Christians around the world are mourning a brutal and targeted attack that shattered the peace of Sunday worship in Syria. At least 20 people were killed and 52 others injured when a suicide bomber struck the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Damascus during the Divine Liturgy.
The attacker, reportedly a member of the so-called Islamic State, entered the Greek Orthodox church and opened fire on the faithful before detonating his explosive vest. “The assailant entered the church, opened fire on the faithful, and then detonated his explosive vest,” Syria’s Interior Ministry said in a statement, according to Syrian state media. The ministry also confirmed the attacker was wearing an explosive belt.
This tragic incident marks the first suicide bombing in Damascus since Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa deposed Bashar al-Assad and assumed office in January. The blast not only killed worshippers but also desecrated a sacred space. According to Bishop Moises Moussa El Khoury, auxiliary bishop of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, the attacker also “threw a grenade into the church,” adding to the devastation.
The Syrian civil defense group, known as the White Helmets, released video footage showing the interior destruction—shattered pews, broken masonry, and bloodied remnants of what should have been a solemn Sunday morning. The carnage is a painful reminder that Christians in the Middle East continue to suffer persecution and violence simply for practicing their faith.
“This cowardly act goes against the civic values that brings us together,” Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mostafa posted on X. “We will not back down from our commitment to equal citizenship… and we also affirm the state’s pledge to exert all its efforts to combat criminal organizations and to protect society from all attacks threatening its safety.”
The Greek Foreign Ministry also condemned the bombing, calling it an “abhorrent terrorist suicide bombing.” Their official statement urged the Syrian transitional government to take concrete action: “We demand that the Syrian transitional authorities take immediate action to hold those involved accountable and implement measures to guarantee the safety of Christian communities and all religious groups, allowing them to live without fear.”
For Catholics, the suffering of our Christian brothers and sisters in Syria is not a distant tragedy but a call to deeper solidarity and prayer. These are men, women, and children who gathered to worship Christ—who were met instead by hatred and death.
As people of faith, we are reminded that martyrdom did not end in the early Church. It continues today, in churches like Mar Elias, where the faithful still gather despite the risk. Let us pray for the souls of the departed, for healing of the wounded, and for strength and protection for the Christian community in Syria. May their witness awaken in us a greater love for the faith we too often take for granted.
