The Middle East

After the Arab Spring

Storm clouds gather over a church near Bsharre overlooking the Qadisha Valley in north LebanonThe West Bank barrier, which separates Bethlehem from JerusalemYoung people making their First Holy Communion at St Catherine’s Church, BethlehemSecurity forces patrol the streets on Nakba Day on BethlehemAn icon of Our Lady adorns the West Bank barrier near Bethlehem

Storm clouds gather over a church near Bsharre overlooking the Qadisha Valley in north Lebanon

The West Bank barrier, which separates Bethlehem from Jerusalem

Young people making their First Holy Communion at St Catherine’s Church, Bethlehem

Security forces patrol the streets on Nakba Day on Bethlehem

An icon of Our Lady adorns the West Bank barrier near Bethlehem

As 2011 dawned, unprecedented revolution and popular uprising gripped great swathes of the Middle East and north Africa.

Starting with the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia and sweeping across Egypt in the 25th January Revolution, the momentum for change has gathered pace.

Regimes in place for decades have either been ousted or rocked to their foundations.

Storm clouds of violence, tension and uncertainty have affected many communities – but none more so than Christians in the Middle East.

Having endured through centuries of hardship, some of our most ancient Churches are staring into the face of huge difficulties which threaten their very existence.

Their fate hangs in the balance as prodemocracy and militant forces struggle for supremacy.

On these pages, we look at the effect of the Arab Spring on Christian communities in countries across north Africa and the Middle East, and ask what the future holds for the beleaguered faithful in these most ancient of Christian lands.

We also take a look at how you are helping to offer hope to our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ in their hour of need.