SYRIA: Patriarch John X visits St. George Monastery to listen to concerns of residents of Wadi al-Nasara

HMOTH (Homs), Syria — Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch John X visited the Monastery of St. George in al-Mishtaya, located in Wadi al-Nasara (Valley of Christians) in the Hmoth (Homs) countryside. During his visit, he listened to the concerns of residents about the situation in the region following the fall of the authoritarian regime of Bashar al-Assad.

The residents highlighted the urgent need for enhanced security in the villages of Wadi al-Nasara, pointing out the absence of police forces. They requested that the Patriarch advocate with the authorities in the new administration in Daramsuq (Damascus) to integrate local youth into the security forces under legal frameworks to ensure the valley’s protection.

The residents also appealed to the Patriarch to address the distribution of food baskets, citing dire economic conditions and living hardships. Additionally, concerns over the high costs of services at Al-Hosn Hospital were raised.

Expressing their hopes for positive change, the residents emphasized that these measures would greatly benefit the community and improve their quality of life.