Syria: Christians flee Homs as crisis deepens

Umayyad Mosque, Damascus

As the government bombarded of Homs entered its fifth day today, the Missionary New Service report that most Christian families have now left the city.

This is not because they have received threats - so most churches and places of worship has escaped attack - but because the situation generally is "becoming more dangerous by the hour."

Three bishops - one Catholic and two Orthodox from the Dioceses of Homs and Hama, have left. Syria's third largest city is now mainly inhabited mainly by Alawites (President Bashar al Assad's tribe) and Sunnis.

There are some Orthodox priests and a few clergy and religious from other denominations remaining in the city. On Monday, the US Embassy in Damascus closed and the ambassadors of Great Britain, Italy and France also left.

The feeling here is that events can worsen at any moment", the source said.

Source: MISNA