🇾 ✝️ - Syriac Press - Attack on Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in Hemto (Hama) stirs fear among Syrian Christians

HEMTO, Syria — Christian communities in Hemto (Hama), central Syria, are expressing deep concerns over the recent attack on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese by an armed group. The incident comes amidst heightened fears following Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) assumption of control over the government in Syria.

The attack resulted in the destruction of the archdiocese’s furniture and religious symbols, spreading fear among the city’s residents. According to local sources, the gunmen desecrated Christian symbols, violated the sanctity of the dead, and vandalized graves belonging to Christian families. Images of the desecrated graves circulated on social media, with media outlets confirming their recent origin despite some doubts about their timing.

The HTS security services issued an apology for the incident and assured that the perpetrators would be held accountable. However, tensions remain high, especially after additional reports of harassment against Christians in HTS-controlled areas.

In one notable incident in the Christian village of Kafrbo, located in the Hemto countryside, a priest was reportedly ordered by an HTS armed member to remove the cross he was wearing. This incident contradicts earlier assurances from HTS officials that Christians would be protected and allowed to practice their faith freely.

These repeated “individual cases” have left Syrian Christians deeply concerned about their future. Many fear that ongoing violations could impede their ability to perform religious rituals, display Christian symbols publicly, and live securely in their ancestral homeland.

Christian communities across Syria continue to call for concrete actions to ensure their safety and the preservation of their religious freedoms in the face of growing uncertainty.

🇸🇾✝️ LIVE ON REUTERS: CHRISTIANS IN DAMASCUS LIGHT UP CHRISTMAS TREE

🇹🇷 🇮🇶 🇮🇶 Turkey: The only Christian deputy, George Aslan, tried to share a Christmas message in parliament. The Assyrian’s mic was turned off when he started speaking in Aramaic, the language of Christ.

Some wish to silence the voice of Christians in Turkey. Not us. We wish them blessings and favor from the King of kings.

To the Christians of Turkey – and all Turks of goodwill – Merry Christmas!

Source: Christian Emergency Alliance on X

🇸🇾 ✝️ - Greek Orthodox Church cancels Christmas and other Christian holidays in Syria "until security prevails".

Statement issued by Sahnaya Church Parish Assembly, Church of Prophet Elias the Zealot.
Per directives of Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch John X, due to current security conditions & to prevent security problems arising from "individual mistakes" that occur in various parts of Syria, all celebrations of Christmas, New Year & various Christian holidays have been stopped until security & safety prevail.
Christian holidays will be limited to prayers & lighting of candles.
Statement also emphasizes the only guarantor of the country’s progress and stability being the 'constitution based on citizenship' and participation in its formulation by all Syrian forces and national movements in order to reach a free, democratic, civil Syria.

See the post on their Facebook.

🇸🇾 - While it's undeniably bad, HTS is far more intelligent than Bashar by just baiting people with reconciliation centers instead of actually doing it.

Bashar by reconciling jihadists shot himself in the foot. HTS wants to avoid a repeat of that that would threaten their own regime.

🇸🇾 🇸🇾 - Ash'ari Sufi scholars emerging as another faction on the Syrian field. Salafis are sharing this video purportedly showing Ash'ari scholar from the Syrian Islamic Council Muhammad al-Murabi' calling to overthrow HTS on the basis of being Wahhabi.

More risks of sectarian war.

🇸🇾 ✝️ - Emergency Response Team belonging to the new administration helps restore the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of #Hama after the sectarian attack two days before.

فريق الاستجابة الطارئة يرمم آثار الاعتداء المسلح الذي تعرضت له كنيسة الروم الأرثودوكس في مدينة #حماة

🇸🇾 ✝️ - VALLEY OF THE CHRISTIANS, SYRIA:
Interview with Jumana Satme, daughter of Samaan Satme & Helen Khashouf, & her family in Australia with SBS Arabic.
Militants entered the home & shot dead Helen who was sleeping on the sofa, and started strangling & torturing Samaan.
Then they went to the 2nd floor looking for their son but couldn't find him as the room he was in was separate.
The family says the claims that Samaan & Helen had money stashed, made a big sale and other such rationalizations made by many were false. Samaan & Helen were barely getting by in their day to day. Even though the militants stole some things, this was not a burglary.

Commentary: arm Syrian Christians to defend from sectarian terrorists.

🇺🇸 🇸🇾 - Officials of the U.S. State Department have met with HTS leader Ahmad al Sharaa/Abu Muhammad Al-Jolani in Damascus.

🇸🇾 🇸🇾 - Talkalakh, Syria: Journalist Yara Assi shares report that local militant 'Abu Muawiya' has formed an independent militia, claiming that his group kills people & throws their bodies on roads, stole military & state vehicles, with claims that he is promising to genocide minorities.

🇺🇲 ❌ 🏴 US says it has killed ISIS leader Abu Yusif in Syria airstrike.