Cyprus Foreign Ministry Allocates Funds to Support Christian Communities in the Middle East
The allocated funds will be directed toward the restoration of churches, schools, and medical aid in Syria, Jordan, and the Gaza Strip.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus has allocated financial resources to support Christian communities in the Middle East. Within the framework of the mandate of the Special Representative for Freedom of Religion, the authorities of the republic have directed targeted assistance to church structures in Syria, Jordan, and the Gaza Strip. This was reported by SigmaLive.
The Cypriot authorities have sent 150,000 euros to the Jerusalem Patriarchate for the repair of the damaged Church of Saint Porphyrius in the Gaza Strip. This historic Orthodox shrine serves as a refuge for civilians.
The allocated funds will go toward construction work, educational projects, and the daily care of children. In addition, the government paid a one-time allowance of 20,000 euros to Cypriot monks of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, who serve in the Holy Land, including Bethlehem and Bethany.
To support believers in Syria, the diplomatic ministry directed 100,000 euros to the Patriarchate of Antioch. Its humanitarian wing is using these funds for the restoration of a primary school in Hama Province, where Christian and Muslim children study together.
This project is expected to accelerate the return of refugees and strengthen local communities. An additional 48,000 euros were transferred by the Cyprus Foreign Ministry to parishes and monasteries in Syria, including the Monastery of Saint Thecla in Maaloula and the monastery in Seidnaya. With these funds, the communities will purchase food, drinking water, and medicines for the elderly and children.
In Jordan, the Cypriot authorities funded the purchase of medical equipment for the Orthodox Clinic of Saint Luke in Amman. The republic also allocated funds for the restoration of the Armenian Church of Saint Karapet on the bank of the Jordan River. The government is currently exploring the possibility of providing assistance to communities in Iraq.
The ministry emphasized that these initiatives help preserve the centuries-old Christian heritage of the region. The republic will also continue to serve as a bridge for interfaith dialogue in the Middle East.
As the Union of Orthodox Journalists reported, the Patriarch of Antioch called for an end to violence against Christians in Syria.
