Syria

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Stored: Syria

Country: Syria
Historic:
Existence: –
Continent: Asia
Region: Middle East
Historical Region:
Area: 185180 km²
Population: 23000000
Catholic Population: 400000
Catholic Percentage: 1.7%
Catholicism Status: Small minority religion, secular state
Official Languages: Arabic
Capital: Damascus
Catholicism Introduced: 1st century AD
Ecclesiastical Provinces: 0
Dioceses: 6
Patron Saints: Saint Paul the Apostle
Predecessor States:
Successor States:


Syria is a Middle Eastern nation, covering approximately 185,180 km² with a population of about 23 million as of 2025.[1] Its official language is Arabic, and its economy, severely impacted by civil war, relies on agriculture, oil, and remittances. The Catholic Church, with approximately 400,000 adherents (1.7% of the population), is a small minority religion, ranking third after Islam (87%) and Orthodox Christianity (10%), introduced in the 1st century AD through early Christian communities.[2] Catholicism shapes Syria’s minority Christian culture through education, charity, and the patronage of Saint Paul the Apostle.[3]

The Church, with six dioceses and no ecclesiastical province, has a limited presence, mainly in Damascus and Aleppo, and faces significant challenges from the ongoing Syrian Civil War (2011–present), displacement, and religious persecution.[4] Sites like the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Aleppo serve as spiritual hubs for the dwindling Catholic community.[5]

Saints

Birthplace

Parameter received: Syria

Syria
SaintName SaintBirthPlace
Saint Cosmas Arabia (modern-day Syria or Saudi Arabia)
Saint Cosmas and Damian Arabia (modern-day Syria or Saudi Arabia)
Saint Cyril of Jerusalem Jerusalem, Roman Province of Syria Palaestina (modern-day Israel)
Saint John Chrysostom Antioch, Roman Syria (now Antakya, Turkey)
Saint John of Damascus Damascus, Syria (then Umayyad Caliphate)
Saint Lucian of Antioch Samosata, Syria, Roman Empire (now Samsat, Adıyaman Province, Turkey)
Saint Luke the Evangelist Antioch, Syria (now Antakya, Hatay Province, Turkey)
Saint Pelagia of Antioch Antioch, Syria

Death place

Parameter received: Syria

Syria
SaintName DeathPlace
Saint Cosmas Cyrrhus, Syria
Saint Cosmas and Damian Cyrrhus, Syria
Saint Julian and Basilissa Antinoë, Egypt (or possibly Antioch, Syria)
Saint Meletius of Antioch Antioch, Roman Syria, Roman Empire (now Antakya, Turkey)

Notable locations

Parameter received: Syria

Syria
SaintName NotableAddress1
Saint Barnabas Antioch, Syria


Parameter received: Syria

Syria
SaintName NotableAddress2
Saint Jerome Antioch, Syria
Saint John of Damascus St. Sabas Church, Damascus, Syria
Saint Paul the Apostle Antioch, Syria
Saint Peter the Apostle Antioch, Syria, Roman Empire


Parameter received: Syria

Syria
SaintName NotableAddress3
Saint John Chrysostom Antioch, Syria
Saint Titus Antioch, Syria


Parameter received: Syria

Syria

No saints found with Notable Address 4 matching Syria.


Parameter received: Syria

Syria
SaintName NotableAddress5
Saint Jerome Chalcis, Syria

Geography

Syria is located in the Middle East, bordered by Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, and the Mediterranean Sea.[6] Its 185,180 km² includes the Fertile Crescent, Syrian Desert, and Orontes River, with a Mediterranean to arid climate. Major cities like Damascus (the capital), Aleppo, and Homs host Catholic communities, with historical Christian sites. The civil war and restricted access severely limit Church activities.[7]

History

Syria’s history includes ancient Mesopotamian civilizations, Roman and Byzantine rule, Islamic conquest in 636 AD, Ottoman control (1516–1918), French Mandate (1920–1946), and independence in 1946, followed by the ongoing civil war since 2011.[8] Catholicism was introduced in the 1st century AD, with Saint Paul the Apostle’s conversion near Damascus.[9] The Church grew under Byzantine rule, with Melkite and Maronite communities, but has declined since the civil war due to emigration and persecution.[10]

Predecessor states

Syria’s territory was part of the Roman Province of Syria, Byzantine Empire, and Umayyad Caliphate.[11] The Ottoman Empire (1516–1918) and the French Mandate of Syria (1920–1946) directly preceded the modern Syrian Arab Republic.[12] Catholic communities, including Syriac Catholics and Melkite Catholics, thrived under Ottoman rule, with missions supported by Jesuits in the 19th century.[13]

