One year has passed since St. Elias Church in the Dweilaa district of Damascus, Syria, was bombed, killing at least 25 worshippers and injuring as many as over 100 people.
For many Syrian Christians, the terrorist attack became a defining moment that shook the community in a way not seen since the final years of the Ottoman Empire.
Speaking to ACI MENA, EWTN News' Arabic-language news service, Father Yohanna Shahada, pastor of St. Elias Church, recalled not only a year marked by grief, tears, and fear, but also one shaped by hope born of prayer, faith, and the solidarity of the Church's living stones, supporting one another through suffering.
One memory from the days immediately following the attack remains especially vivid in Shahada's mind. Rather than waiting to receive consolation, grieving families found themselves comforting the priests. Many of the wounded, despite their own pain, sought to encourage those serving the parish.
Shahada recalled one parishioner who underwent surgery on his leg. When the priest asked how he was doing, the man replied: "Father, as long as you are standing, we are well."
The bombing revived memories of war, destruction, and fear that many had spent years trying to overcome, Shahada said. Even today, concerns about the future and the possibility of another attack remain present among many families.
The families of victims of the church bombing faced not only the emotional pain of losing loved ones but also significant financial hardship, as many of those killed were the primary breadwinners for their households.
According to Shahada, approximately 150 people were injured in the attack. Their injuries ranged from minor to moderate, with some requiring surgery and others suffering life-altering wounds that resulted in the loss of a limb.
The priest emphasized that from the first moments after the bombing, Greek Orthodox Patriarch John X Yazigi closely followed developments and directed efforts to provide emergency assistance, hospital care, medication, and the medical treatment needed by the injured.
Shahada also praised the work of the Church's Department of Ecumenical Relations, which organized individual and group psychological support sessions. He highlighted the contributions of Church institutions and charitable organizations, including Caritas and the St. Ephrem Organization, as well as numerous community initiatives that stood beside affected families during their time of need.
Continuing support
The months following the attack were marked by sustained efforts to address urgent needs and help families rebuild their lives, Shahada said. These initiatives included assisting people in finding employment, supporting small business projects, and helping cover educational expenses for children from affected households whenever possible.
"No assistance can replace the loss of a loved one," he said. "But these efforts are a tangible expression of the Church's commitment to its people and its determination not to leave them alone in their suffering."
Reflecting on the spiritual dimension of the tragedy, Shahada said the experience, despite the evil and pain it brought, ultimately deepened many people's relationship with the Church and strengthened their appreciation for prayer and hope.
"The miracles we need are not born from anger or hatred," he said. "Those only deepen divisions. Prayer for those who harm us, however, opens the door to true transformation."
He pointed to the conversion of St. Paul on the road to Damascus as an example of such transformation. Evil, he said, resembles thorns that grow and spread on their own, while a field of wheat requires patience, effort, and constant care to bear fruit.
Looking back, Shahada noted that although the bombing itself lasted only seconds, the restoration of the church has taken more than a year because every part of the building sustained damage.
He expressed hope that the faithful will be able to celebrate the rededication of St. Elias Church next autumn.
This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
