Al-Ghassaniyah, Syria, November 12, 2025
Photo: syriacpress.com
For the first time since 2012, Christian clergy gathered for worship outside the Antiochian Orthodox Church in the historically Christian village of al-Ghassaniyah in the Idlib Province recently, marking a significant moment in the community’s efforts to return to their homes after more than a decade of displacement.
His Eminence Metropolitan Athanasios (Fahd) of Latakia for the Antiochian Patriarchate presided over the service, which took place before the church building rather than inside it. He was joined by Archimandrite Boulos (Orduluoğlu), who has been elected bishop, other clerics, and leaders from other Christian denominations, reports Syriac Press.
Photo: سوريا بلس SY+
“We longed for this day of return,” Met. Athanasios said during the gathering. “Today we are back, and we will remain steadfast, serving this land forever.”
Al-Ghassaniyah, situated in the Jisr al-Shughur countryside, sustained heavy damage during the war years, forcing most residents to flee. The village also mourns Fr. François Mourad, a monk from the Syriac Catholic Monastery of al-Amoudayn, who was killed during the fighting.
The prayer service follows a recent announcement by the Franciscan Order, the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Latakia, and the Presbyterian Church about the first pastoral gathering for Christian families in Al-Ghassaniyah. This initiative represents an initial step toward enabling residents to gradually return and rebuild religious and communal life.
Before the war, Al-Ghassaniyah was home to three main churches: the Antiochian Orthodox Church, the Latin Church, and the Evangelical Church. The village traditionally held an annual celebration on August 15 for the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, attracting villagers and visitors from surrounding areas. Residents hope to restore this tradition.
The resumption of prayer in Al-Ghassaniyah represents both a religious observance and a demonstration of the community’s determination to reclaim their village and rebuild their lives after years of absence and destruction.
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