Orthodox Patriarchates in the Middle East Report Growing Threats to Christians in the Church’s Historic Centers

Orthodox Christians in the regions where the early Church originated are facing growing security threats, pressure on church property, and mass emigration. According to the Greek publication Vima Orthodoxias, these issues have become central to the discussions between Patriarch John of Antioch and Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem with religious and political leaders in Greece, Cyprus, and other countries.

Patriarch John of Antioch held meetings with the Patriarchs of Constantinople and Bulgaria, the Archbishop of Cyprus, representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate, and Georgios Kalantzis, Greece’s Secretary General for Religious Affairs. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, as the publication notes, met with U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and also visited Greece, where he held talks with the Archbishop of the Church of Greece, as well as with Prime Minister and President Konstantinos Tasoulas.

Particular attention is paid to the situation of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which safeguards holy sites associated with key events in Christian history, including the Holy Sepulcher, Bethlehem, Gethsemane, the Jordan River, and the monasteries of the Holy Land. The publication asserts that the Patriarchate is facing pressure regarding its properties and lands, as well as threats against Christian communities.

The article specifically mentions the situation in the Gaza Strip. It is noted that the abbot of the Monastery of St. Porphyrius in Gaza, Archbishop Alexios of Tiberias, and his assistant, Archimandrite Sila, remained at the monastery together with the parishioners during the hostilities, which, according to the author of the article, helped save the lives of hundreds of people. Greek President Konstantinos Tasoulas presented them with honorary awards.

The publication also reports on the problems facing the Sinai Monastery, which falls under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem but is located in Egypt. According to the source, the monastery is facing property disputes and concerns regarding the possible use of its lands for tourism projects.

The situation of the Patriarchate of Antioch also remains difficult; its historic see is associated with Antioch but is actually located in Damascus. The article notes that since the events of the “Arab Spring,” the Patriarchate has been going through a difficult period due to war, violence, and an exodus of the faithful. According to the source, in Iraq the Patriarchate has lost about 80% of its flock since 2003, and in Aleppo, Syria, the number of Christians has fallen from approximately 200,000 to less than 20,000.

Among the most serious incidents, *Vima Orthodoxias* cites the looting of monasteries in the Damascus area, the abductions and murders of clergy in Aleppo, as well as the 2025 terrorist attack on the Church of the Prophet Elijah in Damascus, which, according to the publication, killed 25 believers and injured 63. In Lebanon, as the publication notes, Orthodox communities have also found themselves in the conflict zone and are increasingly viewing emigration as a means of survival.

A separate section of the article is devoted to the Patriarchate of Alexandria, which has historical ties to Egypt, early monasticism, and the theological tradition of Saints Athanasius and Cyril. The publication notes that in the 20th century, the Patriarchate expanded its missionary activities on the African continent, but later faced a decline in its Greek flock and new ecclesiastical challenges.

Vima Orthodoxias cites the establishment in 2022 of the Russian Patriarchal Exarchate in Africa, with its center in Cairo, as one such challenge. According to the Moscow Patriarchate, this move was linked to the position of Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria on the Ukrainian church issue. The article states that after he recognized the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Moscow announced that more than 100 African clergy members of the Patriarchate of Alexandria had transferred to the new structure.

Overall, the article emphasizes that the ancient, or primatial, patriarchates—Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, and other historical centers of Christianity—are currently facing political conflicts, interreligious tensions, property disputes, and a demographic decline in the Christian population in their regions of origin.