The village of Ghassanieh, in Syria, experienced on November 7, 2025, a historic event marking the return of Christian hope after fourteen years of forced absence due to the occupation by armed groups. The day, lived in communion among the different Christian denominations, represents a true rebirth for the whole community.
In the letter addressed to the friars of the Custody (attached here), the Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Ielpo, emphasizes the deeply ecclesial and human meaning of this encounter: "I wish to share with all of you a great joy that concerns not only our fraternity in Syria, but the entire Custody of the Holy Land." The event, held in the parish of Ghassanieh, is celebrated after fourteen years of suffering and deprivation, culminating with the restitution of homes and lands to their rightful Christian owners.
The Custos gratefully recalls the commitment and perseverance of the friars of the Custody in Syria, including Mons. Hanna Jallouf, Fr. Diaa Aziz, Fr. Louai Bsharat and Fr. Khoukaz Mesrob, who "have faithfully and courageously safeguarded the Christian presence in a land wounded yet always alive in the heart of Christ", and recalls the testimony of the martyr Father François Murad.
In the letter, an appeal is also made for prayer and spiritual unity among all the fraternities: "I therefore invite every fraternity of the Custody to unite spiritually with the brothers of Ghassanieh in prayer and gratitude, so that this sign of hope may become for all of us a call to fidelity and perseverance in the service of the Gospel, even in the most difficult situations."
The day in Ghassanieh saw the participation of the main religious authorities: the Apostolic Vicar, the Greek Orthodox Bishop of Latakia, and the representative of the Anglican Church. The program included a prayer itinerary that symbolically united the three churches of the village (Anglican, Orthodox, and Franciscan). In the Franciscan church, the Apostolic Vicar led the recitation of the Our Father and the Hail Mary in an atmosphere of deep emotion.
In the speech delivered on behalf of the custos of the Holy Land by Fr. Bahjat Karakash, the value of resilience, fraternity, and a faith that endures through time was emphasized. For many, including Fr. Raimondo Girgis, discreet of the Holy Land and son of this village, the day represented a return to the roots: "Ghassanieh has returned, hope is alive, faith has triumphed."
Francesco Guaraldi
