We make our way to the front of the convent, where women in their Sunday best, girls in skimpy mini-skirts and sequin-spangled scarves, boys in tight jeans and leather jackets, and men in suits and ties are zig-zagging their way down flights of stone steps with black iron railings decorated with crosses. We pause until the flow subsides before climbing to a landing, where the priest awaits us.
Fr George Nijmeh is a portly, balding man wearing a black pullover with sparkly threads over his cassock.
He echoes the words of Mansour: “The Virgin Mary protected us. Today’s service had many more people than previous prayers. Prayer is among the weapons protecting us and driving away the black cloud hanging over Syria.”
He adds: “We should not have fighting in Syria but there are lots of interests who seek to sabotage our country….”
Lord have mercy!