It’s bath time in Damascus, Syria. Public bath time.

At Hammam Bakri, Syrian men in towels lie on a scalding marble floor. They get a soapy massage and a wash in hot water. The soothing smell of dried flowers and herbs fills the air.

Public bathhouses like this are called Hammamat. Hammamat are part of an old tradition in Syria. During modern times, though, most Syrians started taking baths at home.

But now many can’t. Syria is torn apart by war. Electricity in many places has been cut off, right in the middle of a very cold winter. Fuel prices soar. Many have barely enough power to heat water at home. Almost no one can afford a generator. So Syrians head out to the few remaining bathhouses in cities like Damascus, Homs, and Aleppo.

A bathhouse trip costs 10,000 lira. That’s less than $3. Customers get to use towels. They receive a loofah and a piece of traditional olive oil soap for their scrub in a steamy room. Arabic music plays in the background.

“Having a hot shower is very different than having cold showers, especially in these temperatures,” says Husam Hamami, the bathhouse manager. He says many people are coming into the bathhouse once per week.

Syrians have now faced civil war for 11 years. Remember to pray for them.

I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people. — 1 Timothy 2:1