07/01/2025

Churches in Syria celebrate Christmas and Epiphany

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — The Armenian Orthodox Church (Julian calendar) in Syria marked Christmas with Divine Liturgies held in Churches under the guidance of bishops, priests, and archbishops. The celebrations attracted large gatherings of faithful believers.

In the Middle East, it is customary for the faithful to exchange visits after Mass and share sweets as part of the festive traditions.



This year, Christmas according to the Julian calendar coincided with Epiphany according to the Gregorian calendar, a significant event celebrated by most Churches worldwide that observe Christmas on 25 December. Epiphany, also known as the Divine Appearance, commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Christ in the form of a dove. A key tradition of the Epiphany is the baptism ritual, where a child is immersed in water three times.

Suroyo TV in Zalin (Qamishli) covered the Epiphany celebration held at the Syriac Orthodox Mor Afrem Church. The event began with a Divine Liturgy led by Father Afrem Shukro, who was assisted by a group of deacons and deaconesses. A large congregation of believers attended the service, reflecting the community’s deep faith and devotion.