The civil war in Syria left churches destroyed and sacred objects severely damaged by jihadist violence. One of those symbols is the so-called “Homs icon,” an image of the Annunciation that suffered bullet impacts during the Islamic State attacks and has today become an emblem of the suffering of Syrian Christians.
According to what the Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) foundation has disseminated, the icon is currently on pilgrimage through various parishes and dioceses in Spain, as part of an initiative aimed at remembering religious persecution in the Middle East and promoting prayer and solidarity.
A wounded image that has not been hidden
The icon, from the Syrian city of Homs, depicts the moment when the angel announces to the Virgin Mary that she will be the mother of Jesus. During the attacks on Christian temples in the context of the conflict, the work was deeply damaged. The bullet holes and defects have been kept visible as testimony to what happened.
The image has not been restored to erase those traces, but rather preserves the marks as a sign of memory and resistance.
Events in parishes and cultural spaces
As part of its journey, the icon has been exhibited in different Spanish localities. In recent dates, it has passed through parishes in Cáceres and Badajoz. In Don Benito, for example, a conference was held at the Casa de la Cultura and visits to the church of Santiago Apóstol and the convent of Santa Teresa.
In each place, prayer events, liturgical celebrations, and informational meetings are organized to raise awareness about the situation of persecuted Christians.
A message of memory and hope
The initiative seeks to keep alive the awareness of religious freedom and the suffering of Christian communities in Syria, while inviting prayer and supportive solidarity.
The Homs icon, marked by violence, thus continues its journey as a visible sign of a faith that did not disappear despite the persecution.