Syrian Christians have faith in Muslim world

Middle Eastern Christians may face violence

By Kim Ghattas BBC correspondent in Syria

The Middle East might be the birthplace of Christianity, but the number of Christians in the region is dwindling rapidly.

Wars, economic woes and repression have led Christians to emigrate over the years, mostly to the West.

In all Arab countries they are now a minority and life is not always easy. In Egypt, there has been much violence against Coptic Christians; in Lebanon, sectarian violence pitted Muslims against Christians for 15 years.

The Christian cross may be displayed openly in Syria

One of the countries where Christians feel most confident is Syria. Christians - mostly Greek Orthodox - make up 10% of the population and have a tacit alliance with another minority, the Alawites, who have ruled the country since the late Hafez al-Assad took power in 1970.

Three villages in Syria still speak Aramaic - the ancient language used by Jesus Christ. But while Christianity has deep roots here, its followers have learnt to adapt to modern realities.

A Muslim man playing the violin to accompanying a choir in a church in Damascus said: "This orchestra is just one example of how Christians and Muslims together.

"Everywhere it's the same - at work, in movie productions, we're all the same. No-one thinks about whether someone is Muslim or Christian."

Such attitudes are very much encouraged by the Syrian Government which has been run by the secular Ba'ath Party since the 1960s.

Before then, growing Muslim fundamentalism drove many Christians away. But now Christians probably feel a lot more confident in Syria than in other Arab countries: new churches are built and crosses may be worn in plain sight.

Inescapable numbers

One young Christian, Moama Saud, said there was a great deal of friendly crossover between the religions.

Muslims as well as Christians buy and decorate Christmas trees

"For a Christian's holidays the whole country participates and for Muslim celebrations, of course, and there's no problem for Christians.

"We have a lot of Muslim friends, they celebrate with us - Christmas and Easter. And at Christmas they put the Christmas tree at their house."

But the demographics are inescapable, even in the Aramaic speaking village of Ma'lula where a second mosque is being built.

"Christians in Ma'lula are leaving to work, to study in Damascus. More Muslims are coming to the village and they have more children," one Christian woman, Mahel Haj, said.

"We co-exist. Well, kind of - sometimes there are sensitivities. That's when you feel the solidarity between Christians."

Presidential support

A similar message of harmony between religions is apparent at the Mar Musa monastery, east of Damascus, which was built in the Sixth Century.

The road to Mar Musa - and routes to all monasteries in Syria - have been paved by order of the president, making it easier for Christian pilgrims as well as Muslim visitors to reach.

The historical evolution of this country gave the local Christians a real, practical religious freedom

Father Paolo dall'Oglio
Mar Musa Monastery

Father Paolo dall'Oglio, who has been at the monastery for 20 years, said the alliance between Christians and the ruling Alawite Muslim minority was vital.

"The historical evolution of this country gave the local Christians a real, practical religious freedom," he said.

"It is just... that minorities feels a big deal of solidarity between them.

"I think what is needed is not to build the society on a kind of opposition between an alliance of minorities to a majority of Sunni Muslims. I'm sure that the big majority of Syrians want to have a pluralistic society."

Uncertain future

There were reports of vandalism in churches in the northern town of Aleppo when President Assad died two years ago.

That reminded Christians that their position was still a precarious one despite the general harmony that has returned today.

Moama Saud in Damascus said: "The security system here is very strong - in a way it's good thing, it's kind of protection.

"At the same time, if it changed, it might be something dangerous, maybe for Christians, maybe for something very bad. I'm safe so far, but we don't know."