Successor states

The Syrian Arab Republic, established in 1946, has no direct successor states, as it remains a unified nation despite the civil war and territorial fragmentation.[14] The Catholic Church supports humanitarian aid and peace efforts, navigating challenges in a war-torn, secular state with a Muslim majority.[15]

Demographics

Syria’s 23 million people include 1.7% Catholics (400,000), 87% Muslims (mostly Sunni), 10% Orthodox Christians, and 1% others.[16] Ethnic groups are primarily Arab (80%), with Kurdish, Armenian, and Assyrian minorities. Catholicism is concentrated in Damascus, Aleppo, and Christian towns like Maaloula, with Melkite and Syriac Catholics prominent.[17]

Catholic church

The Catholic Church in Syria comprises six dioceses (Melkite, Syriac, Maronite, Chaldean, Armenian, and Latin rites) and about 150 parishes, coordinated by the Assembly of Catholic Hierarchs in Syria.[18] Leaders like Melkite Patriarch Youssef Absi oversee humanitarian aid and pastoral care. The Church operates schools and clinics, struggling amid war-related destruction.[19]

Structure

The Church has no ecclesiastical province but includes six dioceses.[20]

Introduction of Catholicism

Catholicism was introduced in the 1st century AD through early Christian communities, with Saint Paul the Apostle’s conversion near Damascus.[21] Eastern Catholic churches, like the Melkite Catholic Church, emerged in the 18th century, with Latin-rite missions by Jesuits in the 19th century.[22]

Key historical events

The 1st-century Christian communities in Damascus marked Catholicism’s entry.[23] The 1724 Melkite union with Rome formalized the Melkite Catholic Church.[24] The Church’s humanitarian role during the Syrian Civil War, supported by Caritas Syria, has sustained its presence.[25]

Catholicism status

Catholicism, with 1.7% adherence, is a small minority religion in a secular state under the 2012 Constitution, though Islamic influence dominates.[26] The Church faces persecution, church destruction, and emigration due to the civil war but retains religious freedom in principle.[27]

Cultural influence

Festivals and traditions

Catholics celebrate feasts like Saint Paul the Apostle (June 29) with liturgies in Damascus.[28] Melkite and Syriac Catholic traditions, including liturgies in Arabic, persist despite war disruptions.[29]

Education and charity

The Church operates a few schools and clinics, severely reduced by war.[30] Caritas Syria provides aid to displaced families, aligning with Catholic Social Teaching.[31]

Art and architecture

Catholic heritage is evident in churches like Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Aleppo, built in 1970.[32] Historical churches in Maaloula feature ancient Christian iconography.[33]

Notable Catholic sites

Pilgrimage sites

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Aleppo is a key pilgrimage site.[34] Saint Paul’s Chapel in Damascus attracts devotees.[35]

Historical churches

Melkite Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Damascus, built in 1864, is a landmark.[36] Saint Anthony’s Church in Maaloula, restored post-war, serves Aramaic-speaking Catholics.[37]

Saints and blesseds

Patron saints

Saint Paul the Apostle, celebrated on June 29, is Syria’s patron.[38]

Associated saints and blesseds

Notable figures include Saint Paul the Apostle (1st century, converted near Damascus), Saint Ananias (1st century, early disciple), and Blessed Marie-Alphonsine Danil Ghattas (beatified 2009, active in the region).[39]

Challenges to Catholicism

The Church faces severe challenges from the Syrian Civil War, including church destruction, clergy abductions, and Christian emigration.[40] Islamic extremism and societal tensions limit growth, countered by humanitarian aid and interfaith efforts.[41]

Social and political influence

The Church influences humanitarian aid and peacebuilding, guided by Catholic Social Teaching.[42] It supports displaced communities but has minimal political influence in a war-torn, Muslim-majority state.[43]

