They have suffered the worst in the hands of Islamic State (ISIS) militants. They have seen some of the people they know kidnapped and killed for refusing to convert to Islam.
Now, Christians in the ancient city of Maaloula in Syria are beginning to pick up the pieces as they rise again through God's help after falling under ISIS control and surviving the atrocities perpetrated by Islamic militants.
Maaloula became an ISIS target because it is one of the oldest Christian cities in the world. The city is located 35 miles northeast of the Syrian capital of Damascus.
Last September, Islamic militants attacked and eventually occupied Maaloula.
Resident Maryam El Zakhm recalled the horrors of the ISIS takeover of their area. "They came here to convert the Christians to Islam, and they wanted to destroy Maaloula because it is Christian," she told CBN News. "They shouted 'Allahu Akbar!' They were from Chechnya, Egypt, Libya, from everywhere – Tunis, Algeria. They came with long hair, long beards and scary faces."
The resident also shared how ISIS militants barged into her house and insulted her faith, even threatening to rape her daughters.
"They attacked my house and started screaming 'come out you Christian pigs!' I knew they planned to take our daughters, rape and kill them," she recalled. "So, I thought of killing my daughters and then myself before they could get to us. I then prayed to God instead and asked Him to give us a chance to leave the house."
Father Toufic Eid, parish priest of St. George's Greek Melkite Catholic Church, also recalled how the city fell into a state of terror after the ISIS took over.
"We had a lot of fear, in fact, at that time and people began to leave Maaloula," he told CBN News. "In fact, six men were kidnapped. We still do not know their fate."
Thankfully, the Syrian army fought hard and managed to liberate Maaloula after being under ISIS' control for eight months.
Father Toufic said they were liberated mainly because of their Christian faith. The St. George's Church, one of the city's ancient Christian icons, for instance, remained largely intact.
"Of course, of course—not only because they are Christians but because Maaloula became in the past a symbol—a symbol of Christianity itself and a symbol of living together between Christians and Muslims. That's why Maaloula was important and that's why it was attacked," he said.
For Maryam, it is through God's intervention that she and her family were able to survive such a horrific experience.
