Assembly of Bishops Condemns Terror Attack in Syria

24 June 2025 — The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America has issued a statement condemning the June 22, 2025, terrorist attack on Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Dweil’a, Damascus, where at least 25 Orthodox Christians were killed and more than 60 were wounded during the Divine Liturgy.

Calling the attack “a cowardly display of extremism,” the bishops mourned the loss of life and expressed deep sorrow for the suffering of the faithful affected by the bombing. The Assembly emphasized that violence committed in the name of religion is a crime not only against the specific faith targeted, but against all religions and God Himself.

“We promulgate the sentiment that violence in the name of any religion is violence against all religions and God Himself,” the bishops wrote, echoing the shared stance of religious leaders worldwide who have denounced religiously motivated violence.

The Assembly offered fervent prayers for the Mar Elias community, asking for the full recovery—physical, spiritual, and mental—of the survivors. For the departed, the bishops prayed that they rest in peace, “in the bosom of Abraham, in a place of light, in a place of green pasture, in a place of refreshment, from where pain, sorrow, and sighing have fled away.”

Reaffirming their long-standing position on peace, the bishops concluded by reiterating a statement from their 2024 annual meeting: “Violence can never solve violence, and peace should be pursued at all costs.”

The Assembly’s statement stands as a call for Orthodox unity and a rejection of terrorism, emphasizing the need for solidarity and steadfastness in the face of attacks against the Church.

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