As the Christmas season approaches, Syria’s Christian community faces a challenging reality under the new Islamist leadership of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Despite public reassurances from HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa that religious minorities will be safe and free to practice their faith, fear and mistrust run deep among Christians who have endured decades of brutal dictatorship and over a decade of devastating civil war.
A Cautious Christmas
Church leaders across Syria are advising Christians to scale back their traditional Christmas celebrations this year, reflecting widespread anxiety about the intentions of the new Islamist rulers. Religious leaders have recommended keeping festive decorations and customs within the confines of church premises, avoiding public displays of celebration that might draw unwanted attention.
The decision to curtail celebrations comes even as HTS promises a new era of tolerance. Al-Sharaa, once a leader of the Sunni Islamist group with strong jihadist leanings, has sought to shed his extremist image, trading his militant uniform for business suits and engaging with Western officials. He has pledged that HTS will neither seek revenge against the former Alawite-led regime of Bashar al-Assad nor repress other religious minorities. Yet, actions on the ground tell a different story.
Incidents That Fuel Fear
On December 18, unidentified gunmen attacked a Greek Orthodox church in Hama, firing shots, smashing headstones in the cemetery, and attempting to destroy a cross. The incident left many Christians deeply unsettled. Shortly afterward, several SUVs were seen driving through Bab Touma, a predominantly Christian neighborhood in Damascus, blasting jihadist songs from loudspeakers. A chilling photo circulated on social media showed an armored vehicle in a Christian area bearing the message: “Your day is coming, Oh worshippers of the cross.”
Though HTS acted swiftly in response to some of these incidents—forcing the SUV driver to remove the threatening sign and apologizing, as well as arresting the vandals in Hama—the damage to trust was already done. Christian Bishop Andrew Bahhi of St. George’s Syriac Orthodox Church acknowledged the rapid response but noted that such incidents only deepen the community’s fears. “The community is watching to see if the groups currently in power are genuinely committed to establishing a civil society that offers equal opportunities for all,” Bahhi said.
Scars of War and Deep Mistrust
For Syria’s Christians, the fear of living under Islamist rule is rooted in the scars of war and long-standing ideological divides. Syria’s Christian population, which includes Syriac, Greek, and Armenian Orthodox Christians, as well as other minority groups like Druze and Shi’ite Muslims, has endured immense suffering during the civil war. Many feared that Sunni Islamist rule would threaten their way of life, and the rise of HTS has done little to assuage those fears.
One particularly poignant story is that of Christian Emilia Katarina, whose life was shattered by the civil war. Her eldest son, Firas Azar, was detained by Assad’s forces in 2012 while preparing for his wedding and has not been seen since. Two years later, her husband was killed by shrapnel from a rebel shell that struck near their home. Katarina and her daughter, Mary, survived but remain deeply traumatized.
“Whenever I hear a sound at night, I jump. Fear is deeply ingrained in us,” Katarina said, sitting near a portrait of her late husband wrapped in the Syrian flag. Her daughter echoed her sentiments: “The ideology does not change in an hour. We are afraid of this ideology.”
Promises and Skepticism
HTS representatives have met with Christian leaders, assuring them of their safety. Shortly after Assad’s fall, a senior HTS official told Bishop Bahhi and others not to be afraid. However, Bahhi remains cautious, questioning the sincerity of these promises. “How truthful and serious he is? We don’t know,” he said.
Even if HTS succeeds in building trust, the Christian community remains wary of the broader landscape. A mosaic of other armed Islamist groups continues to operate in Syria, each with varying levels of hostility toward religious minorities.
A Community in Survival Mode
In response to the tense atmosphere, Bishop Bahhi has advised young Christians to avoid provocative actions, such as wearing revealing clothing or engaging in public displays of festive cheer. The customary distributing of sweets on the streets during Christmas has also been discouraged.
Despite these precautions, the sight of heavily armed, bearded men patrolling Christian neighborhoods in Damascus stirs anxiety. For many Christians, the notion of a safe and inclusive Syria under Islamist rule remains difficult to believe.
The Long Road to Reconciliation
The question of whether HTS can foster genuine coexistence in a nation fractured by years of war remains unanswered. The wounds of the past—marked by sectarian violence, displacement, and loss—run deep. Trust, once broken, is not easily restored.
As Christmas nears, the hopes of Syria’s Christians rest not only on promises of safety but also on tangible actions that demonstrate a commitment to equality and peace. For now, many remain cautious, their celebrations muted, their prayers for justice and reconciliation whispered in the quiet of their churches.
At St. George’s Church, during a sermon on faith in challenging times, Katarina was moved to tears. Rising from her seat, she lit a candle and murmured a quiet prayer: “Maybe God will answer my prayers and bring back my son.”
The journey toward trust and stability in Syria is fraught with uncertainty, but the resilience of its Christian community shines as a beacon of hope in the darkness.
