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Dear Faithful of St. Christopher Church,
This past Sunday in a village on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, a suicide bomber entered the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church during the Divine Liturgy and detonated his explosive vest, murdering twenty-two people and injuring another 63.
We grieve for the loss of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us pray the health and welfare of their family members and the survivors for God’s peace and mercy.
I share three items to inform and assist us as we pray: 1) the Statement from the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, 2) the Statement from His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, and 3) a Prayer for Peace from International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) that we can pray with our families.
May the memory of those who were killed be eternal.
Faithfully yours,
+Fr. George Tsahakis
Suicide Bomber Murders 22 Greek Orthodox Christians during the Divine Liturgy
June 23, 2025
Dear Brother Archons and Friends of the Ecumenical Patriarchate:
An unspeakable atrocity took place on Sunday, June 22, 2025 in Dweila, a village on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria. A suicide bomber entered the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church during the Divine Liturgy and detonated his explosive vest, murdering twenty-two people and injuring another 63.
According to Noureddine Al-Baba, a spokesman for the Syrian Interior Ministry, the attacker was linked the Islamic State terrorist group, which several years ago controlled large swaths of Syria.
In a phone conversation with His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressed, “on behalf of the Holy Church of Christ the Great and himself personally, his intense concern for the situation of the Hierarchy, the clergy and the people of the historic Church of Antioch, and his absolute support for it, for its safety and stability.”
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East issued a statement, saying that “on this day when our Antiochian Church commemorates All the Saints of Antioch, the treacherous hand of evil struck this evening, claiming our lives, along with the lives of our loved ones who fell today as martyrs during the evening Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Prophet Elias in Dweilaa, Damascus.”
The Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East stated that it “strongly condemns this heinous act and denounces, in the strongest terms, this horrific crime. It calls upon the responsible authorities to assume full responsibility for what has happened and continues to happen in terms of violation against the sanctity of churches, and to ensure the protection of all citizens.”
The tragedy in Dweila on Sunday is just the latest example of the deteriorating situation for Christians in the homeland of Saints John Chrysostom, John of Damascus, Ignatius of Antioch, and so many others. We urgently beseech the United Nations and all relevant international human rights organizations to move quickly to protect the Christians of Syria. Above all, let us join His All-Holiness and His Beatitude in fervent prayer for the suffering Christians of this afflicted land.
Yours in the service of the Holy Mother Church,
Anthony J. Limberakis, MD
Archon Megas Aktouarios
National CommanderStatement of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America on
Terrorist Attack on Greek Orthodox Church of the Prophet Elias (Mar Elias)
in Syria
The ongoing tragedy of human existence and the relentless violence in the Middle East has reached into our own community. On June 22, 2025, during Divine Liturgy at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Prophet Elias (Mar Elias), on the outskirts of Damascus, a suicide bomber opened fire before detonating an explosive vest, killing at least 22 faithful and injuring dozens more.
War has become the standard recourse, and we too often become desensitized—only stirred when tragedy speaks our own language. Yet, in Christ, every life is “our own.”
As we lift up in prayer the souls of those who perished in this horrific Mar Elias Church attack, we also remember all who have lost their lives in this intensifying conflict. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). May this sacred promise guide our hearts beyond the boundaries of geography and creed, toward mercy, reconciliation, and true peace.
We are joining our Ecumenical Patriarchate Bartholomew in offering our condolences to His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch.
We also join all voices calling for an end to violence and a restoration of hope. We pray for respite for the grieving, healing for the wounded, and divine courage for those who labor for peace. In solidarity and love, we affirm that every life matters and every prayer is a step toward God’s peace on earth.
Prayer for Peace (from IOCC)
Lord Jesus Christ, our God, who is the Source of life and peace in heaven and on earth, pour out the grace of your peace on a world troubled by war and hatred.
Extinguish the differences and enmity between humans and pour into the hearts of all humility, peace, and goodness. Calm the warriors and give them wisdom.
Give help to the suffering, protection to the refugees or homeless, comfort to the alienated and sorrowful, and give us all the will and strength to help, with all our hearts, our brothers and sisters who suffer from war.
You said: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Teach us to seek to acquire peace of heart and peace among peoples, for, in the heart in which peace is found, there is no longer enmity, love of dominion or fear, but the consolation of the Holy Spirit, love of God and love of our neighbors.For this we humbly pray to You, O Christ our God, for peace among people in every country, for peace among peoples, and for the welfare of the whole world, that we may live in harmony and may work without hindrance deeds pleasing to You, glorifying the philanthropic love of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.