Christians in middle east

Lebanon's Christians face mounting hostility as sectarian divisions deepen

“The sentiment is ‘If you are not 100% with 'us,' then you must be 100% with 'them,'’ Help The Persecuted CEO Joshua Youssef explained.

|ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
Christian children displaced from Tyre, southern Lebanon, pray at the Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarchate in Rabweh, Lebanon, June 10, 2026.
Christian children displaced from Tyre, southern Lebanon, pray at the Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarchate in Rabweh, Lebanon, June 10, 2026.

Lebanese priest’s murder sparks sectarian outrage, calls to deport Syrians

Father Samir Daou was stabbed more than 20 times in his home, allegedly by a Syrian worker he hired for the olive harvest, prompting calls for the deportation of Syrians.

|ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
Israeli Arab Christians take part in a procession in Haifa Sunday, 11th May 2014

Haifa resident arrested after vandalizing church, spitting on police officer

Dean Mor admitted to the charges against him, but claimed that he had felt threatened both at the church and by the officer at the police station.

|ByYOAV ETIEL
A memorial service is held at Sayyidet al-Najaat Church for five Christians, including a priest, who were killed in attacks in Rumiyeh, north of Beirut, Lebanon, on March 15, 2026.

Lebanese Forces chief welcomes JD Vance’s support for Lebanon’s Christian community

In recent years the Christian community has been split between some who supported Hezbollah and some who oppose Hezbollah.

|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

Pilgrims flock to Jerusalem to celebrate Easter

Orthodox Christians waving palm fronds and branches, mark their Palm Sunday at Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

APRIL 1, 2018ByREUTERS
Christian worshippers take part in a Palm Sunday ceremony in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem

Churches and municipality in game of chicken: ‘Who will swerve first?’

‘We have no one influential to talk to in the government,’ church insider says

FEBRUARY 28, 2018BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Worshippers hold candles as they take part in the Christian Orthodox Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old city May 4, 2013.

Increase in January pilgrimages to the Holy Land

Improved visa process has been a boon for Israel.

FEBRUARY 6, 2018ByBENJAMIN GLATT
Christian pilgrims dip in the waters of the Jordan River during a baptism ceremony at the Qasr el-Yahud site, near Jericho, in January.

Christians plant trees in Israel on Tu Bishvat

Israel365 helps evangelicals fortify West Bank settlements.

JANUARY 31, 2018ByBENJAMIN GLATT
The Seven Species, whose fruits are traditionally eaten on Tu Bishvat

1 in 12 Christians worldwide persecuted, report shows

Palestinian worshipers face enormous amount of pressure

JANUARY 11, 2018ByBENJAMIN GLATT
Syriac Christian women pray during mass at the Saint Efram Syriac Orthodox Church in Qamishly, Syria

Jerusalem’s Christian communities feel anxiety in ‘testing’ times

Christian communities are increasingly worried about extremists who want to make the Jewish state one that is solely for Jews.

DECEMBER 27, 2017ByGREER FAY CASHMAN
Christian worshippers in Jerusalem. ‘Early Christian writers spoke of a Jewish Restoration to the Holy Land. After the Reformation this became a movement. In English-speaking countries the 19th and early 20th centuries saw many strong Christian Zionists.’

Celebrating Christmas in the war-torn Middle East

The holiday offers little escape throughout the region and has been politicized in the Palestinian territories.

DECEMBER 25, 2017ByDIMA ABUMARIA/ THE MEDIA LINE
A Syrian man cycles past a Christmas tree being decorated in the Christian-majority neighbourhood of Hamidiyeh in the old city of Homs

In Pictures: See how the Middle East celebrates Christmas

There might not be any snow, but that doesn't stop the Christians of the Middle East from celebrating in their own way.

DECEMBER 24, 2017BySHOSHANA KRANISH
Issa Kassissieh, wearing a Santa Claus costume, rides a camel during the annual Christmas tree distribution by the Jerusalem municipality in Jerusalem's Old City December 21, 2017

Muslim countries on high security alert ahead of Christmas

History of holiday attacks augmented by religious tensions over Trump's decision to move embassy to Jerusalem.

DECEMBER 24, 2017ByREUTERS
An Indonesian bomb squad policeman holds a rifle as he examines a church before Christmas mass prayer in Bandung, Indonesia, December 23, 2017 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Picture taken December 23, 2017

After ISIS, Christmas returns to Northern Iraq

The last Christmas mass in the city was held in 2013.

DECEMBER 24, 2017ByGILGAMESH NABEEL, JACOB WIRTSCHAFTER/ THE MEDIA LINE
A volunteer in a Santa costume hands out gifts to Iraqi Christians in Najaf, December 2015