The Syrian Catholic Church is fighting for survival in the Holy Land

The Syrian Catholic Church is fighting for survival in the Holy Land

Jerusalem, Israel - In Jerusalem, the Syrian Catholic Christians under the direction of Bishop Yacub Ephrem Semaan are facing major challenges. The Syrian Catholic Church, with around 120,000 believers, a smaller Catholic Eastern Church, sees moments of uncertainty and change. The young bishop has been running the community for three and a half years, which is not only active in Jerusalem, but also in Israel, Palestine and Jordan. The main focus of his work lies on the survival and spiritual strengthening of the Syrian Catholic community, which suffers from the consequences of flight and emigration, such as kathpress.at reported.

led by Bishop Semaan, the municipality fights with a thin personnel ceiling, as only a few priests are available. While he is confronted with travel restrictions and unemployment in his parish in Bethlehem, Semaan tries to maintain contact with the needy families. The income has decreased sharply throughout the region, and despite the lived Christian values, the future of the community becomes uncertain. The religious roots of the community are strong and resistant, since it lives in one of the most sacred cities in the world, in which many pilgrims, such as Christian Post , reports to the sacred stands every year to travel To deepen faith.

The sacred sites in Jerusalem and the influence on the community

The Syrian Catholic believers are part of the rich cultural heritage of Jerusalem, where significant religious sites such as the Grabeskirche and the Kölberg lie. These places attract pilgrims from all over the world and are important for the local community. The church church, which was built above the screens of Jesus, as well as the Via Dolorosa, the suffering of Christ, are central points of contact for visitors. Nevertheless, the Syrian-Catholic community remains in a tense environment in which the bishop hopes that the Christians in the region not only survive, but also play an active role in the reconstruction of their homeland.

The bishop sees it necessary to promote a policy that aims at peace and overcomes the distrust that is nourished by extremist ideologies. His vision is a future in which Jews, Muslims and Christians can live together peacefully. Despite the challenges, Semaan is optimistic and tirelessly works to hold the Syrian Catholic community together in Jerusalem and ensure that the rich religious and cultural heritage is preserved in the region.