By Patriarchate of Antioch-
Following the tragic terrorist attack at St. Elias Church in Dwel’a, Damascus, Patriarch John X of Antioch offered a solemn prayer service at the church. He was joined by Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II Karim of the Syriac Orthodox Church and Patriarch Youssef Absi of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, along with the heads of the churches in Damascus.
In a moment of profound grief, prayers were offered for the repose of the souls of the martyrs, healing for the wounded, and consolation for the bereaved families affected by the tragedy. After the service, Patriarch John X, accompanied by Patriarch Aphrem, visited the injured in hospitals, extending heartfelt wishes for their swift recovery.
The Patriarchate of Antioch mourns deeply the loss of its martyred children who gave their lives at the altar of martyrdom in the recent attack. A memorial service is scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 1:00 PM at the Church of the Holy Cross in Qassaa. Following the service, the bodies will be transferred to St. Elias Church in Dweilaa for further prayers before burial.
In a heartfelt message, Patriarch John X said: “With the saints and through our prayers, as mentioned by their Beatitudes, Holinesses, Bishops, and all the Fathers—and with you—may the Lord heal all. May He heal all those afflicted, all the sick who are here in the hospitals. Dearly beloved, tomorrow at one o’clock in the afternoon, we wish to inform you that the funeral prayers for our departed brethren—whom we lost yesterday—will be held. It will, of course, be a collective prayer at the Church of the Holy Cross, at one o’clock. We will all gather to offer prayers for the repose of their souls. Their prayer—and ours—is to the Lord: that He may have mercy on us, our country, and the whole world, and bring healing to all…
We hold fast to our great faith and cling to prayer, seeking the mercy of the Lord. And thus, we shall remain united… Our gathering today, and a special thanks for the presence of the blessed patriarchs from all the churches in Damascus—We are with you, beloved ones, and together we have prayed this prayer to bring comfort to everyone’s hearts… May the Lord protect you, strengthen you, grant you health, and say to you: Do not be afraid.”
In the wake of the tragedy, Patriarch John X received numerous condolence calls expressing solidarity and sympathy for the Patriarchate of Antioch. Notable figures offering condolences included: President of the Lebanese Republic, General Joseph Aoun, Former President of Lebanon, Michel Aoun, Greek Foreign Minister Georgios Gerapetritis, Greek Minister of Defense Nikolaos Georgios Dendias, Greek Minister of Education, Research, and Religious Affairs Kostas Gavroglou, Greek Ambassador to Damascus Emmanuel Kakavelakis, Deputy Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Elias Bou Saab, Deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon Dr. Tarek Mitri, Former Ministers Marwan Hamadeh and Faisal Karami
Additionally, messages of sympathy came from prominent religious leaders across the Orthodox Christian world, including: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa, Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine, Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II Karim of the Syriac Orthodox Church, Patriarch Youssef III Younan of the Syriac Catholic Church of Antioch, Patriarch Youssef Absi of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia.
The entire Orthodox community and beyond stand united in prayer, mourning, and support for the victims, their families, and the wider community impacted by this tragic event.
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