How tragic. The bloody civil war in Syria has claimed yet another Christian martyr, a seventy-five year-old Dutch Roman Catholic priest ~
Frans van der Lugt, a Jesuit priest who refused to leave the embattled city of Homs, Syria, in solidarity with the few Christians still living there, was killed by assassins Monday in his garden […]
As the Syrian civil war approached Homs, the priest resolved to stay with the dwindling Christian community that remained. Tens of thousands of Christians across the country, targeted by rebels who consider them allies of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, have fled their homes during the way, many to other locations in Syria, and others to neighboring Lebanon or Turkey.
In the Old City in Homs, which has been under siege for two years, conditions are dire. During that entire time no food has been allowed in, and no one has been allowed to leave. Father Van der Lugt had been living in a monastery with a few dozen other Christians – all that remain in Homs from a population of 60,000 a few years ago. [According to some sources, up to one third of Syrian Christians – roughly 450,000 – may have fled the country since the civil war began.]
Just two months ago, Fr Van der Lugt talked with the UK Telegraph about the desperate circumstances in Homs ~
“Our city has become a lawless jungle,” said Fr Van der Lugt. “We are trying our best to behave in a fraternal way, so that we don’t turn on each other for the hunger.”
Fr Van der Lugt spoke to Telegraph by Skype after posting a video online in which he appealed to the outside world for help, from a rebel-held district of Homs that has been sealed off by Syrian government troops […]
The priest, who is from the Netherlands and has lived in Syria since 1966, said the Old City used to be home to 60,000 Christians, with 10 churches in the besieged areas: “Now I find myself alone with only 66 other Christians,” he said […]
“Infants are suffering the most,” he said. “Nursing mothers can’t feed their babies as they are too weak from hunger. We search everywhere for milk, and when we find it we mix it with water.”
A few years ago, starvation would have seemed an impossible prospect for residents of Homs. A thriving commercial city, it was famous in Syria for its food and for its people’s good sense of humour.
Hunger isn’t the only hardship afflicting the besieged ~
“Some people are now suffering from mental illness; neurosis, panic attacks, psychotic and schizophrenic episodes and paranoia,” (Fr Van der Lugt) said.
“I try to help the mentally ill, not by analysing their problems, as the problems are obvious and there is no solution for them here. I listen to them and give as much food as I can.”
And now, this good man – a source of strength and encouragement for these beleaguered people – is gone; another tragic casualty of the Islamic insanity tearing this country apart.
Related:
In Syria, some 300,000 Christian refugees also fleeing from UN camps
Biblical Prophecy ~ Syria and the Syrian Refugees Crisis
Walid Shoebat’s ongoing coverage of the persecution of Christians in Syria ~ (Caution – some very graphic images)
Last November CBN reported on this ongoing crisis for Syrian Christians ~
