​A fragile hope has returned for Syria’s Christians. Pray it isn’t snuffed out

When news broke that Donald Trump had promised to lift sanctions on Syria, joy erupted across the country.

Car horns blared, banners flew, and people cheered together — Christians and non-Christians side by side. After years of grinding poverty and international isolation, it was a glimmer of hope. For Syria’s long-suffering population, it marked not just a shift in foreign policy, but a possible turning point in their future, also for the Christian community within the land they have called home for two millennia. 

I have spent years walking alongside the church in Syria, and I have seen its resilience tested again and again. From war and persecution to economic collapse, the Christian population has faced unimaginable pressure. Yet somehow, they have endured. 

Now, for the first time in years, many are daring to hope that things might truly be changing for the better. 

The Church as Old as Christianity Itself 

The Christian presence in Syria is among the oldest in the world. In fact, it is within Syria that the followers of Jesus were first called “Christians”. The church in Damascus existed just two years after Christ’s ascension — so early, in fact, that Saul of Tarsus (later Paul) travelled there to persecute it. Syrian Christianity is not a footnote in church history — it is part of its foundation. 

Orthodox and Catholic communities form the majority, but you’ll also find Presbyterian, Baptist, evangelical, and pentecostal believers. Increasingly, there are churches made up of Christians from a Muslim background, especially in the north and south of the country. It’s a remarkable reflection of the Gospel’s reach, even in the harshest conditions. 

A Decade of Suffering and Exodus 

Since the civil war began in 2011, Syria’s Christian population has declined dramatically — from 1.8 million to around 579,000 today. That’s a loss of nearly two-thirds. They fled for many reasons: the rise of extremist groups like ISIS and Al-Nusra; persecution; the collapse of the economy; and mandatory military service for young men. 

Church leaders were left struggling to care for their communities as the needs overwhelmed them. With 90% of Syrians now living below the poverty line, churches often became the last remaining lifeline — offering food, shelter, medical help, and hope. But they were, and still are, under immense strain. 

Many feared that Christianity could disappear entirely from Syria, just as it did in North Africa centuries ago when Islam swept through the region. That fear remains, though for now, the situation appears more stable. 

A New Government, A Cautious Optimism

When, in December, Bashar al-Assad was removed and Ahmed al-Sharaa came to power a month later, there was understandable anxiety among Christians. Al-Sharaa’s background includes links to Islamist militias, including groups associated with Al-Qaeda. That history alarmed many. And rightly so. 

Syrian Christianity is not a footnote in church history — it is part of its foundation

Yet the language coming from the new government has been markedly inclusive. Promises of freedom and equality are being made. People are speaking openly in public for the first time in decades. Under Assad, such conversations could have led to arrest or worse. Today, there is an unfamiliar and fragile sense of openness. 

Christians are cautious, but also quietly hopeful. So far, there have been no mass attacks targeting Christian communities. Widely-reported violence — particularly in western and southern Syria — has affected Christians, but they were not the primary targets - the attacks appeared to be driven by broader sectarian tensions. 

The Archbishop of Damascus, Joseph Bali, recently affirmed that there is no evidence of government intent to drive Christians out. That testimony, along with what we are hearing on the ground, supports the idea that Christians are being given space to exist, and potentially, to thrive. 

Could Christians Return? 

There is now growing international speculation that Christians might begin to return to Syria. While this isn’t yet happening in significant numbers, some Sunni Muslims have started coming back — particularly those who felt alienated under the Assad regime. 

Syrian Christians abroad are more cautious. They want to see actions that match the government’s words. They want to know they’ll be safe. But if conditions continue to improve, the possibility of return is very real. 

And the implications would be profound. Many of those who fled were highly educated professionals—doctors, business owners, teachers. Thousands of Syrian doctors now work in Germany. Imagine the benefit to Syria’s broken healthcare system if they were to come home. 

But such a return will only happen if people believe the international community is watching, and that the government knows it is being held to account. 

Hope has returned to Syria — but it is a fragile one

The Role of the Global Church 

This is where we, as Christians in the UK, must act. 

First, we must pray. Pray for those who stayed behind and have carried the burden of survival and witness. Pray for those considering return. Pray that Syria becomes a place where people of all faiths can live in dignity and peace. 

Second, we must watch. Syria’s new government is paying close attention to global opinion. They want acceptance, investment, and aid. That gives us influence. We must urge our leaders and MPs to monitor how minorities — especially Christians — are treated. If promises are broken, we must not stay silent. 

Finally, we must speak. We must be a voice for our brothers and sisters who have endured more than we can imagine. When things go wrong, we must respond with truth and urgency. When there is progress, we must acknowledge it with cautious encouragement. 

A Fragile Hope Worth Guarding 

Hope has returned to Syria — but it is a fragile one. The country remains volatile. Large areas are still outside of central government control, and the militias that once fought alongside the state are not all committed to peace and pluralism. 

Yet in the streets, something has shifted. People feel a freedom they haven’t known in years. And in the churches, there is a quiet resolve to stay, rebuild, and to believe that a better future is possible. 

If we, the global church, remain vigilant — if we watch, pray, and advocate — then Syria’s Christians may yet step into a new season of life. May we not miss this moment.