Analysis: During Easter season, some Russians look to strengthen bonds with Syria’s embattled Christians
A half-burned image of Christ is placed next to a wall at a Greek Orthodox church in Maaloula, Syria, on March 3, 2016. Maaloula, an ancient Christian town 40 miles northeast of Damascus, changed hands several times in the war, and its historic churches were pillaged by jihadis and riddled with shrapnel. By Amie Ferris-Rotman Amie Ferris-Rotman Moscow reporter for the Washington Post.
Many in Russia see Syria’s Christians as cut from the same cloth and the powerful Russian Orthodox Church as their logical protector. In recent years, this has taken the form of reconstruction efforts for churches ravaged by Islamist militants. Russia’s ties with Christians in the Holy Lands go back centuries. During the czarist era, Russia considered itself their guardian. During the 18th century reign of Catherine the Great, her rule was often compared to her ancient Syrian counterpart, Queen Zenobia. The imperial capital of St. Petersburg earned a moniker as the “Palmyra of the North,” named after the ancient desert city in central Syria that holds spectacular Roman ruins.
The plight of Middle Eastern Christians — long a rallying cry of white American evangelicals — has also caught the attention of President Trump, who said two years ago that Christians in Syria were being “horribly treated.”
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Analysis | Actually, the Mueller report showed that Russia did affect the voteTrump praised WikiLeaks because he thought it would help him win votes — and Mueller showed that WikiLeaks got its information from Russia.
Read more »
Mueller's damning verdict on Russia keeps focus on Trump/Putin relationshipOfficially, the Kremlin line is that Russia simply does not care about the findings of the Mueller report. That couldn't be further from the truth.
Read more »
Ohio church apologizes after pastor encourages students to spit on him, cut him with knifeAn Ohio church is apologizing after a pastor asked students to spit on him, slap him, and cut him with a knife during an Easter lesson.
Read more »
Another probe of the Trump team and Russia is still going strongMueller's criminal investigation is over, but the FBI's efforts to assess and counter Russian efforts to influence the US political system — including the Trump admin. — is continuing, current and former U.S. officials say. - KenDilanianNBC
Read more »
Analysis | While confidence in Mueller spiked after his work was done, views of Trump and Russia didn’t budgeAnalysis: While confidence in Mueller spiked after his work was done, views of Trump and Russia didn’t budge
Read more »
Cohen Told Investigators Trump Was Willing to Travel to Russia During Race in Pursuit of Tower DealMichael Cohen told investigators that Donald Trump was willing to travel to Russia during the 2016 campaign regarding efforts to build a Trump Tower in Moscow
Read more »
Barr cites '10 episodes' in Mueller report detailing possible Trump obstructionAttorney General William Barr briefed reporters ahead of his release of the redacted version special counsel Robert Mueller's report on the Trump campaign's ties to Russia during the 2016 presidential election.
Read more »
Pope during Easter vigil: Reject the ‘glitter of wealth’At an Easter vigil in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis encouraged people to resist cynicism or pursuing the “glitter of wealth,” and to avoid seeking life’s meaning in “things that pass away”
Read more »