A suicide bomber opened fire and then detonated an explosive vest in a Greek Orthodox church in Syria filled with worshippers, killing at least 20 and wounding 52 others, the AP reported.
The attack took place on Sunday in Dweila on the outskirts of Damascus, according to state media SANA.
No group immediately claimed responsibility, but the Syrian Interior Ministry said an extremist from the so-called Islamic State group entered the church, shooting at people there before detonating an explosive vest.
Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mostafa condemned the attack, calling it a terrorist attack.
"This cowardly act goes against the civic values that bring us together. We will not give up on our commitment to ensuring that all citizens are equal," he added.
Isam Nasr, who was praying in the church, said he saw people "blown to pieces."
"We never carried a gun in our lives. All we ever carried were our prayers," he said.
The attack on the church was the first of its kind in Syria in recent years, and comes as Damascus, under its de facto Islamist rule, tries to gain support from minorities.
As President Ahmad al-Shara struggles to stabilize power across the country, there are concerns about sleeper cells of extremist groups in the war-torn state.
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