We feel that we are alone: ​​priest after Christian massacre in Damascus

Father Fadi Azar, a Franciscan priest in Syria, expressed the deep pain and feeling of abandonment that the Christian community lives after the attack that last Sunday left about 30 dead and about 60 injured during the celebration of a Mass.

That tragic day, a terrorist of the Islamic State (ISIS) broke into the Orthodox Church of San Elías, located in Dweil’a, on the outskirts of Damascus, and opened fire against the faithful who participated in the celebration of the solemnity of the Corpus Christi.

“We feel that we are alone … Syrian Christians are feeling a very large pain. The Christian community throughout Syria is living a moment of very sadness,” said the priest to help the needy church (ACN).

The attack was not an isolated event. “There were threats, many threats. It was expected, but it was not known when …

He also denounced shots in front of Churches in Homs and Hama, kidnappings and loss of jobs among Christians.

“For the first time in the history of Syria, since 1860, an attack passed: they enter the church and kill many people during the Mass time, during prayer, on Sunday at six in the afternoon,” he said.

On the attackers, he said: “Someone affirms that it was the Ansar Al-Sunna group, which carries the flag of Daesh. (…) They do not want a civil government; they want an Islamist fanatic terrorist government.”

He also pointed out that the number of Christians continues to decrease: “In all these years, before the war, there were 10% of Christians, now we are 3%. And, probably, this summer, many Christians are going to leave.”

“People now tell us: ‘Father, we don’t want help, we don’t want food, medicines, nothing. Help us to escape. We can’t live here. We are afraid for our life, we are afraid for the future of our children.'”

Fadi, who lives in Latakia, reiterated the claim of justice: “We have faith, we are not afraid. (…) We want only justice, justice, nothing more. Christians have the right to live in a country where there is security, so that they can go to church to pray in peace.”