The Russian Orthodox Church
Department for External Church Relations
Department for External Church Relations
The Russian Orthodox Church
Department for External Church Relations
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Victims of the terrorist attack on the Orthodox church in Damascus are commemorated in Vienna
DECR Communication Service, 03.07.2025.
On the evening of July 2, a memorial service was celebrated in Vienna, Austria, for the victims of the terrorist attack committed on June 22 at the Orthodox church of the Prophet Elijah (Mar Elias) in the Syrian capital of Damascus. The service was celebrated in the Catholic parish church of St. Augustine.
The memorial evening was initiated by the Ss Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox church in Vienna.
The memorial service was celebrated by Metropolitan Isaac of the Patriarchate of Antioch for Germany and Central Europe, who also cares for Orthodox parishes in Austria.
Attending the service were hundreds of faithful who represented different countries, confessions and church traditions. They gathered to express their solidarity with the Christian victims and their families, and with the persecuted Christians all over the world.
Bishop Alexy of Vienna and Austria took part in the commemoration evening as a guest of honour, accompanied by the clergy and parishioners of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Vienna, the website of the Diocese of Vienna and Austria reports.
Among the honoured guests were also Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Vienna Franz Scharl, Coptic Bishop of Austria Anba Gabriel, and representatives of the Syriac Orthodox, Assyrian, Melkite and Maronite Churches.
In his homily, Metropolitan Isaac spoke with pain about the tragedy in Damascus. The attack, he said, “turned the praying community into mutilated bodies, whose blood covered the icons and saints.” He continued to say that the attack struck a blow not only against Christians, but also against the very essence of religion, humanity and coexistence of people. The metropolitan emphasized, “We, Christians, have been people of peace and love… Our hand remains extended to others, even if the fingers are cut off and it is covered with blood.”
On the evening of July 2, a memorial service was celebrated in Vienna, Austria, for the victims of the terrorist attack committed on June 22 at the Orthodox church of the Prophet Elijah (Mar Elias) in the Syrian capital of Damascus. The service was celebrated in the Catholic parish church of St. Augustine.
The memorial evening was initiated by the Ss Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox church in Vienna.
The memorial service was celebrated by Metropolitan Isaac of the Patriarchate of Antioch for Germany and Central Europe, who also cares for Orthodox parishes in Austria.
Attending the service were hundreds of faithful who represented different countries, confessions and church traditions. They gathered to express their solidarity with the Christian victims and their families, and with the persecuted Christians all over the world.
Bishop Alexy of Vienna and Austria took part in the commemoration evening as a guest of honour, accompanied by the clergy and parishioners of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Vienna, the website of the Diocese of Vienna and Austria reports.
Among the honoured guests were also Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Vienna Franz Scharl, Coptic Bishop of Austria Anba Gabriel, and representatives of the Syriac Orthodox, Assyrian, Melkite and Maronite Churches.
In his homily, Metropolitan Isaac spoke with pain about the tragedy in Damascus. The attack, he said, “turned the praying community into mutilated bodies, whose blood covered the icons and saints.” He continued to say that the attack struck a blow not only against Christians, but also against the very essence of religion, humanity and coexistence of people. The metropolitan emphasized, “We, Christians, have been people of peace and love… Our hand remains extended to others, even if the fingers are cut off and it is covered with blood.”
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