In a scene marked by deep sorrow and righteous anger, churches across Syria held funeral services for the victims of the suicide bombing that targeted St Elias Church in Damascus on Sunday. Source: CNA.
The attack claimed the lives of 25 people and left dozens injured.
The main funeral service for the majority of the victims took on Tuesday at the Church of the Holy Cross in the Qassaa district of Damascus.
It was presided over by Greek Orthodox Patriarch John X Yazigi, with Melkite Catholic Patriarch Youssef Absi and Syrian Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Youssef III Younan also in attendance, alongside numerous bishops, priests, and a large crowd from various denominations.
In his homily before the funeral prayers, Patriarch Yazigi condemned the attack as a “heinous massacre,” stressing that “the prayer we lift today is not an ordinary funeral prayer but the special resurrection prayer we usually offer on Easter – because today is a day of resurrection”.
He added: “This crime is the first of its kind in Damascus since 1860. We will not allow anyone to sow sectarian strife; Syrians are all committed to national unity. It is unfortunate that no government officials, aside from Minister Hind Kabawat [a Christian], came to the site of the attack.”
Following the funeral liturgy, the coffins were taken to St Elias Church, the site of the bombing, for a special prayer before being buried in the Christian cemetery.
Syrian Christians have expressed mounting frustration at the government’s failure to declare a national mourning period, lower the flags, or refer to the victims as “martyrs” in official or media statements.
In a phone call from Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa to Patriarch of Antioch Bishop Romanos al-Hanata offering condolences, the bishop requested the president visit the church to personally comfort the families.
Mr Sharaa reportedly responded: “I will come to you as soon as possible.”
To this, Patriarch Yazigi responded: “With love, respect, and appreciation, Your Excellency, we thank you for the phone call – but it is not enough. What happened was too great for words alone.”
FULL STORY
Solemn farewell for victims of Damascus church bombing amid anger at government silence (By Souhail Lawand, CNA)
RELATED COVERAGE
Pope Leo says terrorist attack on Greek Orthodox church in Syria is ‘vile’ (Crux)
