Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II Karim has attended the consecration ceremony at the St. George Cathedral in Al-Hasakah
St. George Orthodox Cathedral in the Syrian city of Al-Hasakah has reopened its doors following a four-year restoration.
The reconstruction of one of the largest Syriac Orthodox churches in the region began in June 2022, after surveyors identified structural damage caused by a combination of age, weather conditions, and years of war. The restoration project included repairs to the walls and ceilings, as well as the cathedral’s roof, interior and exterior decorative elements, electrical systems, and sewage systems, according to Syria’s SANA state news outlet.
Patriarch Mar Ignatius Aphrem II Karim attended the consecration ceremony on Tuesday, cutting the ribbon to officially reopen the cathedral. Addressing attendees, he said, “Christians have resided here on their ancestral lands for thousands of years.”
“Despite mass migration and the community’s declining numbers, Christians will continue to live here, restore churches, and build new ones, as it is our duty to send a message to our children that we are here to endure,” the Syriac Orthodox patriarch said.
“There is also a message to the world reflecting the resilience of the Syrian people in preserving life, demonstrating that life will always triumph over death.”
Home to one of the world’s most ancient Christian communities, Syria had an estimated Christian population of around 2.5 million, or 10% of the total, before the conflict broke out in 2011 and quickly escalated into a devastating regional war.
In the intervening years, the Christian community in the Middle Eastern country has fallen victim to targeted terrorist attacks and massacres at the hands of Islamist militants, including Islamic State and Al-Qaeda offshoots. Multiple churches and temples have also been deliberately destroyed. As a result, many members of the community have fled the war-torn country, with some estimates indicating that the number of Christians has fallen by more than 80%.
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