Lent - day 31

Categories: christianity

Date: 31 March 2009 23:46:30

Syria

Languages: Arabic, Kurdish, Armenian

It was on the road to Damascus, capital of today's Syria, that Saul was stopped in his tracks when setting out to thwart the early Church. It was also here that he regained his sight, was filled with the Holy Spirit, was baptised and began his ministry as an apostle.

The Christian population of Syria today is approximately 10% and is respected and welcomed by the Muslim majority. Syria took in hundreds of thousands of Christian refugees fleeing the Armenian genocide in 1915 and today the country takes in hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Christian (and other) refugees. The government permits freedom of religion although it keeps a close eye on things but churches, like mosques, are provided with free electricity.

There are elements of shari'a law which apply to some Christian denominations and it is illegal to convert from Islam to Christianity but there are no reports of this law being enforced.

Give thanks that Syria and its citizens are generous in their attitudes to Christians fleeing persecution in the region. Long may it continue!

[It seems the Wibsite clock is still on GMT. It's definitely Wednesday where I'm sitting. Pinch and a punch for the first of the month - and no return!]