Arab Christians: The Forgotten Faithful

Followers of Jesus for 2,000 years are disappearing from the volatile land where their faith was born. (National Geographic)

Christians once dominated the Middle East from Syria to Egypt, but over time they’ve been reduced to small communities due to social, political and economic pressures.

For the most part Arab Christians are not embroiled in the main conflicts and live apart from the day-to-day struggles of the Middle East. They now make up about eight percent of the region’s population but their numbers are dwindling as young people leave for less volatile parts of the world.

This project by National Geographic combines video and still photographs to tell a multi-faceted story about identity. Narrated by celebrated photographer Ed Kashi, the story provides snapshots of Christian activities in the Middle East, including an elderly hermit in the hills of Lebanon, a Christian funeral in the West Bank and throngs of revelers celebrating Easter in Jerusalem.

CHANNEL: National Geographic

Length: 5:16

Photography and Video: Ed Kashi
Photo Editor: Gail Fisher
Photo Coordinator: Sherry Brukbacher
Senior Video Producer, Editor: Hans Weise

VIEW: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/video/player#/?titleID=arab-christians

SEE ALSO:

“The Forgotten Faithful”
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/06/arab-christians/belt-text

Photo Gallery
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/06/arab-christians/kashi-photography