Five Italian nuns living in a monastery in western Syria are refusing to be driven out by the bloody civil war in that country and their presence has become a beacon of hope for both Christians and Muslims whose lives have been torn apart by the fighting.

Ilsussidiraio.net is reporting that the five sisters, who founded a Benedictine monastery located between Homs and Tartous in western Syria, have been living in the area for eight years and refuse to be put out by Syria’s civil war which broke out in March 2011. Since the beginning of the conflict, 30,000 people have died and almost a million forced out of their homes. An estimated 200,000 have fled to neighboring countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan – but the five sisters were not among that number.

“Our trust in man comes from Christian hope and it is stronger than all the horrors,” Sister Monica wrote in letters that were translated by Asia News. “Christians are called to bear witness to it in the world. Since we have been called to Syria, why leave?”

By staying, they remain a tangible sign of hope. “A place where God is worshiped in his real presence, both Eucharistic and Ecclesial, through prayers and brotherly communion, is a blessing for all.”

But it has been difficult for their neighbors who are discouraged by the years-long fighting. The population is mostly Shiite Muslim but there are also some Sunni and Alawites, people with whom the sisters have built relationships over the years.

“In fact, the bulk of the problems have arisen recently,” one of the sisters said during an interview with Ilsussidiraio.  “Up until two years ago, for centuries the citizens of different religions were accustomed to live in peace, in friendship, closeness and cooperation, without worrying too much whether one was Muslim or Christian . . .”

But things changed when the war began.

” . . . (F)or the first time, the rebels have brought out in the minds of the people a feeling of hostility toward religious and ethnic groups other than their own, precipitating things,” the sisters said. “The simple people, the normal people among whom we live, now began to look on each other with suspicion, whereas until recently they had lived in complete harmony.”

The Church is well-versed on what can happen when war interrupts formerly peaceful relationships as are the sisters who claim they are following the example of the seven Trappist monks of Tibhirine, Algeria who were kidnapped and murdered by Islamic extremists in May, 1996.

Since the conflict began in Syria, Islamic extremists of Al Jabat Nusra have kidnapped two priests and two bishops.

“The country has become a battleground for adversaries that are bigger than Syria, people who came to fight in this land and this people to settle their own conflicts,” one of the sisters wrote.

But that hasn’t made them shut their doors. In fact, some of the young people from the surrounding area have begun turning to the nuns to help them think, grow and reflect.

“We are simply here, open and available, according to our Rule,” the sisters said in the interview. “We will have to see what happens.; in the present state of tings one cannot make predictions, but it is our intent to stay close to the population, and they are grateful for the fact that we have not moved.”

The sisters are asking for our prayers.

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