The last generation of Syrian Christians: Vanishing Heritage in danger!

The last generation of Syrian Christians: Vanishing Heritage in danger!

Aleppo, Syrien - deeply concerned about the future of Christian communities in Syria, the Syrian Orthodox theologian Aho Shemunkasho commented in an interview with the Carinthian “Sonntag”. He describes the political situation under the new ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa as unstable and uncertain. Shemunkasho emphasizes that the protection of Christians remains at risk, while Al-Sharaa speaks of a certain freedom, but comes from an extreme tradition and will probably be under pressure to comply with religious laws, as kathpress.at reported.

The threat of migration and religious persecution

The situation of Christians in Syria has deteriorated dramatically since the civil war. According to reports, around 500,000 Christians have fled the country since 2011, and the number of remaining believers has decreased sharply. At the end of 2019, for example, only about 100,000 Christians lived in Aleppo, while 250,000 once lived there. This development makes the Syrian Christians doubt their cultural and religious heritage, especially since their community is one of the oldest in Christianity. The Christian presence in Syria is thus at a historical low, as well as wikipedia illustrate.

The influence of Islamist groups in the conflicts has made many churches and places of worship a target. Churches have been destroyed in the former Christian district of Dschudaide in Aleppo, and public services can only take place behind closed doors. These attacks and the ongoing persecution alerted foreign Christianity, and the future of the Syrian Christians remains insecure in a country that was once multicultural and religious.