Syria Crucified

“Whenever the war started, I started praying, and I started to see how God is alive.” This book details the many troubling experiences of Orthodox Christians who have suffered because of the unrest in Syria. Through interviews with survivors who fled abroad, mostly to the United States, Syria Crucified contrasts the lives of the faithful prior to the civil war and their lives during the war. Before the unrest, they lived under a regime which was mostly tolerant of all faiths. During the unrest, however, many faithful Orthodox Christians were killed or subjected to torture, and many holy sites were desecrated. This is not a history book, yet much of the history of Orthodoxy in Syria from the

time of the Apostles, as well as during the civil war, is detailed through the stories of survivors. We read stories of centuries-old monasteries such as Maaloula and Saidnaya, which endured so many attacks from terrorists during the war. We also read about extraordinary feats of bravery, where people knowingly put themselves at risk to save others and to partake in the Divine Services. Finally, we also read of the many miracles which safeguarded the faithful throughout these times. One story is that of Maria, a teenager who recounts how the war changed her faith: “I would go to church just like any other kid, not believing. So it didn’t really mean anything to me until the war started and I believe there’s a reason for that ... Whenever the war started, I started praying, and I started to see how God is alive”. This is not your usual spiritual book. It is a brilliant reminder of the many sacrifices that Orthodox Christians continue to undergo from their love for Christ. Through the stories of the Syrian Orthodox faithful, we can be encouraged in our own faith. May we keep the people of Syria in our prayers. ORTHODOX MISSION BOOKSTORE www.orthodoxbookstore.org.au 217 Bexley Rd, Kingsgrove, Sydney NSW Phone: (02) 9787 9779