Syrian bishop thanks govt help to persecuted Christians

Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus, on Thursday thanked in Budapest the Hungarian government for the help granted to persecuted Christians.

Nalbandian said the government’s help was important in Syria where after ten years of war and in the midst of an economic crisis, efforts are under way to rebuild destroyed churches and schools.

He said his main task was to preserve families’ faith and to help them remain in their place of birth.

He asked for further support to launch new programmes.

Tristan Azbej, state secretary in charge of assistance to persecuted Christians and the Hungary Helps programme, said that Hungary’s humanitarian aid scheme had been launched five years ago and it has provided support to over half a million people in over fifty countries since. Victims of the war in Ukraine were in focus in the past month but Christians in the Middle East have always been highlighted recipients of support, he added.

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He said he met Nalbandian to review the results achieved so far and the current situation of Christians in the Middle East where efforts must be made to enable them to stay in their place of birth despite the war and the ongoing persecution of Christians.