Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Pursued by Truth

Home
Catholic
Archbishop of Damascus: 4 Greatest Challenges to Christians in the East

Archbishop of Damascus: 4 Greatest Challenges to Christians in the East

Last updated on: April 26, 2016 at 8:34 am by Guest Contributor

Archbishop of Damascus: 4 Greatest Challenges to Christians in the East 2016-04-26T08:34:09-04:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Photo credit: The British Library via Foter.com / No known copyright restrictions

This is the latest letter from Maronite Archbishop Samir Nassar in Syria. Many thanks to Sr. Margaret Charles Kerry, FSP for always translating the archbishop’s letters from French so we can continue to keep the Christians in Syria in our prayers. – Sr. Theresa Aletheia

THE FOUR CHALLENGES OF EASTERN CHRISTIANS

1. The Challenge of History

The Christians of the East bear the burden of the Christological disputes of the first four Ecumenical Councils:

Nicea in 325 A.D.
Constantinople in 381 A.D.
Ephesus in 431 A.D.
Chalcedon in 451 A.D.

These councils defined and transformed Christian doctrine.

The thirteen churches of the East possess a rich heritage, yet in the 7th century a competing and divided Eastern Christianity could not cope with Islam.

In the 12th and 13th century these Eastern Christians allied themselves to the Crusaders who came to liberate Jerusalem. After the defeat of the Crusaders, the Muslims continued to be suspicious of their fellow Christians who were still considered allies of ‘enemy’. These churches suffered a severe persecution during the 14th and the 15th century.

The collective memory of Christians and Muslims does not forget these injuries.

How can you forget a damning past and purify a collective memory? Could a request for forgiveness turn the page on these dark spots in our history?

2. Demographic Challenge

Now a minority, Eastern Christians in a world dominated by Muslims are in decline: declining birthrate, and sectarian laws requiring non-Muslim partners to convert to Islam in mixed marriages in all Arab countries except Lebanon. A marriage partner can become a Muslim but they cannot become a Christian.

Added to this are higher emigration numbers among Christians. This accelerated population decline weakens parishes, families and the social and political weight of Christians in Eastern societies. Because of the isolation and marginalization a minority endures many live in society with a low public profile.

How does this heroic minority survive? The early Church could be a good model.

3. Challenge of Evangelization

Catholic schools are nationalized; there is no longer access to the education of our children, so does a generation ignore their faith? How do we fill this gap? We fill it with parish catechism which is only an effective solution for 5% of the resettled schoolchildren. This is a precarious and costly solution. Transportation is expensive so student attendance is irregular. The children need to be picked up at their homes.

A plan designed to hold biblical evenings in families was scheduled to begin before the war. Now many of the trained catechists are missing and some have left the country. With the rise of fanaticism, fundamentalism and intolerance evangelism becomes too risky.

The Gospel continues to attract a lot of people but it is not possible to baptize them. Freedom of religion without freedom of conscience is not enough. To co-exist with Islam is our difficult and unavoidable choice.

Faced with this challenge the hidden life of Jesus seems to be a good way.

4. Economic Challenge

The scattered Christian minority has long lost the financial means to support their parishes and their pastors. These Eastern Churches are not viable without contributions from Western Churches and the charitable solidarity movements. Without their support 80% of the places of worship would be closed. This fraternal generosity during the global crisis may not continue. The future is hard to imagine.

A poor Church closer to the gospel is the best testimony.

The Challenge of Challenges:

In the face of this long and profound Calvary, some have changed religion, others have chosen to leave. The little flock that remains look upon Mary at the foot of the cross and meditate on these words of Christ:

“Whoever does not bear my cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14: 27

Damascus April 25, 2016.

+ Samir NASSAR

Maronite Archbishop of Damascus

Interreligious Dialogue

Archbishop Samir Nassar

Christians in the Middle East

Crusades

Damascus

Persecuted Christians

Syria

Previous Post

April 11, 2016

This Pro-Women's Ordination Video Manages to Patronize Women

Next Post

April 27, 2016 5 Ways to Keeping Your Kids Reading This Summer

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Art Atheism Book Reviews Christmas Church Issues Discernment Easter Ecumenism Entertainment Environment Eucharist Evangelization Family Freebies Guest Post Holy Spirit Inspire Me Interreligious Dialogue Jesus Lectio Divina Lent Life Issues Liturgical Season Mary Media MISC Movie Reviews Pauline Pope Francis Prayer Prayer Intention Religious Life Saints Sanctity Scripture Social Justice Social Teaching St. Paul Theology of the Body Uncategorized US News Vocations World News Writing Year of Mercy

Select a Month September 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the purpose for the Law?

Select your answer to see how you score.

To bring about adoption To save people To teach of sin To give hope