News from Syria ... from the Christian perspective

Damascus (Agenzia Fides) "Peace in Syria could be saved if everyone told the truth. After a year of conflict, the reality on the ground is far from the picture that imposes disinformation in Western media": says a testimony sent to Fides Agency by the French Bishop Philip Tournyol Clos, a greek-Catholic Melkite Archimandrite, who recently visited Syria, by traveling to different cities, like Damascus, Aleppo and Homs.

In Homs, called the "martyred city", "opposition forces have occupied two areas, Diwan Al Bustan and Hamidieh, where there are all the churches and bishoprics," the Archimandrite told Fides. "The picture for us – he continues - is utter desolation: the church of Mar Elian is half destroyed and that of Our Lady of Peace is still occupied by the rebels. Christian homes are severely damaged due to the fighting and completely emptied of their inhabitants, who fled without taking anything.

The area of Hamidieh is still shelter to armed groups independent of each other, heavily armed and bankrolled by Qatar and Saudi Arabia. All Christians (138,000) have fled to Damascus and Lebanon, while others took refuge in the surrounding countryside. A priest was killed and another was wounded by three bullets. Still a couple live there, but the five bishops have had to take refuge in Damascus and Lebanon. "The Christian leader continues: "In the capital car bombs and assassinations on behalf of Islamist suicide bombers, drawn by the desire of heaven, that cradle the dream of the end of the Alawite regime are feared. Currently the country, through the bloody work of adventurers who are not Syrian is trying to be destabilized. The former French ambassador, Eric Chevallier, reported this information, which was always rejected, while many details remain to be forged to keep the war against Syria," denounced the Bishop to Fides...........

   Beirut (Agenzia Fides) - The Syrian Christians are a possible target  of revenge by armed groups and Sunni Islamic militants who want to avenge the massacre of Houla. And they are privileged victims of kidnappings. As families of Syrian refugees say who fled from Homs and confirmed by Fides sources in the Syrian Church.

As reported to Fides Agency from Caritas Lebanon, frightened families of Syrian refugees continue to cross the border. They are Alawite Muslims and Christians, especially those who were employed in public offices. Most of them are from villages in Homs, such as Qusayr and others. Christians prefer to escape because they are considered "close to the regime or protected by the regime of Bashar al-Assad." With prolonged episodes of violence and after episodes such as the massacre of Houla, attributed to the Syrian army- although versions are discordant - the desire for revenge of the militia, in opposition, against civilians, "supporters of the regime" also increases......