One year later: The Syrian church attack

In just an instant on June 22, 2025, a sacred place of peace became a scene of unfathomable grief. A brutal terrorist attack claimed the lives of 22 faithful people and left over 150 injured at St. Elias Church in Damascus, the capital of Syria.

The attack happened on a quiet Sunday afternoon; the congregation was gathered in deep prayer. In the middle of a service, an attacker stormed the churchyard, opened fire on innocent people before entering the sanctuary and exploded a bomb, killing himself and others.

Yet, amid the ashes, stories of unextinguishable faith have begun to emerge.

Elias, a survivor of the attack, lost his two brothers, his sister, and four cousins on that devastating day. He also sustained severe leg injuries that left him with a lifelong disability. Despite his physical and emotional agony, he found a supernatural strength in the Word of God. One year on, we spoke with Elias about the event and how God is still working.



“Every night I open the Bible, and every day I find a word that brings me comfort,” he shares. “It is a big loss, and we will carry the memories of our family with us every single day. But God gives us the faith to keep moving forward.”

Jenny, a young woman who lost her father in the bombing, echoes this heavy but hopeful sentiment. She has found solace through her faith and the community surrounding her.

“I miss my dad every single day,” Jenny says softly. “I am not fully healed after losing him, but I am trying. With faith, I know I will overcome this.”

Even the youngest hearts are trying to process the tragedy. Ten-year-old Elie is just beginning to understand the weight of what happened. With the innocent clarity of a child, he says: “Jesus performed a miracle in His own way. He saved us because He is with us. I am not afraid, because I know He is by my side.”

Though Elie holds onto his faith, the trauma is deep, and he is still not ready to step back inside the church building. He is not alone. For so many in the community, the psychological wounds remain open. While some have bravely returned to the pews, some have stopped attending, waiting for their hearts and minds to heal.

This is why Open Doors partners in Syria have formed a counseling team in Damascus to help families like Elias’, walking alongside a group of 20 women and six children, guiding them through dedicated therapy sessions. It is a sacred journey of healing, helping them process their trauma, rebuild their lives and stand firm in their faith.
 
To date, Syrian counseling schools have produced 60 graduates, strengthening the church remnant as they bring professional support to traumatized believers. These counselors are helping God’s people heal from the wounds of the church attack, seeking to bring good what humans intended for evil (Genesis 50:20).

St. Elias was once these believers’ ultimate sanctuary, a haven where they played, prayed and celebrated life together. Today, the physical building is broken, and the community's sense of safety is shattered. Yet, quietly and persistently, everyone is searching for a way back home.

Pray that they may once again enter their churches without fear, finding safety in their places of worship. Pray for the protection and emotional healing of the children, so they may grow up in safety, rooted in a vibrant, peaceful Christian life.

If you’d like to help Christians in Syria and around the world know they aren’t alone, you can give a gift to Open Doors. Your gift can help strengthen faith, bringing hope and healing to Christians all over the world who face violence and discrimination for their decision to follow Jesus.

• Every $30 could provide discipleship training to a new believer, helping them grow and flourish in their Christian community.
• Every $10 could give a Bible to a believer so that they can learn and grow from God's Word.
• Every $54 could give a Christian and their family vital support in times of crisis or extreme persecution.