Churches looted, relics stolen and faithful in exile.
Churches looted, relics stolen, faithful in exile … The city of Al Qaryatayn is no longer more than a shadow that it was before the attacks by the jihadist organization Islamic State (IS), when Muslims and Christians celebrated Christmas together.
“Stones are not enough, we need people to celebrate Christmas,” laments Matanios Dalloul, 62, one of the 20 Christians who still remain in this city in central Syria.
With his serene gaze, he observes with difficulty the ruins of the church to which he used to go, and walks next to another of which there is no longer more than a pile of stones.
“Stones … everywhere, but it is the people who create the joy of this celebration, and if people do not return, there will be no celebration,” he insists.
Al Qaryatayn symbolized the coexistence between Christians and Muslims until it fell to ISIS in 2015.
Of the 900 Christians there were then, only about twenty remain. When ISIS entered the city, jihadists kidnapped 270 Christians and burned and destroyed several churches, such as the 5th century Mar Elian monastery.
As he approaches the burned-out door of this temple, Dalloul prays to God “for the long life” of the last Christians in the city, most of them very old.
Six years have passed since the Syrian army reconquered the city with the support of Russian forces, but the Christians who fled in 2015 have yet to return, and those who remained have neither a church nor a priest to celebrate Christmas this year.
“I have no one left”
Dalloul is not the only one who is sad these days of celebration. Basam Debas will spend Christmas alone, since he no longer has a single relative in Syria. He will spend his days making molasses from dried grapes in his small workshop.
“I have no one left, not my father, not my mother, not brothers or sisters, or a woman … Christmas has become a day like any other for me,” he explains between sobs.
Debas returned to Al Qaryatayn this year to take over the small family production of grape molasses.
A task that is more difficult due to the continuous power cuts, which make it impossible to heat water or prepare the ingredients. Even with everything, it maintains a minimum level of production.
Outside, the street is empty. The bullet holes in the walls are reminiscent of ISIS dominance of the city. And many houses are abandoned.
“The IS left, but the sadness remains,” he laments.
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No Christmas decorations
At Samira Khury’s house there are no Christmas decorations, just a lit candle next to a portrait of Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
This 68-year-old woman, and her three sisters, were part of the group of Christians kidnapped by ISIS in 2015.
With no relatives or neighbors to celebrate the holidays with, Khury affirms that “joy has a different flavor and holidays are no longer such” as they were before.
Next to a small fire, Phillipe Azar, affirms that he lives these holidays with sadness.
“My family left and my friends died,” said this 49-year-old man who lives alone in a house with ten rooms.
Azar, who has not put Christmas decorations on since the war began, has decided to spend the holidays this year with his heater.
“The Christmas tree is packed and in a box since 2011,” he says. “Why install it? Should I party without my brothers and sisters, without my neighbors and friends? ” (I)
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
