Syria: Around 40 Nuns, Orphans Trapped in Saint Takla Monastery in Syria’s Maloula

 

The Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East for Greek Orthodox in the Syrian capital Damascus has made an worrying announcement about the situation of many nuns and orphans in the Christian village of Maaloula (Ma’loula / Arabic: معلولا‎).

The Damascus-based Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East for Greek Orthodox announced in this new statement that about 40 nuns and orphans are trapped inside the monastery of St. Thecla (Saint Takla / Mar Takla) in the Christian village of Maaloula (Ma’loula) in the north of Damascus.
According to the worrying statement, the nuns and orphans of the monastery of St. Thecla (Saint Takla / Mar Takla) really need help and the Damascus-based Patriarchate called on the Syrian Red Crescent as well as on the International Red Cross and all other governmental and non-governmental organizations related to humanitarian affairs and help to increase the efforts to provide the important aid and supply for the residents at the monastery of St. Thecla (Saint Takla / Mar Takla) in the Christian village of Maaloula (Ma’loula).
The historic village of Maaloula (Ma’loula) is the scene of intense battles between the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and foreign-backed Al-Qaeda terrorists since days. Armed jihadists of the Al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front (Jabhat al-Nusra) had overran the ancient village in the north of Syria’s capital, Damascus.
Afterwards, the units of the Syrian Army were able to regain the control about some areas around and within the Christian village of Maaloula (Ma’loula). However, the situation is still tense and the clashes are continued in several parts of the area.
The Greek Orthodox monastery of St. Thecla (Saint Takla / Mar Takla) is located inside the Christian village of Maaloula. The monastery received a huge stream of Christian and Muslim pilgrims as well as many tourists and the monastery of St. Thecla (Saint Takla / Mar Takla) and the ancient mountainous village of Maaloula are well-known and historic places and buildings in Syria.
However, many churches in Maaloula and the region around the Christian village were already destroyed or damaged by the Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists or in the clashes between the jihadists of the dangerous al-Nusra Front (Jabhat al-Nusra) and the Syrian Arab Army (SAA). The once peaceful atmosphere of the Christian city and in the convent is history. Maaloula gets destroyed and this is another tragic event in the Syrian conflict that was instigated and is supported by abroad.

Syria / Maaloula (Ma’loula)

Syria / Maaloula (Ma’loula)

Syria / Maaloula (Ma’loula)

Syria – Maaloula (Ma’loula)

Syria – Maaloula (Ma’loula)

Syria / Maloula / Maaloula

Maaloula, Damascus Countryside

Syria – Maaloula (Ma’loula)

Syria – Maaloula (Ma’loula)

The Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East for Greek Orthodox added in the statement about the situation of the nuns and orphans in the monastery of St. Thecla (Saint Takla / Mar Takla) in the village of Maaloula that the “Monastery of Saint Takla in the town of Maloula, which is a civilized milestone for all Syrian citizens and which is at the same time, a civilized heritage of the human society as a whole, lives difficult and painful days for being located at the crossroad of fire exchange, which makes providing support a difficult and risky process.”
Meanwhile, it was reported that the units of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) were not only successful in their recent military operations against the foreign-backed terrorists and the Syrian Al-Qaeda offshoots in many regions of Syria, but also that several positions of armed terrorists were destroyed in Southern Syria today morning. According to the reports, tens of armed terrorists were killed in the military operations by the Syrian Army units against the positions of the terrorists in Southern Syria.
After heavy clashes, the Syrian Army units have successfully eliminated these terrorist positions in Southern Syria. Also in the region of the Christian village of Maaloula, in Baba Amru, a number of armed terrorists has been eliminated in the clashes by the Syrian Army.
The units of the Syrian army still try to regain the full control over all areas in and around the ancient village of Maaloula. However, it will still last due to the situation and scenery. Since the beginning of this week already tens of armed terrorists were killed and many more wounded during the military operations by the Syrian Army units in the region of the Christian village of Maaloula. One can just hope the best… Although… Maaloula is already history as we knew it.