@presssuwayda: "New Church in the Heart of As-Suwayda ❤"
Translation: "The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in As-Suwayda has inaugurated the Church of "Theotokos (Mother of God) - Queen of All and Saint Charbel of Edessa" within the archdiocesan compound on Qanawat Road, through the efforts of Metropolitan Antonios Saad.
Dr. Lama Abey from As-Suwayda commented on the opening of the new church: "In some countries, churches are persecuted or demolished, but in our diocese, churches are being built. Blessed be upon us the Church of the Virgin Queen of All and Saint Charbel of Edessa."
And according to unofficial estimates and Christian sources, the number of Christians in As-Suwayda exceeds 25,000 people, with roots that run deep into antiquity and authenticity within the mountain, as they belong to four denominations: the largest proportion being Eastern Greek Orthodox, in addition to Western Greek Melkite Catholics, Western Latin Capuchin Catholics, and Protestant Evangelicals.
Unity of Fate and Shared Pain
During the incursion of the interim authority's forces into As-Suwayda in mid-July last year, the Christian residents, like the Druze, were subjected to sectarian killings, displacement, and attacks on their religious Sanctities, with more than 200 Christian families displaced from the northern and western villages occupied by the authority's forces, after their properties were looted and burned.
And according to the pastor of the Shahba church, Father Touma Petros, six churches were burned during the incursion, including churches in Radima al-Liwa, al-Mazraa, Ta'ara, and al-Sura al-Kabira, in the northern and western countryside of As-Suwayda, in addition to more than 30 religious councils specific to the Druze sect, according to a report by the International Investigation Commission.
Father Tony also confirmed in a previous statement to the newspaper "Daraj," that the situation of Christians in As-Suwayda cannot be described as unique, because like others, they were subjected to displacement, lost their livelihoods, and the toil of their lifetimes. "In al-Sura al-Kabira, they entered and burned the homes of Christians and Druze, and burned the church and the council," pointing to the hatred and brutality that accompanied the attack.
And since the July incursion and what followed it of siege, then security tightening that led to the deterioration of living conditions, the churches in As-Suwayda have provided generous donations in various relief, health, and educational fields, without any discrimination, to form a model in humanitarian work and brotherhood.
Media Misinformation and Incitement
As part of the systematic media disinformation campaign broadcast by platforms and figures loyal to the interim authority in Damascus, yesterday Sunday it promoted a fabricated news story about an attack on St. George's Church of the Greek Orthodox in As-Suwayda, before the church officially came out and denied these reports in full detail.
The church affirmed that there is no truth to any reports of an attack or targeting, and urged everyone to exercise caution and refrain from contributing to the spread of rumors or unverified news, due to its "negative impact on stability and civil peace in the region."
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