Nadine Maenza: St. Elias Church sends messages of hope amid the rubble

DARAMSUQ (DAMASCUS) — In a city long battered by grief and accustomed to waking up to the pain of loss, the sound of church bells still carries a glimmer of hope that refuses to fade. St. Elias Church of the Greek (Rûm) Orthodox community, which for years served as a sanctuary for worshippers and a center of spirituality and faith, suddenly became a witness to violence and destruction after a terrorist bombing tore through its walls and wounded the hearts of its congregation. All that remains of the pews are scattered wooden shards, and the windows lie shattered, reflecting the repeated sorrow of Syria. 

Amid this grief, the visit of Nadine Maenza, former chair of the US Commission of International Religious Freedom Secretariat (IRF), underscored the importance of Syrian unity and solidarity against terrorist attacks that threaten the Christian presence in the country.  

“I was actually surprised when I learned from the priests here that most of the people who came to help clean up the day after the bombing were neighbors from the Muslim community, alongside Christians,” Maenza said. “And when donations were collected for the families and the church, the majority—85%—came from the Muslim community.” 

Maenza saw this as clear evidence of Syrians’ fierce will to live in peace, far from the sectarian divisions sown during Assad’s decades-long rule, which sought to instill fear and division across the country. She also emphasized that despite the recent wars, there is hope for building a new Syria. 

During her visit, Maenza called for prayers for Syria, for those affected by the terrorist attack on the church, and for all communities—Sunni, Christian, Arab, Kurdish, Alawite, Yazidi, Druze, and others—who wish to live together in peace in an inclusive Syria. 

Her presence among the rubble sent a powerful message of solidarity to grieving families, a reminder that the human voice, however faint, can confront destruction with hope. The church is more than a stone building—it is a symbol of resilience, a witness to faith that bombs cannot break.