US delegation visits renovated church in Syria’s Raqqa

RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – On Wednesday, a US delegation paid a visit to the Martyrs Church for Armenian Catholics in the city of Raqqa, north Syria.

The visit came on the occasion of the preparation of opening the church, member of the Social Affairs and Labor Committee of Raqqa Civil Council, Ali al-Sho’ayb, said.

The Martyrs Church is one of three churches that were completely devastated during the war against the Islamic State (ISIS) that the city had witnessed.  

Officials of Raqqa Civil Council and Christians of Raqqa were first to receive the visitors, al-Sho’ayb told North Press.

Two years ago, the renovation committee of Religious Affairs Institution of Raqqa Civil Council began the renovation works of the Martyrs Church in the city center.

Early in November, Religious Affairs Institution completed the renovation works of the church.

Christian religion in Raqqa city has three denominations: the Roman Catholic, which have the Church of Our Lady of Annunciation, the Armenian Orthodox, which have the Church of the Freedom School, and the Armenian Catholic, who have the Martyrs Church.

Currently, 47 Christian families are present in Raqqa city, according to statistics released by Social Affairs and Labor Committee in Raqqa.

During the Islamic State (ISIS) era in Raqqa, it imposed tax on Christian families to pay, commitment to the Islamic clothing style, and performing their religious rituals in special places for them.

Reporting by Ammar Abdullatif