Christians in Syria mark first Sunday mass since Assad’s ouster [Video]

DAMASCUS, Syria –

In churches across long-stifled Syria, Christians marked the first Sunday services since the sudden collapse of Bashar Assad ‘s government in an air of transformation. Some were in tears, while others clasped their hands in prayer.

“They are promising us that government will be formed soon and, God willing, things will become better because we got rid of the tyrant,” said one worshiper, Jihad Raffoul.

“Today, our prayers are for a new page in Syria’s future,” said another, Suzan Barakat.

To help those efforts, the UN envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, called for a quick end to Western sanctions as the rebel alliance that ousted Assad and sent him into exile in Russia a week ago considers the way forward, along with regional and global powers.

Syria has been under deeply isolating sanctions by the United States, the European Union and others for years as a result of Assad’s brutal …