The Greek Orthodox and all Christians of the historic city of Aleppo in Syria are on edge after the city was captured by the jihadist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
The Greek Orthodox archbishop of Aleppo, Ephrem Maalouli, appealed to his parishioners to remain committed to prayer and exercise wisdom by limiting unnecessary outings, staying calm, and being patient. He urged them to reach out to the church for any needs.
The Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo, Bishop Mor Boutros Kassis, stated that Christian leaders in the city have been in close contact and have decided to stay, continuing prayers and liturgies.
Greek community in Aleppo
Greek diplomats said that the historic Greek community in Aleppo numbers approximately 50 families and all Greeks in Aleppo are safe.
The Embassy of Greece in Damascus and the Honorary Consul of Greece in Aleppo are in close communication with the Greeks in Aleppo, who have been advised to avoid travel.
The Greek Embassy has received 40 requests from Greeks and their associated members to be included in a relocation operation, which will be undertaken by the United Nations. The United Nations convoy will have a final destination in Damascus.
The Crisis Management Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains on standby for any assistance needed.
Estimates of the number of Christians in Syria in 2022 range from less than 2 percent to around 2.5 percent of the total Syrian population. Most Syrians are members of either the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch (700,000), or the Syriac Orthodox Church. The vast majority of Catholics belong to the Melkite Greek Catholic Church.
Orthodox Christians in Aleppo
Orthodox Christians have a long and significant presence in Aleppo, Syria. They are primarily members of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, which traces its roots back to the early days of Christianity. The city has been a center of Orthodox Christianity for centuries, with numerous churches and monasteries.
The Syrian Civil War has had a devastating impact on Aleppo’s Christian community, including the Orthodox population. Many have fled the violence, while others have remained in the city despite the dangers. The war has also damaged or destroyed many churches and religious sites.
Despite the challenges, the Orthodox community in Aleppo continues to persevere and maintain their faith. They play an important role in the city’s cultural and religious life, and their presence is a testament to the enduring spirit of Christianity in the region.
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo is one of the nineteen archdioceses of the Church of Antioch. The archdiocese traces its beginnings back to the Antioch of the earliest Christians and Apostle Paul, as related in the Book of Acts. The archdiocese encompasses communities in both Syria and Turkey.
In April 2013 during the Syrian civil war, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop Paul (Yazigi), who resided in the cathedral, was kidnapped together with the Syrian Orthodox Archbishop Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim by forces allegedly loyal to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
The two clergymen have not appeared since then, and the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Prophet Elijah has been without an archbishop since 2013. At the end of 2021 Bishop Ephraim Maalouli was appointed as the new archbishop.
The Greeks in Syria arrived in the 7th century BC and became more prominent during the Hellenistic period and when the Seleucid Empire was centered there.
Today, there is a Greek community of about 4,500 in Syria, most of whom have Syrian nationality and who live mainly in Aleppo (the country’s main trading and financial center), Baniyas, Tartous, and Damascus, the capital.
There are also about 8,000 Greek-speaking Muslims of Cretan origin in Al-Hamidiyah, many of whose inhabitants continue to speak Greek as their first language.