News from the Orient - Dec 19, 2025

Hello and welcome to News from the Orient, our weekly update on Eastern Christians:

Preparing for Christmas in Damascus

Christians in Damascus gathered a few days before Christmas at the Church of Mar Elias, on the site where, a few months ago, a suicide attack killed and injured many people during the Divine Liturgy.

Today, the largest Christmas tree in Syria stands on this spot. Prayers, hymns and tributes to the martyrs marked the event. A powerful sign of faith and resilience: despite the tragedies, the Christian community remains standing.

Feast of Mar Behnam and Sara

In Iraq, on 10 December, many faithful gathered at the Monastery of Mar Behnam and Sara, near Qaraqosh, to celebrate the memory of these martyrs. The celebration was presided over by Bishop Hano, Syriac Catholic Bishop of the diocese.

Behnam and his sister Sara lived in the 4th century. Children of the pagan king Sennacherib of Nineveh, they encountered the hermit Mar Mattai, who proclaimed the Gospel to them. Through a miracle, Sara was healed of leprosy and all received baptism. Upon learning of their conversion, the king had them executed. Later, struck by madness and then healed, he too converted and had the mausoleum built, which later became a major pilgrimage site.

Their feast is now one of the most popular in the country.

Birth of Svitlyk in Ukraine

Zhyve TV, a media outlet of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, has launched a new Christian YouTube channel for children called Svitlyk, meaning “Little Ray”. Aimed at preschool and primary school children, the channel offers bedtime stories, prayers, educational videos and content focused on Christian values.

The main character, the angel Svitlyk, accompanies children as they discover the world with love and kindness. Created by a team of volunteers with the support of catechists and priests, the project aims to provide safe and educational content, particularly for children living in the diaspora, helping them stay connected to their faith, the Church and Ukraine.