Members of St. Maron Maronite Catholic Church in South Philadelphia gathered Aug. 10 to honor the victims of a deadly Aug. 4 explosion in Beirut, which killed some 170, wounded more than 6,000 and left an estimated 300,000 homeless.

(Related: Read our feature article on the memorial service and find out how you can donate to St. Maron’s campaign to assist victims of the blast.)

Tears mingled with prayers for justice, healing and a restoration of the land St. John Paul II called “a message of freedom and an example of pluralism for both East and West.”

(All photos by Gina Christian)