Damascus: Syrian Christians marked Christmas Eve services on Tuesday for the first time since the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad earlier in December, testing the new Islamist rulers' promises to protect religious minorities.

The service took place under heavy security due to fears of potential violence against Christian sites. Several pickup trucks belonging to the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which now holds power, were parked near the church.

At the Lady of Damascus Church in the capital, the pews were filled with a diverse congregation of both young and old, holding candles as hymns echoed through the building. Earlier in the day, hundreds of protesters gathered in Damascus to condemn the burning of a Christmas tree in the northern Hama governorate, in western-central Syria.

Protesters carried wooden crosses, chanting "We are your soldiers, Jesus," "With blood and soul, we sacrifice for Jesus," and "The Syrian people are one." Laila Farkouh, a protester, expressed her outrage: "We are protesting to demand our rights and denounce... The burning of the Christmas tree and attacks on churches... We do not accept this."

HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, who now governs much of Syria, has assured Christians and other minority groups that they will be safe under his rule. Despite his past affiliation with the al-Qaeda-linked group, which historically viewed Christians as infidels, Sharaa has transitioned to a more diplomatic appearance, now often seen in business suits. He has reassured Western officials that HTS will not seek revenge against the Assad regime, nor will they persecute religious minorities.

However, many Christians remain unconvinced by these promises. The Christmas tree burning was one of several troubling incidents targeting Christians since the regime's fall. On December 18, gunmen opened fire on a Greek Orthodox church in Hama, attempting to destroy a cross and vandalizing the cemetery. Additionally, several SUVs were seen in the Bab Touma district, a predominantly Christian area of Damascus, blasting jihadist music.