A powerful video of a Syrian Christian woman giving a moving speech at the site of the Greek Orthodox Mar Elias Church in Damascus has gone viral.
Islamic suicide bombers attacked the church on June 22, killing over 20 congregants and injuring dozens more. Syrian officials attributed the attack to the Islamic State.
According to witnesses, the bomber entered the church with a gun and fired at people before detonating his explosive vest.
In the video, the woman declares that she and her family will never flee their home or their country despite repeated attacks on Christians.
“Now they tell me to take my kids and flee to Europe, it’s impossible for me to leave my town, my country, my Christianity, my culture,” she shared.
“I was raised here, I want to die here.”
She highlighted that her Christian faith is based in faith and love.
“My religion is a religion of love, a religion of love,” she said.
“We are truly Christian. Honestly, we love the enemy before the friend. We forgive and pardon, we love even those who hurt us.”
Watch:
Syrian Christian woman at the church bombing site: “If they tell me to take my kids and flee to Europe, I won’t. I raised them here, and here I will die. I will never abandon my land, my faith, or my Christianity. Our religion is peace. We don’t know violence or hatred….” pic.twitter.com/VgXnDq00bk
— Eastern christians ن (@Easternchristns) June 25, 2025
