Damascus, June 24, 2026
Photo: gorthodox.com
A year after a suicide bombing claimed the lives of more than two dozen people at St. Elias Orthodox Church in Damascus, the building is in the final stages of reconstruction.
The attack took place on June 22, 2025, during a church service in the city’s Dweila district. Syrian authorities reported that the attacker shot at congregants before setting off an explosive device inside the building, wounding dozens in addition to those killed. Responsibility was attributed to the Islamic State, which is designated a terrorist organization by numerous governments and international bodies.
The Antiochian Orthodox Patriarchate characterized the attack as a terrorist act against peaceful believers and called on authorities to guarantee the safety of all citizens regardless of religious affiliation.
On June 24, 2025, His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East led the funeral service for the victims at the Church of the Holy Cross in Damascus. The remains of those killed were subsequently brought to the damaged St. Elias Church for a final prayer before burial.
Photo: gorthodox.com
Reconstruction got under way within months of the attack. Visiting the site in November 2025, Pat. John expressed gratitude to those involved in the rebuilding effort and described the project as a sign of hope and spiritual renewal for Syrian Christians.
Photographs released by the Antiochian Patriarchate on June 16 of this year, taken during a subsequent visit by Pat. John, show that the exterior of the church is now largely complete, with windows and doors in place and the main construction work finished, reports Global Orthodox.
Part of the bell tower façade remains under scaffolding. Interior work has also advanced considerably: walls have been plastered and painted, and the central nave now has marble flooring with decorative inlays, a new marble altar, a baptismal font, and completed wooden furnishings including pews, gallery structures, and decorative panels.
Church leaders have stated that St. Elias Church will continue to serve the Orthodox Christian community of Damascus as a place of prayer and worship. Memorial services are being held to mark the first anniversary of the attack.
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