Syrian Christians hope for peace and stability as they celebrate Christmas

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. VARIOUS OF SYRIAC CHURCH SCOUTS MARCHING BAND

2. VARIOUS OF SECURITY FORCES MEMBERS IN BAB TOUMA SQUARE

3. EXTERIOR OF HOLY CROSS CHURCH IN DAMASCUS

4. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LIGHTING CANDLES IN CHURCH

5. FAMILY TAKING PICTURE NEXT TO CHRISTMAS TREE

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DAMASCUS RESIDENT, DOCTOR YOUSSEF ABDALKI, SAYING:

"It is true that last year we had fears and worry. But this year, thank God, it's better than last year. Holidays are held normally and people are relieved to some extent and things are better by God's will. We hope that the lord will intercede for us and this country and maintain this peace."

ALEPPO, SYRIA (DECEMBER 25, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

7. EXTERIOR OF CHALDEAN CHURCH / PEOPLE HEADING TO MASS

8. SECURITY FORCES MEMBER AT GATE OF CHURCH

9. VARIOUS OF CHRISTMAS MASS

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALEPPO RESIDENT, WISSAM AL-ZIR, SAYING:

"May God protect this country and protect these men (security forces members) guarding the churches and we hope that the upcoming days will be nicer and we get what we all hope."

QAMISHLI, SYRIA (DECEMBER 25, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

11. PEOPLE IN THE YARD OF MAR YACOUB AL-NASIBI CHURCH IN QAMISHLI

12. QAMISHLI RESIDENT, SULEIMAN KOURIEH, 74 YEARS, WITH HIS FAMILY

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) QAMISHLI RESIDENT, SULEIMAN KOURIEH, 74 YEARS, SAYING:

"We hope that security returns to Syria and that Syria stabilizes and becomes free and belongs to all its people, sects and all its components. This is what we wish for. We hope for the child of the cave, Jesus Christ, to help us and lead us to the peace in our country Syria."

14. VARIOUS OF CHRISTMAS MASS

STORY: Syrian across the country celebrated Christmas on Thursday (December 25) by attending Mass and hoping for peace and stability.

In Damascus, the Syriac Church Scouts played Christmas melodies in the streets, guarded by Syrian security forces members.

"Holidays are held normally and people are relieved to some extent and things are better by God's will," said Doctor Youssef Abdalki, a resident of the capital.

In Aleppo and Qamishli, people attended mass and prayed for freedom and peace.

Christians made up around 10% of Syria's pre-war population of 22 million, but their numbers shrunk significantly during the conflict, mainly through emigration. Only a few hundred thousand are now estimated to be living in Syria.