Armenians in Damascus pray for peace on ChristmasJanuary 8, 2014 - 16:55 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A small congregation of Armenian Orthodox Christians prayed for peace at a Christmas service in Old Damascus and reflected on the hardships of living in an uneasy middle ground in Syria’s increasingly sectarian conflict, The Daily Star reports. They lamented a low turnout compared to previous years – many have fled Syria and others were unable to get through a maze of checkpoints and traffic bottlenecks to reach the church of St. Sarkis for Armenian Christmas, celebrated on Jan 6. “You used to see this entire church courtyard full, but it’s been fewer and fewer people every season,” said one of the community organizers who, like all those interviewed for this article, asked to remain anonymous due to sensitivities. “The trouble is many would have liked to come today but they couldn’t because of the traffic at checkpoints,” the organizer said. Syria’s conflict has grown increasingly sectarian since it started as a peaceful uprising in March 2011 and then evolved into an armed rebellion against President Bashar Assad. Majority Sunnis dominate the uprising while minorities have for the most part stuck with the government, which is dominated by members of Assad’s Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam. Archbishop Armash Nalbandian led the Christmas Mass then delivered a short sermon, with a prayer for better days. “Last year witnessed many martyrs and kidnappings ... There have been martyrs in our schools ... children aged 6 and 7 killed,” he said. “We pray this year for the release of the kidnapped, and for peace in our country, Syria.” Many of the Armenian Orthodox Christian congregation live in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana, a densely populated area home to many of the city’s Christians. Jaramana has been the site of several car bombs and dozens of mortar and rocket attacks that the government blames on rebels who control the adjacent suburbs. Related links: Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Your home is in Armenia – Ameriabank offers mortgage loans for the Diaspora To buy real estate, Diasporans can apply to Ameriabank online to buy, renovate or build a home anywhere in Armenia. Armenia-Qatar ties discussed in Doha The Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council met with the Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Council of Qatar. ARARAT special evening dedicated to Aznavour's 100th Anniv. On May 20 ARARAT legendary Armenian brandy, celebrated the centennial of Maestro Charles Aznavour with a special event. Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. |