DAMASCUS — Syrian Christians gathered for Christmas Eve services on Tuesday in a historic moment, marking the first time since the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in early December that the community could freely celebrate. The service, which took place at the Lady of Damascus Church in the capital, was closely monitored by security forces, as concerns about potential violence against Christian sites remained high.
The church was surrounded by several pickup trucks bearing the insignia of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which now controls large parts of Syria. Despite the tense atmosphere, the church’s pews were filled with a diverse congregation, both young and old, holding candles as hymns echoed throughout the sanctuary.
The Christmas Eve service came amidst heightened fears of violence after an incident earlier in the week. In the northern countryside of Hama, a Christmas tree was burned in what many saw as an act of hostility toward Syria’s Christian minority. In response, hundreds of protesters gathered in Damascus hours before the service to denounce the attack.
Waving wooden crosses and chanting slogans such as “We are your soldiers, Jesus” and “With blood and soul, we sacrifice for Jesus,” the protesters expressed their anger over the burning of the tree and attacks on churches. One protester, Laila Farkouh, voiced the sentiment of the crowd, stating, “We are protesting to demand our rights and denounce the burning of the Christmas tree and attacks on churches. We do not accept this.”
The service and the protests serve as an early test of the new Islamist rulers’ commitment to safeguarding the rights of Syria’s religious minorities. HTS, which assumed control following Assad’s downfall, has pledged to protect Christians and other religious groups, but Tuesday’s events underscore the fragility of those promises in the face of rising tensions.
