Christian community in Syria's Orontes valley celebrates school reopening after years of war

The Holy Land school, situated on the heights of Al-Yacoubiyeh, was officially reopened in a ceremony led by its director Ibrahim Mouaz. Overlooking the Orontes valley, the school serves a handful of villages—Al-Yacoubiyeh, Al-Jdaydeh and Al-Qunayeh—where Christian communities have survived since Byzantine times. Prior to the Syrian uprising, roughly two hundred Greek Orthodox and Armenian families called the area home.

Throughout the conflict, residents faced religious hostility from rebel groups, including threats, insults and an abduction, yet a small number remained. Mouaz reflected on the hardships endured and expressed gratitude for the chance to rebuild. The event highlights the resilience of Syria's minority communities amid ongoing instability.