SYRIA: At least 20 killed in suicide attack at Damascus church
More than 20 people were killed and dozens more injured in an explosion at a church in the Syrian capital yesterday (Sunday, 22nd June) during an evening service.
The attacker fired at worshippers before detonating his suicide vest in the Greek Orthodox Church of St Elias in Damascus’ Dweila district, according to local reports.
The Antiochian Greek Orthodox Patriarchate released a statement after the attack, saying: “On the day our Antiochian Church commemorates all the Antiochian saints, the treacherous hand of evil struck this evening, claiming our lives along with the lives of our loved ones who fell today as martyrs…
“As we continue to count the martyrs and wounded and to gather the remains and bodies of our martyred loved ones – whose exact number we have yet to determine – the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East strongly condemns this heinous act and denounces in the strongest terms this horrific crime.”
Regina Lynch, Executive President at Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), said: “We are deeply shocked by this tragic and senseless act of violence.
“Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the entire Christian community in Syria.”
Ms Lynch added: “We stand in full solidarity with our brothers and sisters in faith, and we echo the urgent call of His Beatitude Patriarch John X to protect places of worship and to put an end any cycle of violence.”
The Patriarchate called on Syrian authorities “to assume full responsibility for what has occurred and continues to occur in terms of violations of the sanctity of churches, and to ensure the protection of all citizens.
“His Beatitude Patriarch John X follows what is happening personally from the first moment.
“It is conducting its local and regional contacts to convey the dark image from Damascus to the whole world. It calls for action to stop these massacres.”
The statement concluded: “We pray for the repose of the souls of the martyrs, for the healing of the wounded, and for the comfort of our people.
“We also affirm our steadfastness in faith and, through that steadfastness, our rejection of all fear and terror.
“We ask Christ our God to guide the ship of our salvation amid the storms of this world – He who is blessed forever.”
ACN is supporting Christian communities in Syria – including the Antiochian Greek Orthodox Church – through emergency and pastoral aid programmes.