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Assad Makes Surprise Christmas Visit to Damascus [Catholic] Church (PHOTOS)
RT ^ | 12/19/15

Posted on 12/21/2015 12:02:18 PM PST by marshmallow

A Christmas choir had a surprise visitor overnight after Bashar Assad made an appearance at a church in the Syrian capital of Damascus where rehearsals were taking place.

The Syrian president and his wife, Asma, visited the Notre Dame de Damas Church, an ancient cathedral located just 2 kilometers from the rebel-held neighborhood of Jobar in the eastern suburb of Ghouta in Damascus.

Assad and his wife chatted with the men and women of the "Joy Choir," who were practicing ahead of a performance on Christmas Eve, state media said Saturday.

The couple were seen smiling and posing for pictures with the group and also listened to the recital of Christmas poems at the church, which was hit by mortar fire on Friday.


(Excerpt) Read more at rt.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Islam; Religion & Culture
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1 posted on 12/21/2015 12:02:18 PM PST by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow

Rumors have it Assad is a closet Christian.


2 posted on 12/21/2015 12:06:36 PM PST by Enlightened1
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To: marshmallow

Hardly looks like a monomaniacal Islamic nutcase to me...


3 posted on 12/21/2015 12:06:46 PM PST by Timber Rattler ("To hold a pen is to be at war." --Voltaire)
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To: marshmallow

Obviously a PR stunt but, as bad as he is, he probably has done more for Middle Eastern Christians than the Obama Administration.


4 posted on 12/21/2015 12:07:19 PM PST by Opinionated Blowhard ("When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.")
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To: Timber Rattler

He’s your standard issue Middle East strongman. He’s bad alright. But if he falls what comes after would be far, far worse.

L


5 posted on 12/21/2015 12:08:10 PM PST by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.)
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To: Opinionated Blowhard

Considering he owes his skin to the Russians, I hope that he will be even more friendly to the Christian minority in Syria.


6 posted on 12/21/2015 12:08:38 PM PST by dschapin
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To: marshmallow

I like this guy. I mean, he’s harder on the muslim terrorists than Barky over here is. Also if ISIS is against him, I guess that makes me pro-Assad.


7 posted on 12/21/2015 12:11:04 PM PST by chae (The Lannisters send their regards--Game of Thrones)
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To: marshmallow

Assad needs to learn that “the future does not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam” Geez, no wonder Assad has to be removed.


8 posted on 12/21/2015 12:18:36 PM PST by STJPII
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To: Enlightened1

“umors have it Assad is a closet Christian.”

Baloney. Assad is Alawite, a sect of Shia.

The Christian minority in Syria has always been close to the Alawite and Assad out of mutual protection and alliance, not theology. Assad trusts the Christians because he knows they have no power base and need his protection. Similarly, Assad is a megalomaniac, but not a religious whack job, and the Syrian Christians give him support.


9 posted on 12/21/2015 12:31:12 PM PST by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem)
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To: marshmallow

Wonderful. Another murderer performing PR stunts with the local church.


10 posted on 12/21/2015 12:34:59 PM PST by bkopto
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To: Opinionated Blowhard
Obviously a PR stunt but, as bad as he is, he probably has done more for Middle Eastern Christians than the Obama Administration.

Good call.

11 posted on 12/21/2015 12:39:48 PM PST by cloudmountain
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To: Jewbacca

How Assad a megalomaniac? Why because he will not let the Saudi Arabian build a pipeline through Syria?

Whatever be your reasons I rather see Assad there than ISIS.

The U.S. should Allie with Syria and Russia to finish off ISIS.


12 posted on 12/21/2015 12:43:47 PM PST by Enlightened1
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To: Timber Rattler
The ME strongman assessment is correct. He's mean as he needs to be to those that threaten him . Christians probably back him, so I doubt he needs to be a badass to them.
13 posted on 12/21/2015 12:50:36 PM PST by miliantnutcase
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To: Enlightened1

“Rumors have it Assad is a closet Christian.”

No. He’s an Alawite. He doesn’t believe there is any reason to be a Christian since he already believes he has all the good things Christianity has to offer as an Alawite. Muslims are more likely to become Christians than Alawites are.


14 posted on 12/21/2015 1:08:58 PM PST by vladimir998 (Apparently I'm still living in your head rent free. At least now it isn't empty.)
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To: STJPII

Oh, that false religion?


15 posted on 12/21/2015 1:28:11 PM PST by Biggirl ("One Lord, one faith, one baptism" - Ephesians 4:5)
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To: STJPII

Good point.


16 posted on 12/21/2015 1:30:57 PM PST by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51. Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: dschapin

Bigtime owes.


17 posted on 12/21/2015 1:31:02 PM PST by Biggirl ("One Lord, one faith, one baptism" - Ephesians 4:5)
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To: Enlightened1

I don’t disagree that Assad is probably better than Isis.

Be like saying AIDS is better than pancreatic cancer, though.

Neither is great.


18 posted on 12/21/2015 1:47:01 PM PST by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem)
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To: Timber Rattler

Remember that the Assad family are themselves part of a religious minority, Muslim but not Sunni, the Alawi and they have always been protective of other such groups including the various Christian communities in Syria. That doesn’t mean they’re nice people. Their main means of staying in power has been to run a police state the Stasi would envy and ruthlessly eliminate any opposition before it could get started. That principle opposition is the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood, the same radicals that overthrew Mubarak in Egypt and whose main beach head in the USA is at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.


19 posted on 12/21/2015 2:00:23 PM PST by katana (Just my opinion)
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To: Enlightened1

That explains why Obama hates him..Catholic


20 posted on 12/21/2015 2:39:16 PM PST by nobamanomore
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