Christians in the Middle East
A series describing life for believers in several Middle Eastern countries
Syria is called “Aram” in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). Its territory varied considerably and had vague boundaries. This was a territory of approximately 300 miles north to south and 50 to 150 miles east to west.
The main cities of Syria were Damascus, Antioch, Hama (Hamath), Byblos, Aleppo, Palmyra and Carchemish. These lands were characterized by the many rivers and good soil, which made Syria more prosperous than its neighbor to the south.
Syria played an important part in biblical history. Genesis 14:15 reveals that it was a well-known landmark in Abraham’s time. En route from Ur, Abraham found in Syria a steward, Eliezer, whom he considered his heir until Isaac came (Gen. 15:2–3). Abraham also chose a wife for Isaac from Syria (Gen. 24), and Jacob labored long in Syria for Rachel (Gen. 29).
David dominated and ruled the city of Damascus for a time (2 Sam. 8:5–6; 1 Chron. 18:3–6). Solomon made extensive purchases from Syria (1 Kings 10:29). A strong kingdom was developed under Ahab, with merchants in Damascus (1 Kings 20:34) until the Assyrian king, Tiglath-pileser III, attacked and destroyed Damascus.
The city of Damascus remained of little importance until 333 B.C., when an army of Alexander the Great captured it. Then followed two centuries of rise and fall. In A.D. 63, Syria became a province of the Roman Empire.
In the New Testament, Damascus was an important center. A strong Christian community had developed during the days of the apostle Paul. While en route to Damascus to arrest the believers, Saul had the magnificent encounter with Jesus and was converted (Acts 9:1–18). He escaped his Jewish enemies in the city by being let down from a wall in a basket (Acts 9:25; 2 Cor. 11:33).
After a checkered history under Rome, Damascus was captured by Muslims and remained the center of Muslim faith until 1918, when it came under the French mandate after World War I. In 1946, it became a free state.
Antioch also has an important place in the early history of Christianity. One of the original deacons of the apostolic church was Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch (Acts 6:5). The first Gentile church, the mother of all others, was founded there.
Many fugitive Christians, scattered at the death of Stephen, went to Antioch and inaugurated a new era by preaching not only to Hellenist Jews but to “Greeks also” (Acts 11:20).
The Jerusalem church sent Barnabas to assist in the work; after laboring there for a while, Barnabas summoned Paul from Tarsus to assist him.
The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch (Acts 11:19–26). The church at Antioch sent Paul and his companions out on his three missionary journeys (Acts 13:1 ff; 15:36ff; 18:23), and he reported to it on his return from the first two.
Christians formed the majority of the population until the 11th century, but unfortunately today, they are considered a minority because of many factors.
The main factor is the rise of Islam and the forced conversion of the inhabitants to the Muslim faith.
This consequently led to the emigration of many Christians.
Today, too, Syria is experiencing a growing emigration movement as Christian families — particularly the younger generation — travel to Arab, as well as Western, countries, in search of education, work opportunities and a space of freedom from the pressure of being a minority among a Muslim majority. Every family in Damascus has at least one member living abroad.
Christians can be found in different areas of Syria, especially in the northwest, Damascus and Aleppo.
They are mostly Greek Orthodox and Catholic.
Evangelicals are a minority in Syria distributed over 80 local churches (Presbyterian, Baptist, Alliance, Nazarene, etc.), and they face different kinds of challenges at the hands of nonevangelicals.
A range of amendments has been made to the laws related to the different denominations in Syria.
The most recent amendment gives women inheritance rights equal to men. Religious courts, rather than civil courts, handle divorce-related cases.
In Syria, a Muslim cannot “officially” become a Christian. And if a Christian wants to get married to a Muslim partner, then he or she needs to register the marriage in the Islamic religious courts after renouncing the Christian faith and becoming a Muslim. Children will be registered as Muslims if one parent is Muslim.
At the political level, Christians are represented by 17 deputies in the Syrian parliament and have three ministers in the Syrian government.
In the last count of Christians in Syria (2000), the population was estimated at 1,526,997, which reflects a decrease because of the emigration movement over the years — 1958, 1961, 1970 and 1980. Around 300,000 people have emigrated.
Christians in Syria benefit from the freedom to worship their God and exercise their rituals as they wish in their church buildings. The government does not interfere in church ministries or activities as long as they do not jeopardize the peaceful relations between Muslims and Christians. The government also provides free-of-charge services and facilities (water, electricity, etc.) to the places of worship of the various religious denominations.
Moreover the Syrian president regularly attends the Easter ceremonies held at the Greek Orthodox Church — being the largest Christian denomination in Syria.
The Christian church leaders are well admired and respected by the officers in the government as instructed by the Syrian president.
We kindly ask you to pray for
• The emigrating Christian population. Pray that they may realize the importance of their presence in Syria and how their choice to leave impacts Christians’ presence in the country.
• The economic situation that is causing many to leave the country in pursuit of better opportunities.
• The Lord’s wisdom and strength that Christians may not be overwhelmed by the fact that there is a mosque near almost every church.
• The government. Praise God for the freedom that is granted to Christians to worship Him and practice their faith, ministries and programs.
• The Lord’s hand in the midst of nonevangelical churches. Pray that we may together reflect and witness to the true Christian faith.
• The testimony and witness of the Baptist churches in Syria and their continuous growth.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Shadi Saad is a pastor of a local Baptist church in Syria and the secretary of the Convention of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Lebanon (CEBCL).
Share with others: