“You know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
At around 5 p.m. on the 22nd (local time), a major terrorist attack took place at Mar Elias Church in the Dweilaa district of Damascus, Syria’s capital. A terrorist entered the church during worship, opened fire, and then detonated a suicide bomb. According to the Christian Post, at least 20 people were killed and over 50 were injured, with the number of casualties still rising.
The Syrian Ministry of Interior suggested the Islamic State (IS) may be behind the attack, although IS has not officially claimed responsibility. Around the same time, several other churches across Syria were also attacked. A suicide bombing occurred at the Dir Ibrahim Al-Khalil Monastery in Damascus, and an explosive device was found at the entrance of the Church of Our Lady in the Marksura area.
In the central Syrian regions of Homs and Hama, gunmen opened fire on multiple churches. After these attacks, threatening leaflets saying “Your turn is coming soon” were posted on church doors, indicating a coordinated and premeditated assault.
According to the BBC, this is the first terrorist attack targeting churches in Syria—including Damascus—since the Assad regime was overthrown by rebel forces in December 2024. Syria’s current transitional government is led by Acting President Ahmed al-Shara, who is also the head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Sunni Islamist group formerly linked to al-Qaeda.
Although President al-Shara has promised to protect religious and ethnic minorities, skepticism is growing due to recent outbreaks of large-scale sectarian violence across the country.
The Christian Post noted that these attacks go beyond just targeting religious buildings. They are raising serious concerns about growing sectarian tensions and the persecution of religious minorities in Syria. The Christian community is in shock and mourning, and many are calling for international help to restore peace and protect religious freedom in the country. (Source: Christian Daily, Edited version)
Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:3-4)
God, we entrust the believers in Syria to You as they suffer violent attacks for their faith. Please comfort the grieving families with the hope of heaven. We ask You to stop the ongoing sectarian violence and political power struggles that are used as excuses to target Christians. Expose and rebuke the corruption of the human heart with Your truth. Help the Syrian church fix their eyes on Christ, the Lamb who died for the salvation of all people. May they endure faithfully, holding on until they receive the crown of life, and be strengthened as people for whom the gospel is enough.
Prayer 24·365
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