The Greco-Orthodox, Syriac-Orthodox and Melkite Greek-Catholic communities of the Syrian city of Sednaya, one of the country’s main historical centers of Christianity, have suspended all public celebrations planned for the major religious festivals in August and September in protest against the detention of several Christian youths, the abduction of community members and the deterioration of security in the locality.
The decision was announced in a joint statement signed by the parish councils of the three Churches, which denounce the continuation of what they consider arbitrary detentions, the lack of information on the whereabouts of several abducted persons and the increase in threats against the city’s Christians.
Until this situation is resolved, celebrations will be limited to liturgical acts inside the churches.
They denounce detentions without legal basis
In the communiqué, the parish councils express their “deep concern” over the situation of several young people from Sednaya who remain detained despite efforts made before the authorities and promises that they would be released.
According to them, no evidence has so far been presented to justify their imprisonment, nor has the legal basis for the detentions been explained.
The organization Christian Solidarity International (CSI), which has followed the case in recent months, notes that the Syrian authorities attribute to some of these youths an alleged involvement in a massacre of jihadist fighters.
However, the Christian communities maintain that these accusations remain unproven and demand their immediate release.
Abductions, checkpoints and threats
The parish councils also denounce several cases of abduction of local residents and demand that the missing persons return to their homes, that those responsible be identified and brought to justice.
They also cite the restrictions imposed at the Jdeidet Yabous border crossing between Syria and Lebanon, where, according to the statement, Sednaya residents are subjected to prolonged checks and procedures they describe as humiliating.
The document further denounces an increase in thefts and a campaign of incitement, defamation and threats against the city’s Christians on social media.
Major Christian festivities suspended
As a protest measure, the three communities have decided to cancel all public events related to the upcoming religious festivities, including the Transfiguration of the Lord, the feast of Our Lady of Sednaya, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the celebration of Saint Sophia.
The parishes specify that the suspension will remain in effect until the detainees are released, the abducted return and the proceedings they consider unjustified against several local youths are dropped.
They also reiterate that any reconciliation process will only be possible on the basis of justice, citizenship and respect for human rights.
An exceptional measure in one of Syria’s main Christian centers
Located about 30 kilometers north of Damascus, Sednaya houses some of the most important Christian monasteries and shrines in the Middle East, including the monastery of Our Lady of Sednaya, one of the country’s main pilgrimage sites.
The festivities now suspended are among the most significant religious events on the local calendar and usually bring together numerous pilgrims from different regions of Syria and neighboring countries.
The decision to cancel all public celebrations represents an exceptional measure that reflects the concern of the Christian communities over the security situation they have been denouncing for months.