Memorial mass in Sweida to commemorate victims of suicide attack on church in Damascus
A memorial mass was held in the Druze majority city of Sweida on Monday to commemorate 22 people, who were killed in a suicide attack on the Mar Elias Church in Damascus on Sunday.
ROCHELLE JUNIOR
Sweida- The suicide attack on the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Damascus on Sunday was an attack on social peace in Syria and solidarity among the ethnic and religious identities in the country. The suicide attack on the church killed 22 people, including nine people from the Druze majority city of Sweida, and injured dozens. On Monday, a memorial mass was held at the St. George's Greek Orthodox Church in Sweida to commemorate those who were killed in the attack with the participation of many people from different ethnic and religious groups.
Women of Sweida, who attended the mass, condemned the suicide attack on the Mar Elias Church and called for unity.
‘The national spirit transcends sectarianism in Syria’
“May the souls of those who lost their lives rest in peace and may their memory be eternal,” said Ibtisam El-Mesber, emphasizing that the national spirit transcends sectarianism in Syria. “This country is the home of all of us without discrimination. Syrian people have a deep-rooted culture of coexistence.”
‘Syria is the home of all people’
“Today, we all gathered in this church like a mosaic of people from different ethnicities and prayed for the souls of the victims,” said Suna Nakula, another woman, who attended the mass. “People of Sweida and Syria live together regardless of their religions and ethnicities. Syria is the home of all people and the doors of churches are open to all people.”
‘The attack targeted all Syrians’
Shadiye El-Ferihat condemned the suicide attack on the Mar Elias Church and said that the people, who were killed in the attack, “are martyrs of Christianity and love. The attack targeted all Syrians. It is an unforgivable crime.”
‘We will rebuild our country’
Mary Issa, one of the scouts of the St. George's Greek Orthodox Church in Sweida, expressed her fear of the increase in violence in places of worship and said:
“Syria is not a safe place anymore. Despite that, we are still here and together. As the Druze, Christian, Muslim people, we will join hands and rebuild our country.”