Fr Zaher Mhanna, a Syrian priest now serving in Melbourne, knows first-hand how difficult life is for Christians in some parts of the Middle East. Source: Melbourne Catholic.
But he feels guilty being safe in Australia as attacks on churches in his homeland escalate, even hitting people he is close to.
The June 22 suicide bombing of St Elias Orthodox Church in Damascus, which killed more than 25 people and injured at least 50, marked a devastating turning point for Syria’s Christian community.
Fr Mhanna recalled deadly but isolated attacks on Christians by Islamist extremists during the civil war that began in 2011 under former president Bashar al-Assad, but says churches were places of refuge.
“While he was there, we never saw a church bombed,” Fr Mhanna said.
A transitional government has been in power since March and has vowed to protect minorities including Catholics and other Christians, Druze, Kurds and Shia Muslim Alawites, to which most of the former rulers belonged.
But violence against these communities has been growing and it is difficult to know who is carrying out such attacks.
The St Elias Church assault was carried out by extremists, who Syrian officials say were from Islamic State, despite another hardline Islamist group, Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, claiming responsibility.
“Honestly, in my heart, I was feeling something will happen, but I didn’t know that will be so quick,” Fr Mhanna said.
He described a climate of fear in his homeland. Christians, who once made up 10 per cent of Syria’s population, are now an estimated 3 per cent.
The priest recounts the incident that led him to flee in 2015: the murder of his friend, Fr Fadi. “They [Islamist militants] kidnapped him, took his eyes, his nails.”
The trauma of loss and guilt haunts him.
He left Syria at the urging of his ailing mother, who has since died. One brother stayed but is professionally stymied under the new regime.
“My heart is torn,” he admits. “I thank God for the safety, opportunities, and the faith community I have found here. But I have never forgotten where I came from.”
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Carrying their story: Melbourne priest heartbroken over persecution of Syria’s Christians (Melbourne Catholic)
