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Syria
The Christian community in Syria dates back to the apostolic era. The Book of Acts records that when Paul saw the vision of Christ that changed his life he was on the road to Damascus to persecute the Christians there. Today, although the majority of Syrians are Muslim, Christians comprise about 15 percent of the total population, and they have persevered through a long history of presence and witness since those early times. The majority of Syrian Christians are Orthodox, although a large number of Protestants follow the Reformed tradition. Presbyterians have been involved in Syria from the early 1800s, when early American Presbyterian missionaries came to the Near East. American Presbyterians took the lead in Syria , as they had in Lebanon, in education, health care and church development. However, most mission work has been united in Syria (and Lebanon) under one mission society, which included Presbyterians from Scotland and Ireland and Lutherans from Denmark. In 1956 the Mission Society of Syria and Lebanon encouraged and helped develop national leadership in the two countries, and the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon was established. The National Synod now is responsible for all churches, schools and hospitals that were under the mission. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) continues its involvement through mission personnel working with the National Evangelical Synod, although there are none currently assigned. |
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