Cyprus MFA allocates funds to support Christian communities in Middle East
Monastery of St. Thecla in Syria. Photo: SigmaLive
The Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs has allocated funding to support Christian communities in the Middle East. Under the mandate of the Special Representative for Freedom of Religion or Belief, the government has provided targeted assistance to church institutions in Syria, Jordan and the Gaza Strip, SigmaLive reports.
Cyprus allocated €150,000 to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem for repairs to the damaged Church of St. Porphyrius in the Gaza Strip. The historic Orthodox shrine has also served as a shelter for civilians.
The funds will be used for construction work, educational projects and the day-to-day care of children. In addition, the government provided a one-time grant of €20,000 to Cypriot monks of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre serving in the Holy Land, including Bethlehem and Bethany.
To support the faithful in Syria, the Foreign Ministry allocated €100,000 to the Patriarchate of Antioch. Its humanitarian arm will use the funds to restore a primary school in Hama Province attended by both Christian and Muslim children.
The project is intended to facilitate the return of refugees and strengthen local communities. A further €48,000 was provided to parishes and monasteries in Syria, including the Monastery of St. Thecla in Maaloula and a monastery in Saidnaya. The communities will use the money to purchase food, drinking water and medicines for elderly people and children.
In Jordan, Cyprus funded the purchase of medical equipment for the Orthodox St. Luke Clinic in Amman. The government also allocated money for repairs to the Armenian Church of St. Karapet on the banks of the Jordan River. The authorities are currently considering assistance for communities in Iraq as well.
The ministry stressed that these initiatives help preserve the region’s centuries-old Christian heritage. Cyprus also intends to continue serving as a bridge for interreligious dialogue in the Middle East.
As the UOJ reported, the Patriarch of Antioch has called for an end to violence against Christians in Syria.
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