Patriarch Daniel conveyed a message of condolences and compassion upon hearing the news of the terrorist attack that took place in Damascus. His Beatitude emphasized that the attack undermines both religious and human values.
As a result of the tragic event, 22 people lost their lives, and many other faithful, who were inside the Orthodox Church of “Saint Prophet Elijah” in Syria, were seriously injured.
His Beatitude John X,
Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
Your Beatitude,
It is with deep sorrow that we received the news about the terrorist attack that took place on Sunday evening, 22 June 2025, inside Mar Elias Orthodox Church in Damascus, Syria, killing 22 people and wounding many others.
This act of violence that killed so many innocent worshippers contradicts the sacred gift of life and undermines the core religious and human values of compassion, peace, and dignity.
We pray to our Most-Compassionate God to rest in His peace the souls of the departed, to grant swift recovery to the wounded ones, and consolation to the grieving families of the victims and to the entire Syrian Orthodox community during this time of immense suffering.
With brotherly love in Christ the Lord,
† Daniel
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Foto credit: Facebook / Antioch Patriarchate
