Posted on 02/05/2008 3:28:43 PM PST by ddtorquee
The Gaza Strip is home to 1.5 million Muslims - and about 3,000 increasingly frightened Christians.
The small evangelical Baptist community has been a principal target of the extremists because of its missionary work, which has been halted.
"Christians get killed here, let alone a Muslim who converted," said Ashraf, 36, who did not give his last name. "I stopped going to church even before the coup."
And recently, even his church leader, pastor Hanna Massad, has fled to the West Bank.
The murder of Baptist congregant Rami Eyad in October sent shock waves through Gaza's Christian community.
Eyad's religious book shop had been bombed in April. Hamas Interior Ministry spokesman Ihab al-Ghusain condemned the killing but said that no one has been arrested.
He blamed Al Qaeda elements and said Hamas was not involved.
"We have increased security in Christian neighborhoods and near churches," Ghusain said.
The Rev. Archimandrite Artemios leads St. Porphyrous Greek Orthodox Church, founded 1,600 years ago in Gaza's old city.
He says he dares not try to persuade anyone to join his dwindling congregation.
"If I baptize a man, I will have to visit his tomb," Artemios said. "We are against anything, even conversion, if it jeopardizes the peaceful relations between Muslims and Christians."
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
The Koran is the most demonic book I’ve ever read. Islam is from the devil himself. Prayers for Christian brothers in Gaza.
“If I baptize a man, I will have to visit his tomb,” Artemios said. “We are against anything, even conversion, if it jeopardizes the peaceful relations between Muslims and Christians.”
Yeah, that’s how this Christian thing got started & took off, keeping the peace. Christians never made any waves, you know. No one ever fed them to lions, crucified them, or otherwise persecuted them for standing up for what they believe. This guy is an Archbishop????
Is anybody surprised by this? Christians used to be a majority in certain ME areas, such as Lebanon, and they have been almost entirely driven out.
Believing the muslims is like believing the fence between the USA and Mexico is almost built !!
“This guy is an Archbishop????”
No, an Archimandritis. Its like being a monsignior. By the way, as a Greek Orthodox Christian, I have absolutely nothing but contempt for American Christians who talk tough but never faced anything like the religious persecution of Mohammedanism. On a site like FR it is particularly galling since the leader of the Republicans, Bush, is the biggest hater of Orthodox Christians since Clinton and the biggest lickspittel of the Mohammedans to ever, ever sit in the Oval Office. If they were to fight back, do you think that a man like George Bush would support them? If you do, ask the Iraqi Christians and the Orthodox Christians of Kosovo about all the support the Protestant regime in Washington has given them!
It will be a real sad day when the West Finally wakes up and literally sees what has been going on under their noses the last 30 years ! Beruit was once a Christian city,
The fight will be very intense and very deadly! this will be about Christ and not just a few Jewish brethren trying to do good!
Egypt is under attack by Palestians trying to move into Egypt from Gaza. Immigration causing a war in not Unheard of today!
“”If I baptize a man, I will have to visit his tomb,” Artemios said. “We are against anything, even conversion, if it jeopardizes the peaceful relations between Muslims and Christians.””
That’s a telling commentary on Islam’s lack of tolerance. Seems that these Christians might want to check the Greyhound schedule.
Clinton attacked the Christians of Kosovo for trying to rid the land of Saracens. And today it looks like the saracens are winning the battle to own Kosovo.
Bush acts like he would support an invasion of Kosovo to kill Christians to allow the Saracens to own the land.
I think you will see our Jewish Brothers support the Christian Serbs unless Bush calls them and threatens to cut off aid to Israel! I never dreamed I would live to see an attack against Christians by a sitting President of the USA!
muhammed is Shaitan and the koran is Satan’s Bible.
“By the way, as a Greek Orthodox Christian, I have absolutely nothing but contempt for American Christians who talk tough but never faced anything like the religious persecution of Mohammedanism.”
My comment was in comparison to the early Christians, not American Christians. His statement was inconsistent with the teachings of Christ. Your point is quite valid that American Christians talk more than walk, but your Archie’s talk was wrong. Whether you have contempt for me or not is between you and God.
“We are against anything, even conversion, if it jeopardizes the peaceful relations between Muslims and Christians.”
If Paul and Peter had felt that way, Rome would still be pagan.
“If Paul and Peter had felt that way, Rome would still be pagan.”
We would all be pagan, including Archie. They threw James & Peter in prison and threatened their lives if they preached this Gospel. Only made them stronger. This guy got defensive about his denomination, and I understand that. I could get defensive about his contempt for American Christians but why? It is easy on these chat boards to react strong when you don’t look into a fellow Christian’s eyes.
I don’t discount the sacrifice these Christians are facing. It is really a scary thing, that I thank God my family doesn’t face. But that statement showed a complete abdication of leadership.
I agree with you 100%. Your criticisms are spot on.
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