Approved by the Executive Committee of the Assembly of Canonic Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America on June 23, 2025

Yesterday, the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America issued a solemn and strongly worded statement condemning the horrific terrorist attack that occurred during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Dweil’a, Syria, on June 22, 2025.

Here is their statement:

Approved by the Executive Committee of the Assembly of Canonic Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America on June 23, 2025

Mourning the loss of at least 25 lives and lamenting the suffering of more than 60 wounded faithful Orthodox Christians violated during the Divine Liturgy at Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Dweil’a on June 22, 2025, we, the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, condemn the terrorist attack on the innocent parishioners as a cowardly display of extremism. As many leaders of various religions have expressed over the past half century, we promulgate the sentiment that violence in the name of any religion is violence against all religions and God Himself.

We pray fervently for the entire community of Mar Elias. We pray for the full recovery of those who survived the heinous attack, both bodily and spiritually, including their mental wellbeing. For those who lost their lives, we pray that they rest in the bosom of Abraham, in a place of light, in a place of green pasture, in a place of refreshment, from where pain, sorrow, and sighing have fled away.

We reiterate our condemnation of violence, and, as we stated at the conclusion of our 2024 annual meeting of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops, “violence can never solve violence, and peace should be pursued at all costs.”