Syrian Christians attend the first Christmas Eve Mass since the fall of Assad Religion News

Syrian Christians attended Christmas Mass for the first time since the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in early December.

In Saydnaya, Syria, a large crowd gathered near a historic monastery on Christmas Eve to watch the lighting of a towering tree decorated with glowing green lights.

The celebration was a rare moment of joy in a city torn apart by more than a decade of war and its notorious prison, where tens of thousands have been detained.

Families and friends stood by the illuminated tree, some wearing Santa hats and others watching from rooftops, while a band played festive music and fireworks lit up the sky.

Hossam Saadeh, one of the attendees, said, “This year is different, with happiness, victory, and a new birth for Syria and a new birth for Christ.”

Another, Joseph Khabbaz, expressed his hope for unity among all sects and religions in Syria.

The pews of Our Lady of Damascus Church in the Syrian capital were filled with a mixed crowd of young and old, holding candles as hymns filled the air and echoed throughout the church.

Hours before the funeral ceremony, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Damascus to denounce the Christmas tree burning incident in the northern countryside of Hama Governorate, west-central Syria.

Carrying wooden crosses, they chanted: “We are your soldiers, Jesus,” “With our spirit and our blood, we redeem you for Jesus’ sake,” and “The Syrian people are one.”