On a chilly Sunday morning, the sound of church bells resonated through the rugged landscape of Maaloula, a historic town in Syria. However, the streets were noticeably less populated.
Maaloula is renowned for being one of the last locations where Aramaic, the language thought to have been spoken by Jesus, is still used by local inhabitants. The town also boasts two of Syria’s oldest operational monasteries. But with the collapse of former President Bashar Assad’s regime in an insurgent-led offensive late last year, the remaining residents are anxious about their uncertain future.
After a modest congregation attended the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saint George, community members gathered in the courtyard, expressing concerns about looting and intimidation directed toward their religious community. Father Jalal Ghazal recounted an unsettling experience from January, when he was awakened by a loud noise. Fearing an incident similar to the targeted violence during the nation’s extended civil war, he discovered that vandals had broken into clergy apartments, wreaking havoc and discarding wine bottles.
Many of Syria’s Christian population felt unfairly blamed during the conflict for aligning with Assad, who, being from the Alawite minority, had presented himself as a defender of scattered minority groups throughout the country. Last month, the residents of Maaloula, 40 miles northeast of Damascus, sent a letter to Syria’s new Islamist leadership under Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former insurgent who has vowed to protect minorities. The letter emphasized the need for the safe return of Maaloula’s Christians and firmly stated that the town’s cultural and religious heritage must be preserved.
Despite reaching out, no significant changes have been observed, and Maaloula’s clergy remain hopeful for fruitful communication with the authorities. The town still bears the imprints of war, a testament to its two-thirds population displacement in September 2013 during a rebel, including al-Qaida-linked extremists, takeover. Back then, reports of abductions, including 12 nuns, drew global attention. While the nuns were eventually released for a ransom, Assad’s forces reclaimed the town, ousting Muslim residents suspected of supporting opposition groups.
Following Assad’s downfall, Maaloula’s Christian community has reported incidents of revenge, including theft and property damage, with no arrests. The Christians of Maaloula claim to have historically coexisted peacefully with local Muslims and feel unjustly targeted for political alignments beyond their control. Father Ghazal stated the community’s resolve to mitigate such occurrences, especially in the absence of law enforcement, as the town’s weapons were looted amidst post-regime celebration chaos.
Sameera Thabet, recalling the night of their exodus to Damascus, expressed the dread they felt fearing renewed violence. The following day, the urgency to protect their homes from looting drew her and other residents back. War had already inflicted damage on religious monuments, leaving marks and defacements on revered icons. Today, Maaloula’s inhabitants and church leaders hope for sufficient protection under the new administration to sustain their religious traditions and the Aramaic language, as many former residents have not returned.
Church authorities have requested enhanced security from al-Sharaa’s government. Although some security forces were deployed from the capital during the Christmas season, their presence was brief. Father Fadi Bargeel of the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, situated on a hill overlooking Maaloula, demonstrated hope for the preservation and revival of the Aramaic language among the next generation, urging Aramaic to be the language spoken at home from birth.
Though largely vacant, life persists in the resolute town. The community maintains traditional symbols like the Christmas tree, and a handful of children continue their routine by helping strays near local shops. Thabet, maintaining her faith, believes fervently in divine protection and trusts that the new leadership will cultivate an inclusive civil society for Christians and all Syrians alike.
She remains hopeful, stating, “The God who placed us on this land will safeguard us.”
