Armenians of Derik miss their relatives on Christmas celebrations

Derik – North-Press Agency

Solnar Mohammad

The Armenian Orthodox celebrated the Christmas in the Church of Virgin Mary, in the town of Derik (Malikiya), north-east of Hasakah, amid a heartbreak which didn't leave them because of their lack of relatives who migrated from northeastern Syria. As the Armenian Orthodox celebrate the Christmas on the sixth of January every year.

Samira Gharib, an Armenian told North-Press that she celebrated the Christmas and performed the rituals as before, but she missed her relatives who left the area, "I used to leave the church and go to visit my brothers, uncles and aunts, but now I go straight to my house.”

On her part, Adiba Abdulahad said that the Christmas now is different from what it was before, as the joy was complete with the presence of the children, but now none of them is present. She wished that peace and love would remain prevailing among all components of the region, including the Assyrians, the Syriacs, the Christians and the Muslims.  

It is reported that most Christians migrated from northeastern Syria during the Syrian crisis, as a result of the bombing of the cities and towns they used to live in, in addition to the massacres they were subjected to and the restriction of their religious freedom during ISIS control of some areas where they were present.