Lebanon's Christians mark a sombre Assumption amid conflict and fear

Lebanon's Christians mark a sombre Assumption amid conflict and fear

By Mohammed Aty and Riham Alkousaa

In Ain Ebel, a southern Lebanese village near the Israeli border, more than a thousand people gathered for a solemn procession to commemorate the Assumption of the Virgin Mary on Aug. 15.

With many Lebanese expats who usually flock to their home villages in summer staying away, and with the sounds of Israeli bombs echoing in the background, this year's celebration contrasted starkly to that of previous years.

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"This year, we find ourselves in a very sad situation. The town is empty, the roads are deserted, and many are afraid to come because of the constant threat of bombings," Imad Al-Lous, the head of Ain Ebel Municipality, told Reuters.

He said the once-vibrant celebration had been reduced to a modest affair with a limited procession through the town, accompanied by prayers and hymns.

"There is no joy among people at all," he said.

The mood in Ain Ebel reflects rising tensions among Lebanon's Christians, who had hoped their villages in the south would be spared from Israeli attacks.

These fears intensified after two Hezbollah fighters were killed and four civilians injured by an Israeli strike in the predominantly Christian village of Marjayoun on Wednesday, a precedent clashes in the south started last year, coinciding with Ain Ebel's Assumption celebrations.

The situation is exacerbating pre-existing sectarian divisions in Lebanon, with many Christians concerned that Iran-backed Hezbollah is drawing the country closer to a larger regional conflict with Israel.

On Thursday, Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Lebanon's top Christian cleric, urged peace in a sermon, saying the country’s stability is threatened by the dominance of a single group, hinting at Hezbollah's influence.

"A Lebanon of a single colour is not Lebanon. A Lebanon of a single party is not Lebanon. A Lebanon where a single opinion is imposed by an individual or a group is not Lebanon," Al-Rai said.

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Coinciding with the Assumption celebration, an anti-war protest is due to take place in central Beirut on Thursday evening, the first of its kind since Hezbollah began exchanging fire with Israeli forces across the Lebanese-Israeli frontier after the Hamas-Israel war started on Oct. 7.

According to the U.S. Department of State, Christians make up about 30.5% of Lebanon's population, comprising a diverse community that includes Maronite Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Melchite Catholics, and various smaller Protestant and Orthodox denominations.

In contrast, the mood in Faraya, a predominantly Maronite Christian town less than an hour drive from Beirut, was strikingly different. Teenagers partied to DJ's music on Wednesday evening celebrating the Assumption, while their parents enjoyed a semblance of normal life.

"Whether we are here ... or elsewhere outside the vibe of Beirut and the tension of Beirut, this is very important for children specially to feel safe," marketing manager Sally Accaoui, 40, told Reuters.

"Because when you feel this and live like this, you feel disconnected, as if there is hope, hope in a future for children in Lebanon," Accaoui said.