Reports | 26 12 2025
Marina Mansour
Over the past few days, churches across Syria have hosted prayers and celebrations marking Christmas. Public squares and streets witnessed distinctive festive scenes, including Christmas tree lightings and musical performances by scout bands, with wide attendance from Christian communities and participation from people of all sects.
These scenes revived joyful memories for Syrians and brought moments of happiness to many hearts. Yet an underlying question remains: do Syrian Christians truly feel safe during these celebrations?
Christmas in Saydnaya
Natalie Al-Hallak from the city of Saydnaya says: “I attended the Christmas carnival held in the city streets on Christmas Eve and truly felt the spirit of the holiday.”
She spoke about initiatives organized by the Christian Education Center “Al-Tajalli,” describing them as special, as staff members dressed as Santa Claus and visited children’s homes to bring them the joy of Christmas.
She added: “I did not feel afraid at all, because the town’s residents protected the streets and churches, which gave us a sense of comfort and safety.”
Doueilaa… Attempting to Heal the Wounds of the Bombing
Christmas took on a different meaning this year at St. Elias Church in Doueilaa, which was hit by a terrorist bombing six months ago. Church leaders and activity organizers chose to commemorate the church’s martyrs by lighting a Christmas tree decorated with their photographs.
Jenny Al-Haddad, daughter of martyr Simon Al-Haddad, described the initiative as more than just lighting a tree. She said it deeply touched her heart, as every star bearing the martyrs’ photos reminded her that they are still present among them.
Speaking to Rozana about her feelings inside the church, she said:
“I was standing at the church door, my hand trembling—not because I lack faith, but because fear has become a habit in the body. It accompanies the soul and comes out with every breath. This place touches the pain inside me and takes me back to the same day… the same moment… when I saw my father on the ground, wounded, dying before my eyes.”
She added: “I am still afraid… but I managed to enter, because the light of our martyrs was stronger than our fear, and stronger than the darkness that settled within us after the bombing.”
Hearts That Have Lost a Sense of Safety
A few days ago, during the lighting of the Christmas tree in Doueilaa near St. Elias Church, a tragic incident occurred that reminded everyone of the deep fear still present among many Syrians and raised questions about security in the area.
As hundreds gathered to celebrate and watch a scout musical performance, one woman screamed, believing there was a “terrorist” about to detonate himself among the crowd. Panic spread immediately, and people began running and pushing one another. It later became clear that there was no security incident. Several people were injured with bruises, others fainted, and a number of children were separated from their families.
Maria Clara Mansour, who witnessed the incident firsthand, told Rozana:
“I will never forget the scene. We were watching the performance happily when people behind me started screaming and pushing. Terror took over everyone, even the Muslims attending the celebration. I started running with my sister, but the crowd separated us and I lost her.”
She continued emotionally: “I tried calling her several times, but the network was weak, and I couldn’t understand what was happening. When I finally found her, I cried—not just out of fear, but because of our inability to celebrate in this country, and because we have lost the sense of safety, surrounded by people who see others as infidels simply because they are different, not as human beings.”
She added: “This year’s holiday carried fears and challenges, yet we were determined to celebrate and hold our usual rituals is every church. Inside, however, the feeling of Christmas was not the same. We feared any possible security incident. The joy was incomplete, but we will remain in our churches, because our faith is stronger than anything.”
Were the Churches Effectively Protected?
Photographer Tony Quroshan, who spent the Christmas period documenting celebrations inside churches, said that this year’s holiday was better than the previous one. Despite fear among some people, many were encouraged to celebrate as before, with Damascus witnessing widespread festivities.
He noted that internal security forces, alongside local community groups, organized the celebrations and inspected passersby, with stricter measures in some areas more than others.
Father Maher Mansour, priest of St. George’s Greek Catholic Church in Jdeidet Artouz, told Rozana that Christmas this year was similar to previous years in terms of masses and celebrations. A Christmas mass was held, followed by a tree-lighting ceremony in the church courtyard accompanied by a musical performance, as well as the opening of a Christmas bazaar inside the church hall.
He said: “People attended as usual, as in previous years, but with some caution due to the current situation and the threats some churches have faced recently from terrorist groups.”
He added that church protection was coordinated with internal security forces, with the participation of local community committees from within the church during the holiday period.
One year after the fall of the Assad regime, one of Syria’s greatest challenges remains the lack of security—especially following the bombing of St. Elias Church in Doueilaa, which left worshippers fearful and hesitant to practice their religious rituals freely. Although Christmas passed peacefully, it was followed by a terrorist bombing at the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque in Homs, raising further questions about the security situation and the protection of worshippers in Syria’s places of worship.