Father Spyridon Tanous- the commissioner of the Genuine Greek Orthodox Church to Syria- Addressed Syrians via an audio recording on his X page, explaining the phase following the era of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham—which he described as a failure:
“Fellow Syrians… From time to time, I address you to share what reaches us
and to discuss the expected stages of developments in Syria.
Today, I will tell you the truth about the transitional governing body—which is slated to be formed.
To begin, let me address those who attempt to trivialize information, redirect the narrative,
and employ despicable tactics to make us afraid, silent, and withdrawn.
Yet, we confronted the Assad regime and its allies; we did not yield to any of Assad’s intimidation attempts—
driven by our belief in the right of Syrians to live with dignity and to practice political, social, and religious democracy.
Let me reiterate: anyone who thinks they can sideline the Church—or its priests and bishops—from public affairs
is ignorant in every sense of the word. Throughout history and up to the present day,
the Church has held a significant position and role regarding local, regional, and international decisions—
from the Catholic Vatican to the Orthodox Patriarchates.
The Church and the clergy play a major role in politics.
Now, I will move to the heart of the matter.
The Church—including its community outside Syria, which encompasses politicians—
maintains relationships and connections unknown to many.
Within the Church, we strive to influence the amendment of decisions or to mitigate their impact on the people.
Regarding Syrian affairs, we have succeeded over the years in building relationships with numerous parties and influential forces.
That is why, when I leak information, it is…” It is founded on specific principles and objectives.
Foremost among them is alerting people to current events, what is being plotted behind the scenes, and what is likely to happen next, so that they may be prepared for any contingency.
Naturally, we often cannot halt these agendas, but we can influence them; our role is to speak out and ensure people are ready for any potential shock.
We do not hold political office—that is not our role—though there are individuals in political positions who are affiliated with the Church.
The message I wish to convey to you today is this: you must exercise the utmost caution and prepare for impending crises.
As you recall, I shared certain information at the beginning of the year.
Today, there are updates to that information.
For some time now, work has been underway to form a transitional governing body, and several names have been proposed for inclusion.
However, the process is not straightforward due to the presence of conflicting religious and political factions.
Nevertheless, the formation process is proceeding seriously.
The crucial point is that the transitional phase will commence with the announcement of this transitional governing body, which will then call for a national conference to begin drafting a constitution for the country.
What is our mission? We will assist in establishing local bodies within Syria—capable of representing the people—in preparation for the new constitution.
We will provide all the accurate information these newly formed local bodies need to navigate this phase effectively.
It is important to avoid the illusions circulating elsewhere and instead focus on how to participate in the national conference and the drafting of the constitution.
I will not discuss Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham or the current ruling group, as I do not wish to distract from the main issue.
However, what we must understand is that Syria is currently in a situation… It is a difficult and highly delicate situation.
If you wish to protect your communities, you must work with the upcoming transitional governing body and play an active role in the National Conference; this is the crucial prerequisite for securing support.
There is currently no avenue for support during this interim phase; assistance will only arrive once the genuine transitional period begins.
Much of what is discussed on public platforms strays from the truth, as it is often based on speculation or linked to the agendas of the failed incumbent authority.
You must maintain independent thinking to play a role in the coming phase—a period that will be among the most challenging, akin to the pains of childbirth.
I offer you all my love and prayers for success in transitioning to the era that follows Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
