Christmas brings little hope for Syria's Christians - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East

Exerpt from the Al Monitor article:

Most of the displaced Christians fled to safe areas in Damascus, Aleppo and Wadi al-Nasara in the countryside of Homs, as well as to regions on the Syrian coast. They were fleeing the difficult humanitarian situation, just like other displaced Syrians, knowing that there are several Christian charity associations that are trying to secure their living needs.

"At the beginning of the violence in Syria, Christians remained neutral," says a source, who's following the issue of Christians in Syria.

"Given the escalation of events and the rise of Takfiri Wahhabism in Syria, Christians fell pray to displacement, murder, theft and kidnapping. Their factories and houses have been robbed (as happened in Aleppo), they have been denied their sources of livelihood and their ancient artworks have been looted and robbed," according to the source.

"Ancient Christian artworks have been stolen from monuments in the area of Mount Simon. According to reports from there, these artworks have been taken out of Syria via Turkey and then sold on the black market," the source added.

For his part, head of the Monastery of St. Peter in Marmarita, Walid Escandave, who is also deputy vicar-general of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Latakia and Tartus, stressed that "after 2½ years, the ongoing war in Syria proved that not only did it target humans and humanity but also destroyed history, civilization and heritage." He further told As-Safir: "There is no doubt that the first and last beneficiary of what is happening is Israel."

Hit by a mortar shell in early 2012, Our Lady of Saidnaya Monastery, one of the most renowned monasteries in Syria, is among the monasteries and churches that have been damaged by the events. It is once again under threat, as armed groups are getting closer to the city of Saidnaya, which has long been relatively safe. As battles intensify and become nearer, waves of displacement have been taking place in the city, which is a part of the countryside of Damascus.

While minor damages were inflicted to the Saidnaya Monastery, the oldest church in the world was destroyed. [Built about 50 A.D.] St. Mary Church of the Holy Belt was destroyed and burnt, similarly to Holy Forty Martyrs Church, one of the oldest churches in the governorate. The church of St. Elias in Qusair suffered the same fate.

Read the rest of the piece online here:
Christmas brings little hope for Syria's Christians - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East