Because the opposition forces in Syria might slaughter Christians?
Rebel groups, including a branch of al-Qaeda, have taken control of Maaloula, one of the few remaining villages where the language spoken by Christ is still in use, residents and activists reported.
“Our army, the Syrian army, has failed us,” said Sister Antoinette, a nun from Maaloula. “We called the army, we begged them to come inside Maaloula and save us.”
Nestled in mountains 35 miles from Damascus, Maaloula is one of only three places in the world that retains Western Aramaic, a dialect of the language spoken by Christ.
St Thecla, who is said to be buried in the convent, was a follower of St Paul.
Its inhabitants are mostly Melkite Greek Catholic and Orthodox Christians, who have historically lived alongside a Sunni Muslim minority.
The attack on Maaloula was a joint operation between moderate rebels from the Free Syrian Army (FSA), and Jabhat al-Nusra, jihadists aligned with al-Qaeda.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10294711/Christians-flee-Syria-village-that-speaks-the-language-of-Jesus.html
Rebel groups, including a branch of al-Qaeda, have taken control of Maaloula, one of the few remaining villages where the language spoken by Christ is still in use, residents and activists reported.
“Our army, the Syrian army, has failed us,” said Sister Antoinette, a nun from Maaloula. “We called the army, we begged them to come inside Maaloula and save us.”
Nestled in mountains 35 miles from Damascus, Maaloula is one of only three places in the world that retains Western Aramaic, a dialect of the language spoken by Christ.
St Thecla, who is said to be buried in the convent, was a follower of St Paul.
Its inhabitants are mostly Melkite Greek Catholic and Orthodox Christians, who have historically lived alongside a Sunni Muslim minority.
The attack on Maaloula was a joint operation between moderate rebels from the Free Syrian Army (FSA), and Jabhat al-Nusra, jihadists aligned with al-Qaeda.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10294711/Christians-flee-Syria-village-that-speaks-the-language-of-Jesus.html