In this difficult situation two Franciscan friars, Luai Bsharat, aged 40, and 67-year-old Hanna Jallouf, are helping the remaining Christian families to conserve their religion and survive under the jihadist control.

“Despite the difficulties, Father Luai and Father Hanna have stayed on there because they believe that this region should not be abandoned. It is close to Antioch, where St. Paul began his travels, spreading the Word of God,” explains to ACN Father Firas Lutfi OFM, who is Custodian of the Province of Saint Paul for the Franciscans of Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

He continues: “Their sufferings began a decade ago. When the militant groups took control of the region and proclaimed the Islamic State, they confiscated Christian properties, imposed Islamic Sharia law on all non-Muslims and suppressed their right to move around freely within their own villages.” 

Father Firas said that “those extremists have often persecuted, attacked, beaten, tortured and even murdered some of our brothers and sisters.” In one notorious case, Father François Murad was “beheaded in 2013,” and more recently, there was the case of “a female schoolteacher who was raped and then murdered in Yacoubieh.”

In his recent message, Father Firas stresses that the friars are there to help everyone in need of support and guidance, regardless of their religion, race, nationality or political opinions. 

Source: Aleteia.org