The image (Richard/Flickr/Creative Commons) shows St. Thekla Monastery in Maaloula.
In the wake of the November 29 attack, there was heavy fighting in the city on December 2. The details are still unknown, but it seems that anti-government armed groups now control the upper areas of the city, including the very old quarter where the Greek Orthodox monastery of St. Thekla and several churches are located.
There are conflicting accounts about the 40 nuns living in the convent and the orphans they cared for. Some sources claim that most of the nuns (all those under the age of 60) were moved to a safe place shortly before the recent violence, that 21 orphans were moved to Damascus, and that the prioress Pelagia Sayyaf and a number of older nuns had chosen to stay in the convent. The government's official news agency subsequently claimed that the prioress and a number of the elderly nuns had been captured by extremists after the city was taken by rebel forces. However, media on the rebel side claimed that the nuns were protected by the rebel forces so that they were not hit by government snipers and grenade attacks. The Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church in Antakya, John Yazigi, called for the nuns and children to be released to safety.
Although many sources report that twelve nuns are staying with the rebel forces, some credible sources today report that there are only five, not twelve. Most sources say that the prioress and the nuns have been transported with her to a safe place in the nearby town of Yabroud. At the same time, there are reports that there are still 35 nuns left in the convent in Maaloula.
This conflicting information about what happened in Maaloula reflects the complex nature of the crisis and the widespread use of the media to propagate the warring parties' agendas.
On January 22nd, a conference will be held in Geneva with the goal of ending the violent conflict. Various Syrian and international parties are considering their attendance and positions. Meanwhile, Syrian Christian leaders - along with many others - continue to raise awareness of the desperate humanitarian situation in parts of Syria. This desperation is exacerbated by the onset of winter and the continued blockage of relief aid in certain areas.
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The Syrian Christians are asking for prayers to:
- The nuns in Maaloula will be safe with the orphans in their care.
- The two bishops kidnapped in April, a monk missing since early August and other Christians held captive must be released unharmed.
- Syrian Christians must feel the presence of Jesus, the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the protection of the Father.
- The Geneva conference must inspire renewed efforts to end the violence and seek a way forward that respects all of Syria's different ethnic and religious groups.
- The international community, together with those in control locally, must act decisively to ensure that aid reaches all those who need it.
