On July 25, 2025, with the blessing of Patriarch John of Antioch and All the East, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated marking forty days since the tragic massacre at St. Elias Church in the Dweilaa district of Damascus.
The service was held at the same church and presided over by Metropolitan Nicholas Baalbaki of Hama and its dependencies, with the participation of Bishops Romanos Al-Hannat (Patriarchal Vicar), Moussa Khoury, Arsanios Dahdal, and Moussa Al-Khasi (Patriarchal Assistants), along with a host of clergy.
Present at the Liturgy were the families of the deceased, members of the parish, and a large crowd of faithful who gathered to remember the departed. Together, they offered prayers for the repose of the victims’ souls, the healing of the injured, and comfort for the grieving.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a memorial service (Trisagion) was held for the souls of the deceased. Metropolitan Nicholas conveyed the heartfelt condolences and love of Patriarch John X to the families of the victims and the wounded, assuring them of his prayers for peace in Syria and throughout the world.
