While the Christmas celebrations are on the peak around the world, the event in Syria this year is a grim one. For Christians, here, the Christmas is simply a reminder of displacement and loss of family members in the attacks carried out by foreign backed militants. A huge mass was held in the Mariamite Cathedral in Damascus and attended by Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and The Mufti of Syria. Prayers called for peace for the country and the souls of those who sacrificed their lives for protecting the homeland. Prayers also called for the return of those who have been abducted by Takfiri militants. Foreign-backed militants operating inside Syria recently took over the ancient Christian town of Maloula in Damascus countryside. A large number of residents were displaced. Al Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front terrorists also stormed the Orthodox Mar Takla convent in the middle of the city and abducted several nuns. The Maloula incident is not the isolated one. The militants have sabotaged many churches across the country in recent months. And, mortars fired by them continue to claim the lives of both Christians and Muslims including women and children. Christians in Syria celebrated the Christmas amid calls to boost the security of their war-torn country. Syrian Christians believe that their country will only be stronger with their presence and steadfastness. And despite their sufferings, they still try to live a normal life, hoping stability would be restored. Show Less >>