ICC Note: On Monday night, the Syrian government declared an end to the week-long ceasefire in the Middle Eastern country, much to distress of Christians in Aleppo. The city once full of Christians is now a burning heap of rubble with little left to keep the faith. On Sunday, the church of Aleppo was full of the faithful praying for the continuation of peace, but now their hopes have been dashed again and their faith tested.

09/21/2016 Syria (Christian Post): Christians in Aleppo are trying to keep the faith amid news that the ceasefire in Syria has already ended, Bishop George Abu Khazen said on Monday.

On Sunday, the faithful celebrated a mass of thanksgiving for the canonization of Mother Teresa. “The church was full, the bishops and faithful of all the churches in Aleppo were present. As pastors, we are comforted by the sight of so many Christians who live the tremendous moment we are going through in faith,” said Khazen, Apostolic Vicar of Aleppo for the Catholics of the Latin rite, to Fides News Agency.

“I get emotional when I think that thanks to their faith the Lord will bless us and give us His peace.”

Christians, who make up around 10 percent of the population in Syria, have suffered greatly along with other civilians, and have been forced to leave their homes by the masses.

The U.N. has said that it is suspending its aid convoys into Syria after warplanes near Aleppo destroyed 18 of its 31 trucks. The convoys had been carrying wheat, winter clothes, and medical supplies, seeking to provide some humanitarian relief to the millions of Syrian citizens trapped in the civil war.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that the attack was carried out by either Syrian or Russian aircraft, with the U.S. arguing that both sides had previous knowledge about the relief trucks and were cautioned not to strike them.

“The destination of this convoy was known to the Syrian regime and the Russian Federation,” U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

“And yet these aid workers were killed in their attempt to provide relief to the Syrian people,” he added.

USA Today reported Monday night that the Syrian government has declared an end to the week-old cease-fire brokered by Russia and the U.S., though Kerry insisted that it is too soon to make such a declaration.

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