DAMASCUS, Syria (LifeSiteNews) — A viral video shows a Syrian Christian woman giving a moving speech at the site of the Greek Orthodox Mar Elias Church in Damascus, which was attacked by Islamic suicide bombers this week.

The video, which currently has over a million views on X, shows the unidentified woman declaring that she and her family will never flee the country despite repeated attacks on Christian communities while emphasizing that Christianity is a religion of peace and therefore she forgives the perpetrators of the horrific bombing.

The June 22 attack was carried out by Islamic suicide bombers during a Sunday evening Divine Liturgy, taking the lives of over 20 congregants, injuring over 50, and devastating the church’s interior.

The woman first recalled how she was told to flee to Europe because of how dangerous Syria has become for Christians, but stressed that she can’t leave because Damascus is her home.

“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 said in the video. “I was raised here, I want to die here.”

Turning to her Christian faith, she highlighted how it is a faith of love, and therefore, she forgives the Islamists who committed this heinous bombing.

“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.”

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 (@Easternchristns) June 25, 2025

READ: 20 Christians killed by suicide bomber at Orthodox church in Syria’s capital

The attack is believed to have been carried out by men linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) and – as attested to by Reuters and by eyewitnesses to the attack – was the work of two attackers. One man is reported as having shot at worshippers inside, while the second is understood to have detonated the suicide vest he was wearing.

At the time of the attack, there were around 200 people attending the Divine Liturgy.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch quickly condemned the attack and demanded accountability from the authorities to “assume full responsibility for what has happened and continues to happen in terms of violation against the sanctity of churches, and to ensure the protection of all citizens.”

 The patriarchate further emphasized its adherence to Christianity in spite of the attacks:

We offer our prayers for the repose of the souls of the martyrs, for the healing of the wounded, and for the consolation of our grieving faithful. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to our faith and, through that steadfastness, our rejection of all fear and intimidation. We beseech Christ our God to guide the ship of our salvation through the storms of this world, He who is blessed forever.

Pope Leo XIV followed suit, releasing a telegram expressing his “deep sadness” over the suicide bombing and solidarity with those affected by the attack.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and destruction caused by the attack on the Greek Orthodox church of Mar Elias in in Damascus, and he expresses his heartfelt solidarity with all those effected by this tragedy.

The Pontiff also offered his prayers for the repose of the victims’ souls, the recovery of all wounded in the attack, and those mourning the loss of loved ones, and finally for peace and healing throughout the war-torn nation.

In commending the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of our Heavenly Father, His Holiness likewise prays for those who mourn their loss, for the recovery of the injured, and invokes the Almighty’s gifts of consolation, healing, and peace upon the nation.

Many other Christians in Damascus responded to the bombing by courageously marching along the streets carrying large crosses and chanting, “How beautiful is death at your doors, O our Church.”

Protesters in Damascus chant: “How beautiful is death at your doors, O our Church.”

A powerful stand of faith and defiance after the Saint Elias Church massacre. pic.twitter.com/CvXPxKsZAk