The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, chaired by Dr. Ramzi Khouri, member of the PLO Executive Committee, expressed deep sorrow and heartfelt condolences following the tragic attack on the Greek Orthodox Mar Elias Church in Damascus, which claimed the lives of several innocent worshippers.
Dr. Khouri, on behalf of the Committee, sent a letter of condolence to His Beatitude Patriarch John X, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, expressing the unwavering solidarity of the Palestinian people and their churches with the Antiochian Orthodox Church and the families of the victims in this time of profound grief.
In the letter, Dr. Khouri wrote:
“The targeting of houses of worship in our time is not merely an attack on individuals, but a direct assault on the spiritual and human values upheld by churches and sacred sites throughout our region. We strongly condemn this heinous act of terrorism and stand in full solidarity with you during this difficult time. The voice of the Church will remain resilient, and its witness to truth will endure in the face of all adversity.”
Dr. Khouri concluded by praying for the souls of the martyrs, wishing a speedy recovery to the wounded, and asking God to grant comfort to the families of the victims and bring peace and healing to the Syrian people.
