Christians said prayers for the first time in six years inside a broken down church in eastern Syria, reports online news website The Arab.
St. Mary’s Church in the city of Deir az-Zour may have been damaged, but Christians still gathered inside the war-torn building on February 3, 2018 to attend their first prayer service.
“Prayer for me is like a new life,” said Sally Qasar. “It gave me the determination to come back to Deir az-Zour and put up with the poor provision of services, and participate in rebuilding it.”
The Islamic State left Deir az-Zour in ruins after it took control over the city in 2012. About 3,000 Christians in the city fled their homes to find safety. Government troops fought with the militants and recaptured Deir az-Zour in 2017. Following the departure of ISIS, many residents started returning to their native land.
Around two dozen Christians came to church and said their prayers. The Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, Ignatius Aphrem II, led the prayer service in St. Mary’s. Some Muslim clerics also attended the Saturday’s service.
“Prayer for me is like a new life,” said Sally Qasar. “It gave me the determination to come back to Deir az-Zour and put up with the poor provision of services, and participate in rebuilding it.”
St. Mary’s Church is still showing signs of the bl