The Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London has praised the resilience of Christians in Syria after an attack on a church in Damascus left 22 people dead.
At least 63 people were injured when a man, believed to be from the terror group Islamic State, opened fire at worshippers during a service at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Prophet Elias Sunday evening.
Around 350 people were inside the church in the capital's old Christian quarter, when the man opened fire and then detonated an explosive vest.
The Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, Anba Angaelos told Premier it was “terrible news and a shocking attack. We haven't seen one of these attacks in the Middle East for at least some months, which has been a thankful period for us.
“Whether it's a church or any other place of worship, these are places where people are at their most vulnerable, where they're reflecting. It's deplorable, attacks on places of worship and churches in particular, are just inexcusable.”
The incident is the first attack of its kind since Bashar al Assad was ousted as president in December.
Archbishop Angaelos said that the Christian community had just begun to “settle and calm down under the new establishment” although the number of Syrian Christians has decreased because of uncertainty over the regime change: “People are leaving the country, and so this pressure comes upon an ever-increasing minority that will continue to bear the brunt of attacks like this.”
He added that while many Christians are concerned for their communities at this time.
“The wonderful thing about our communities in the Middle East is they stay resilient and they stay prayerful,” he said.
“While we feel this sense of frustration and fear for them, they continue to live their lives. Of course, they're anxious and of course they're concerned about their families and their communities, but they continue to be faithful and wonderful stewards and wonderful ambassadors of Christ in their own settings.
“The church is here. The church is alive. The church is strong. The church is persecuted, marginalized and attacked, but it continues to witness.”
Syrian authorities have stressed religious minorities will be protected under their rule.