King Charles III has said he is praying for the people of Syria after attending a special Advent service for Christians in the Middle East held at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, in London. <br><br>The service at the famous Jesuit church in the British capital on 17 December, which was co-hosted by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), commemorated and focused on the 10th anniversary of the invasion by ISIS of Mosul and the Nineveh Plains in northern Iraq. But the commemoration also invariably looked toward Syria, with the service coming so soon after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime by Islamist rebels. <br><br>“This special service at Farm Street Church reminds us of our shared commitment to walking with those in need and igniting hope in the face of challenges,” said Father Peter Gallagher, the Provincial of the Jesuits in Britain.<br><br>“We are grateful for the King’s presence and the opportunity to stand together in faith and solidarity, recognising the resilience of many Christian communities and God’s guiding presence in our lives."<br><br>The King is a longtime supporter of Christians in the Middle East and has often drawn attention to their persecution. While still the Prince of Wales, in 2018 he spoke at a historic service at Westminster Abbey to celebrate the contribution of Christians in the Middle East.<br><br>During his visit to Farm Street Church, the King met representatives of the London-based Iraqi Christian diaspora, including individuals who suffered persecution and forced displacement when ISIS seized the Nineveh Plains.<br><br>He also met with Sister Annie Demerjian from the Syrian Catholic Church in a side chapel, sharing a warm embrace, <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-14201559/King-Charles-attends-Advent-service-Mayfair-Catholic-church.html"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">reports </mark></a>the <em>Daily Mail</em>. <br><br>“It was an honour to meet His Majesty once again, he is the most humble man I have met in my life," said the Sister.<br><br>“He remembered my name having met him a few years ago when I was in the UK, and he asked me about the situation in my country.<br><br>“He said he was praying for us, for all the people who have been displaced and find themselves battling against [the] odds.”<br><br>Dr. Caroline Hull, national director at ACN (UK), addressed the anniversary of the invasion by ISIS of Mosul and the Nineveh Plains: “Throughout their long history dating back to the 1st century, the Christians of Iraq have been no strangers to suffering.<br><br>“But little could prepare them for the terrors that would be inflicted both on them and so many other communities in recent years.<br><br>“Since his time as Prince of Wales, the King has shown profound and unstinting compassion, going out of his way to hear the personal stories of the afflicted faithful.<br><br>“The King’s constant concern has been a huge source of encouragement for us at [the charity],” she added. <br><br>ACN has supported the rebuilding of churches and homes in the Christian town of Qaraqosh and other settlements in the Nineveh Plains in Iraq, enabling thousands of families to return to their homeland.<br><br>“The journey towards restoration and renewal has been a long and sometimes painful one – and there is still a long way to go towards full recovery,” Hull added.<br><br>“But that they have achieved so much and completed the work so quickly is a tribute to the compassion, the care and concern their friends and benefactors have shown them. Such help came at a time when they sorely needed it." <br><br>Father Dominic Robinson, the Jesuit parish priest of Farm Street Church, spoke about the significance of the ecumenical event falling during Christmastime. <br><br>“It’s been a pleasure to bring together friends from different Christian traditions, all faiths and none, to celebrate seeds of hope during this significant season for us all,” he said.<br><br>“Advent hope is evident in our local community and was seen today through the presence of our homeless parishioners, those in hospitality who serve us, and our wonderful volunteers.<br><br>“Amid the tragedies in the Holy Land and the Middle East, we were strengthened by the hope of the Iraqi Christian community, who are now rebuilding their ancient biblical lands.<br><br>“The King’s presence, [and his] praying and meeting with concern for those on society’s peripheries, confirms this Advent hope for justice and peace, and we are truly grateful for his ongoing support,” the parish priest said.
In Syria, Christians have celebrated their Sunday services <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/christians-in-syria-celebrate-first-sunday-mass-since-fall-of-assad/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">for the first time</mark></a> since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime. This return is seen by many as an early test of the assurances given by the new Islamist rulers that the rights of minorities will be protected.
There are grave concerns about whether the Islamist rebels who now hold power in Syria will remain true to their promise to let Christians in the country live peacefully and worship freely.
<a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/dont-rush-to-claim-syrias-christians-are-safe-were-dealing-with-islamists-in-a-volatile-situation/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color"><em><strong>RELATED: Don’t rush to claim Syria’s Christians are safe – we’re dealing with Islamists in a volatile situation</strong></em></mark></a>
<em>Photo: Britain's King Charles III attends an Advent Service at Farm Street's Church of the Immaculate Conception, London, England, 17 December 2024. (Photo by ARTHUR EDWARDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.)</em>
