Syrian Christians gathered for Christmas Eve services on Tuesday, celebrating for the first time since the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad earlier this month. The event serves as an early test of promises by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), now ruling Syria, to protect religious minorities.
Under tight security, the Lady of Damascus Church in the capital filled with worshippers of all ages. Candles illuminated the pews as hymns echoed through the sanctuary, guarded by armed HTS vehicles stationed nearby.
The mood in Damascus was tempered by unrest earlier in the day. Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets to protest a series of anti-Christian attacks, including the recent burning of a Christmas tree in Hama’s northern countryside. Chanting slogans such as “We are your soldiers, Jesus” and “The Syrian people are one,” they carried crosses and demanded assurances for their safety.
“We are here to denounce the burning of the Christmas tree and the attacks on our churches. We won’t accept this,” said protester Laila Farkouh.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, HTS’s leader and Syria’s de facto ruler, has vowed to protect Christians and other minorities under his administration. Once a commander in the Sunni Islamist group, which previously labeled Christians as infidels, Sharaa has made a public shift to a more conciliatory tone, meeting with Western officials in business suits instead of military fatigues.
Despite these assurances, incidents of violence have heightened fears among Christians. On Dec. 18, gunmen attacked a Greek Orthodox church in Hama, vandalizing a cross and cemetery headstones. Elsewhere, in the predominantly Christian neighborhood of Bab Touma in Damascus, SUVs reportedly blared jihadist songs, adding to community unease.
For Syria’s Christian minority, the first Christmas under Islamist rule is marked by both faith and fear, as the future of their place in the country remains uncertain.
