At least 25 people were killed in the attack on the Greek Orthodox Church of St Elias, Damascus, just over a year ago. The church has since been restored and now stands as a symbol of the resilience and determination of Christians in Syria.
Damascus, 22 June 2026 — A year ago, on 22 June 2025, a terrorist attack took place at the Greek Orthodox Church of St Elias in the Syrian capital, Damascus. At least 25 people were killed and around 50 were injured or seriously injured. According to other reports, the final death toll was actually at least 30, with up to 90 people injured. There have been no similar attacks in Syria since then, but the situation for the country’s smaller religious communities remains precarious.
The Syrian authorities attributed the attack to “Islamic State”. According to official reports, an attacker entered the church during a service, opened fire on the worshippers and detonated an explosive belt. This resulted in numerous casualties and caused extensive damage to the interior of the church.
Read the full article (in Dutch) on our Platform Oosters Christendom.