References

  1. ↑ "Syria". CIA World Factbook. 2024-12-01. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/syria/. 
  2. ↑ "Religion in Syria". Wikipedia. 2024-06-15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Syria. 
  3. ↑ "Catholicism in Syria". Catholics & Cultures. 2020-06-15. https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/syria. 
  4. ↑ "Catholic Dioceses in Syria". GCatholic.org. 2025-01-22. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/SY.htm. 
  5. ↑ "Syria’s Catholic Church". Vatican News. 2022-06-15. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2022-06/syria-catholic-church-war.html. 
  6. ↑ "Syria". CIA World Factbook. 2024-12-01. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/syria/. 
  7. ↑ "Catholicism in Syria". Catholics & Cultures. 2020-06-15. https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/syria. 
  8. ↑ "Syria". Britannica. 2024-10-15. https://www.britannica.com/place/Syria. 
  9. ↑ "Catholic Encyclopedia: Syria". New Advent. 1913-01-01. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14447a.htm. 
  10. ↑ "Syria’s Catholic History". Encyclopedia.com. 2003-01-01. https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/syria-catholic-church. 
  11. ↑ "History of Syria". Britannica. 2024-10-15. https://www.britannica.com/place/Syria/History. 
  12. ↑ "French Mandate of Syria". Encyclopedia.com. 2003-01-01. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/french-mandate-syria. 
  13. ↑ "Syria’s Catholic History". Encyclopedia.com. 2003-01-01. https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/syria-catholic-church. 
  14. ↑ "Syria". Britannica. 2024-10-15. https://www.britannica.com/place/Syria. 
  15. ↑ "Syria’s Catholic Church". Vatican News. 2022-06-15. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2022-06/syria-catholic-church-war.html. 
  16. ↑ "Religion in Syria". Pew Research Center. 2020-04-15. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2020/04/15/religion-in-syria/. 
  17. ↑ "Catholicism in Syria". Catholics & Cultures. 2020-06-15. https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/syria. 
  18. ↑ "Catholic Dioceses in Syria". GCatholic.org. 2025-01-22. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/SY.htm. 
  19. ↑ "Catholic Education in Syria". Catholic News Agency. 2022-07-15. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/25030/catholic-schools-syria. 
  20. ↑ "Catholic Dioceses in Syria". GCatholic.org. 2025-01-22. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/SY.htm. 
  21. ↑ "Catholic Encyclopedia: Syria". New Advent. 1913-01-01. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14447a.htm. 
  22. ↑ "Syria’s Catholic History". Encyclopedia.com. 2003-01-01. https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/syria-catholic-church. 
  23. ↑ "Catholic Encyclopedia: Syria". New Advent. 1913-01-01. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14447a.htm. 
  24. ↑ "Melkite Catholic Church". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. 2024-09-10. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/danti.html. 
  25. ↑ "Syria’s Catholic Church". Vatican News. 2022-06-15. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2022-06/syria-catholic-church-war.html. 
  26. ↑ "Religion in Syria". Pew Research Center. 2020-04-15. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2020/04/15/religion-in-syria/. 
  27. ↑ "Syria’s Catholic Church". Vatican News. 2022-06-15. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2022-06/syria-catholic-church-war.html. 
  28. ↑ "Catholicism in Syria". Catholics & Cultures. 2020-06-15. https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/syria. 
  29. ↑ "Syria’s Catholic Church". Vatican News. 2022-06-15. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2022-06/syria-catholic-church-war.html. 
  30. ↑ "Catholic Education in Syria". Catholic News Agency. 2022-07-15. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/25030/catholic-schools-syria. 
  31. ↑ "Caritas Syria". Caritas Internationalis. 2024-02-10. https://www.caritas.org/where-caritas-work/middle-east-north-africa/syria/. 
  32. ↑ "Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption". Britannica. 2024-10-15. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Cathedral-of-Our-Lady-of-the-Assumption-Aleppo. 
  33. ↑ "Syria’s Catholic History". Encyclopedia.com. 2003-01-01. https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/syria-catholic-church. 
  34. ↑ "Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption". GCatholic.org. 2025-01-22. http://www.gcatholic.org/churches/asia/1252.htm. 
  35. ↑ "Syria’s Catholic Church". Vatican News. 2022-06-15. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2022-06/syria-catholic-church-war.html. 
  36. ↑ "Melkite Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace". Britannica. 2024-10-15. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Melkite-Cathedral-of-Our-Lady-of-Peace-Damascus. 
  37. ↑ "Saint Anthony’s Church". Encyclopedia.com. 2003-01-01. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/saint-anthonys-church-maaloula. 
  38. ↑ "Catholicism in Syria". Catholics & Cultures. 2020-06-15. https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/syria. 
  39. ↑ "Saint Ananias". Vatican. 2000-01-01. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/csaints/documents/rc_con_csaints_doc_2000_en.html. 
  40. ↑ "Syria’s Catholic Church". Vatican News. 2022-06-15. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2022-06/syria-catholic-church-war.html. 
  41. ↑ "Catholic Youth in Syria". Catholic News Agency. 2022-08-05. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/25035/catholic-youth-syria. 
  42. ↑ "Caritas Syria". Caritas Internationalis. 2024-02-10. https://www.caritas.org/where-caritas-work/middle-east-north-africa/syria/. 
  43. ↑ "Catholicism in Syria". Catholics & Cultures. 2020-06-15. https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/syria. 

External links

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