Middle East Christianity Archives

Greek Orthodox patriarch: Christians are not strangers in Middle East

Oct 28, 2017

At a press conference for the In Defense of Christians 2017 Summit held in Washington, D.C., Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch John X Yazigi argued that Christians in the Middle East were determined to stay there. He said, “The Church is the beacon of truth in this agitated world and we will continue to witness to that truth even if we are hanged on the Cross.”

Lebanese Church pioneers integration amid mounting native/refugee divide
- Oct 11, 2017
Faced with a stunning influx of 1.5 million Syrian refugees in a country whose population was only a little over four million to begin with, Lebanon is struggling to avoid fracturing along native/refugee lines. In the campaign to promote integration between the two groups, few social forces are as active as the Catholic Church, as both a school and a free meal service in the city of Zahle illustrate.

By Inés San Martín
Meeting Middle East Christians is where Western stereotypes go to die
- Oct 11, 2017
Many Westerners express sympathy for Christian victims of the genocide conducted by ISIS in Syria and Iraq, but might find actually listening to them a surprise. They’ll challenge Western stereotypes on at least three fronts: Syria’s Assad is a bad actor and must go; Hezbollah is part of Jihadism Inc. and a threat to Christians; and today’s most profound refugee crisis is in Europe.

By John L. Allen Jr.
Isolated Catholic village on Lebanon/Syria border: ‘We beg you, help us!’
- Oct 10, 2017
Located in northern Lebanon just a few minutes from the border with Syria, the Greek Melkite Catholic village of El-Kaa faces multiple existential threats, including Islamic extremism, a severe economic slump, and the sudden influx of 1,500 Syrian Christian refugees on top of the local population of just 2,500. Despite it all, they’re determined to stay, with a soaring new church a symbol of their resilience.

By John L. Allen Jr.