Palestinian Christians Lament as Gaza’s Christian Heritage is Ravaged by War
As former U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to resume office, Palestinians like Khalil Sayegh are left reflecting on the devastation facing Gaza’s Christian community after a relentless year of conflict. Now 29 and living in Washington, D.C., Sayegh recalls his youth in Gaza, particularly the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius, which once stood as a spiritual and cultural hub for Gaza’s Christians.
Sayegh's memories are filled with vivid images of weddings, music lessons, and Sunday School gatherings at St. Porphyrius. Today, much of what he remembers has been reduced to rubble amid continued Israeli airstrikes and ground offensives that have targeted Gaza for over 13 months. As Trump returns to office following a victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, many Palestinians brace for heightened uncertainty, fearing even less accountability for Israel’s actions.
For Palestinians within Gaza and abroad, frustration has been mounting. The Biden administration’s unwavering military support for Israel has been met with anger, especially as the Democratic Party refrained from pressuring Israel over its tactics. Since the escalation began, over 43,000 Palestinians have been killed, while thousands remain missing under debris. Nearly the entire population of Gaza, over 2.3 million people, has been displaced, with schools, hospitals, and residential buildings severely impacted by the strikes.
Amid this turmoil, Sayegh finds solace in memories of his childhood. He recalls the Divine Liturgy celebrated at St. Porphyrius every Sunday—a powerful, ancient ritual with prayers in both Arabic and Greek. This church, with parts dating back to the 5th century, was a cornerstone of Gaza’s Christian heritage and a refuge for hundreds of Christians and Muslims alike.
In October of last year, tragedy struck when an Israeli airstrike hit the church’s compound, killing at least 17 people. About 400 Palestinians had sought shelter there, hoping the site would be spared in the bombing of the surrounding area.
For Gaza’s Christian community, the war has brought irreparable loss, both to its people and its heritage. As conflict rages on, Palestinian Christians like Sayegh continue to watch their homeland from afar, clinging to memories of a more peaceful time in a place now struggling to survive.