Christians in Syria gathered for their first Christmas Eve church services Tuesday since the overthrow of dictator Bashar Assad after an act of vandalism resulted in the burning of a Christmas tree.
Services at Lady of Damascus Church in the nation's capital were filled with Christians of all ages singing hymns and holding candles under increased security, Reuters reported.
Just before the services, protesters gathered to denounce the tree burning Monday at a traffic circle in the Christian-majority town of Al-Suqalabiyah near the city of Hama in central Syria and show the vandals they would not be intimidated.
Carrying wooden crosses, they chanted, "We are your soldiers, Jesus," "With blood and soul, we sacrifice for Jesus," and "The Syrian people are one."
Assad fled the country Dec. 8, seeking asylum in Russian after Islamist opposition group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham claimed power. Secretary of State Antony Blinken encouraged HTS to create a government that is "inclusive, that’s nonsectarian, that respects minorities and women."
Monday's incident with the Christmas tree raises concerns that Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, will not live up to his promise about moving Syria into a new era where all religions and ethnic groups are accepted.
Talal Abdullah, a Christian and former member of the Syrian National Council from Al-Suqaylabiyah, told NBC News on Tuesday that the incident resulted in clashes between local residents and perpetrators.
"That night, and under the rain, they set up a new tree in the same spot, decorated it, and arrested the attackers," he said, adding an HTS official promised him to support the community "in fighting against such unacceptable actions."
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the U.S. was observing how the new government reacts to the return of Christians openly expressing their faith.
"They want to be inclusive in dealing with other groups inside Syria, making clear that they respect women and minorities as they establish interim governing authorities — and making clear that Syria won’t be used as a base for terrorist groups," Miller said.
In Damascus, protesters are watching to see how the new government reacts.
"If we're not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we used to, then we don't belong here anymore," a demonstrator named Georges told Agence France-Presse.
James Morley III ✉
James Morley III is a writer with more than two decades of experience in entertainment, travel, technology, and science and nature.
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