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StorySyria | 30 March 2025
Happy to be a light in the darkness in Syria
Show: false / Country: Syria /
How Christians are showing the hope of Jesus in the midst of uncertainty
When the regime of Bashar al-Assad came to an end in Syria in 2024, it left observers around the world in shock. Assad (and his father) had ruled Syria for more than 50 years—often cruelly, brutally putting down any threats to their authority. The country had endured years of civil war, the threat of ISIS, a massive earthquake, economic devastation and more … and now, a regime change.
Adding to the shock was the identity of the group that took control of Syria. Hayat Tahir al-Sham (HTS) has roots in Islamic militant groups and is regarded as a terrorist organization by many Western governments. And now, they were in charge of Syria, promising to protect minority rights and to put an end to the instability that has plagued the country for years.
For Christians, the questions were difficult to answer.
“There was a lot of fear, a lot of doubt and uncertainty about the future,” explains Bishop Josef, a Christian leader in Syria. “Who are these people, who is going to govern, how will they govern?”
Watch what Syrian Christians have to say:
What Syrian Christians shared echoes what Open Doors experts outside of Syria have said: that it’s uncertain and fluid, and no one is quite sure what will happen. This was glaringly obvious in early March, as clashes between forces loyal to the previous regime and the new government reportedly left more than 1,500 people dead—and led to troubling accusations of human rights violations.
Christians in Syria are an ancient religious minority in the country, tracing their roots back to the Apostles Paul and Peter. During the civil war, Islamic militant groups—most notably the Islamic State group—directly targeted followers of Christ, destroying communities, killing Christians and leaving believers to pick up the pieces and try to rebuild.
As a new regime came to power, many Christians wondered what would happen—would followers of Jesus be able to live more freely … or would this be another in a series of incidents that have left the Syrian church reeling?
“We don't know whether this will be a new Syria or this is just a transitional period,” explains Pastor Edward, who ministers in the Syrian capital of Damascus. “I think it will take some time to see the new color of Syria and the new constitution.”
Another leader who serves in Latakia, Archimandrite Malatius, echoes this view. “The worst thing about this reality is that it is associated with the unknown, with an uncertain destiny,” he says. “Therefore, our main problem as church leaders in relation to our people is the lack of reassurance and the lack of a sense of security.”
And yet, even as the uncertainty for Syrian Christians continues, the same resilience and trust in God that carried them through the horrors of war, ISIS and natural disasters is on display now. “We will be happy to be a light in the darkness and to focus on encouraging Christians and just to be an impact, to be like salt,” Pastor Edward shares.
“Everyone needs peace,” Malatius explains. “Not in the political sense, because political peace may be a dream amidst the agendas of global powers. We seek peace of heart and peace of mind so that our children, who have a pure heart, who want only their dignity and live peacefully and have no political demands, can feel peace in their hearts and minds before they go to bed.”
They know it won’t be a simple process—but they have hope and trust in God’s hand in their lives. “It's not easy at all, but we are so focused on our calling, our being here to be able to help our community,” Pastor Edward says. “[Our] focus right now [is] that we want to rebuild the country.”
Because they belong to the same Body of Christ that you do (Romans 12:5), they ask for your help—namely, they ask for your prayers! Through our prayers, we can stand with our brothers and sisters, showing that even in the most uncertain situations, we worship and serve a God who is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
“We ask for the prayers of all churches and all people whose eyes are fixed on Jesus, so that our country, our minds, our hearts and our lives may be filled with the peace of which the Lord speaks in the Gospel: ‘My peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you,’” Malatius asks. “And this enriches us.”
Will you take a moment to pray for Syria and for Syrian Christians right now?
Ask God:
To bring peace to Syria.
To help church leaders not grow weary.
To help Christians act as salt and light and as ministers of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18).
When the regime of Bashar al-Assad came to an end in Syria in 2024, it left observers around the world in shock. Assad (and his father) had ruled Syria for more than 50 years—often cruelly, brutally putting down any threats to their authority. The country had endured years of civil war, the threat of ISIS, a massive earthquake, economic devastation and more … and now, a regime change.
Adding to the shock was the identity of the group that took control of Syria. Hayat Tahir al-Sham (HTS) has roots in Islamic militant groups and is regarded as a terrorist organization by many Western governments. And now, they were in charge of Syria, promising to protect minority rights and to put an end to the instability that has plagued the country for years.
For Christians, the questions were difficult to answer.
“There was a lot of fear, a lot of doubt and uncertainty about the future,” explains Bishop Josef, a Christian leader in Syria. “Who are these people, who is going to govern, how will they govern?”
