Aleppo’s ancient Christian community is at risk of disappearing completely as the city succumbs to the grip of extremist violence. Archbishop Jacques Mourad of Homs has sounded the alarm, urging the world to act before it’s too late.
Speaking to Agenzia Fides, Mourad described the dire conditions refugees face as they flee to Homs. “We are really tired,” he said. “We are really exhausted, and we are also finished, in every sense.” Refugees arrive after enduring harsh conditions, with many lacking food and shelter.
Aleppo, once a major center of Christianity, now sees its Christian population at less than 2%, a sharp decline from 12% before the conflict. Archbishop Mourad, himself a survivor of ISIS captivity, fears that the city’s Christian heritage will be erased entirely.
The Archbishop lamented the devastation of Aleppo, calling it a city of global significance. “Why is Aleppo being tormented?” he asked. “Why are we so abandoned in this unbearable injustice?” His questions reflect the sorrow and frustration of a community on the brink of collapse.
Aleppo’s cultural legacy, from its historic soap industry to its famous pepper, is also disappearing as the conflict continues. These traditions, like its Christian population, are being destroyed by years of war.
Archbishop Mourad’s plea for international action underscores the urgent need to preserve Aleppo’s Christian community and its cultural identity. Without intervention, both may soon become relics of the past.
