The Voice of the suffering in Middle East

During the war, the churches in the area were subject to vandalism and their icons were stolen. The destruction of Darayya came at a huge cost to its historical diversity - the suburb of Damascus is notable for its historic Christian presence, dating back centuries. Some Christian traditions hold that Darayya is close to where the conversion of the Apostle Paul took place on his way to Damascus.

Naturally, this affects the  Church. Parishes and communities are unable to provide services to the faithful; heating is limited;; and the Church’s social projects, including orphanages, nursing homes, schools, and kindergartens struggle to operate in darkness. Food poisoning is also rampant due to a lack of refrigeration.

Both Muslims and Christians are leaving, but the number of Christians in Syria is so small that their departure would call into question the very existence of Christianity in the country. According to current estimates, only around 175,000 Christian families remain.

The channel goes to great lengths to make sure none of its viewers are put in danger, and those who work in the head offices are trained to detect infiltration. “We know that some of the contacts we receive are actually from security services."

“In order to protect Christian values, Christians must remain here in the Middle East, where these values are more deeply appreciated,” he said. “In the Western world, with its secularism and globalization, the current is sweeping everything away.”

Education is vital for the survival of Iraq’s long-suffering Christian community. Poverty and unemployment are the biggest issues currently facing Christians in the country. To remain in their ancestral homeland, Christians must find stable employment, but a strong education is needed to find secure jobs.