DARAMSUQ — In a scene where hope mingled with the wounds of memory, Greek (Rûm) Orthodox Patriarch John X Yazigi visited Mar Elias Church in the Douileh neighborhood of Daramsuq (Damascus) on Sunday, 21 September 2025. The church remains under reconstruction after suffering severe damage in a terrorist attack earlier this year.
Patriarch John X was accompanied by Bishop Arsanios (Dahdal) on the inspection tour. Together, they received a detailed briefing from project supervisors on the progress, percentage of completion, and future plans to restore the church’s historical and spiritual grandeur.
During the visit, Patriarch John X praised the dedication of workers, engineers, and supporting institutions, affirming that the church would rise again “more splendid than before” — not only as a religious landmark but also as a symbol of resilience and unwavering faith in the face of destruction.
“What hatred has destroyed, love will rebuild,” the Patriarch declared. “What terrorism tried to erase, the hands of believers will restore with greater light and beauty. This church is not just stone, but the memory of a people and the echo of prayers spanning centuries.”
The bombing earlier this year devastated the church’s structure and interior decorations, leaving 30 worshippers martyred and dozens more wounded. The attack deeply scarred the residents of the Douileh neighborhood, long known for its religious and social diversity, marking yet another attempt to undermine coexistence and target the Christian presence in the Syrian capital.
The Mar Elias Church is one of the most prominent Orthodox churches in Daramsuq, with a history spanning decades. It has long served as a pastoral and spiritual hub for local residents. For many, its reconstruction represents not just the rebuilding of walls but also the restoration of trust and a renewed sense of belonging to a city scarred by war and violence.
The Patriarch’s visit carried a dual message: to his flock, that the church endures and will continue to shelter them despite its wounds, and to the wider world, that attacks on houses of worship will never succeed in erasing the Christian presence in the Middle East.
In a country weighed down by years of conflict, the sight of the Patriarch John X walking among shattered walls and giving instructions for restoration embodied a broader struggle facing Syrians, namely, the struggle to rebuild what has been destroyed and to forge a future from the rubble.
