Cyprus will provide financial support in 2026 to Christian communities, Orthodox churches, and monasteries across the Middle East, aiming to help preserve ancient holy sites, sustain church life, and support people facing difficult circumstances.

According to Cyprus’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the programs will be implemented under the work of the Republic’s special representative on religious freedom and the protection of minorities in the Middle East. Funding will be directed to church and community organizations in Palestine, Syria, Jordan, and other countries in the region.

One of the largest initiatives will be a grant of €150,000 to the Jerusalem Orthodox Church to support the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza. The funding will go toward repairs of the historic church, the development of social and educational programs, the creation of new school facilities, and daily assistance for children.

The Church of Saint Porphyrius is among the oldest Orthodox churches in Palestine. Located in the old city of Gaza, it has long served as a spiritual center for the local Orthodox community. In recent years, the church has also been a shelter for civilians affected by the ongoing conflict.

An additional €20,000 will be provided to Cypriot monks of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, who serve at holy sites of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church. Recipients include monks serving at the Basilica of the Nativity of Christ in Bethlehem, the Monastery of Venerable Gerasimos of the Jordan, and the Monastery of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple in Bethany.

These monasteries are described as some of the most important Christian shrines of the Holy Land. The Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem is built over the site revered as the birthplace of the Savior. The Monastery of Saint Gerasimos lies near the Jordan River and is linked to an ancient monastic tradition in Palestine. The Bethany monastery is located close to places associated with Christ’s earthly life and the remembrance of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary.

Cyprus will also allocate €100,000 to the Patriarchate of Antioch and its humanitarian structures to restore a primary school in the Syrian province of Hama. The school educates children from different religious communities, including Christians.

The aid is intended to help residents return to normal life, strengthen local communities, and create conditions for people displaced from their homes to return.

In addition, €48,000 will be distributed among church and monastic institutions in Syria. Among the recipients are the Armenian churches of Damascus and Aleppo, structures of the Patriarchate of Antioch, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo and Alexandretta, the Monastery of Saint Thecla in Maaloula, the Orthodox Monastery of Sednaya, and other Christian communities.

The funds will be used for essential needs, including food, drinking water, medicine, basic supplies, and care for elderly people and children.

The Monastery of Saint Thecla in Maaloula and the Monastery of Sednaya are among Syria’s best-known Christian shrines. Maaloula is one of the few places in the world where the Western Aramaic language—close to the tongue spoken in early Christian times—remains in use. The Monastery of Saint Thecla is tied to the memory of one of the early Christian ascetics, while Sednaya is considered one of the oldest centers of Orthodox monasticism in the Middle East.

As part of the same program, Cyprus will support the Orthodox medical clinic of Saint Luke in Jordan, operated with the Greek Orthodox community in Amman. The funding will be used to purchase medical equipment.

The aid will also go to the Armenian Church in Amman, under the Armenian Jerusalem Patriarchate, for the restoration of the Church of Saint Carpus on the banks of the Jordan River.

Cypriot authorities said the projects are meant not only to assist religious organizations, but also to preserve the Middle East’s centuries-old Christian heritage.

“The historical character and rich religious heritage of the region need protection,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in its statement.

For centuries, Orthodox churches, monasteries, and church communities in the Middle East have played a major role not only in worship, but also in social support—often running schools, medical facilities, charitable centers, and assistance programs for those in need.

Cyprus’s support was presented as part of broader international efforts to safeguard ancient Christian communities and provide help to people for whom the church remains a center of both spiritual and social life.