Posted on 12/09/2010 4:17:16 PM PST by penelopesire
"Standing proudly on the side of an English hill, its religious roots go back 2,000 years. But a single night of vandalism has left an ancient site of pilgrimage in splinters. The Holy Thorn Tree of Glastonbury has been chopped down in what is being seen by some as a deliberately anti-Christian act. A feature of the skyline surrounding the Somerset town, the tree has been visited by thousands retracing the steps said to have been taken by Joseph of Arimathea, who some say was Jesus’ great uncle.
Legend says it sprang from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea, the man who helped Jesus of the cross. According to legend, Saint Joseph travelled to the spot after Christ was crucified, taking with him the Holy Grail of Arthurian folklore. He is said to have stuck his wooden staff – which had belonged to Jesus – into the ground on Wearyall Hill before he went to sleep. When he awoke it had sprouted into a thorn tree, which became a natural shrine for Christians across Europe. To add to its sacred status, the tree ‘miraculously’ flowered twice a year – once at Christmas and once at Easter. It survived for hundreds of years before it was chopped down by puritans in the Civil War, but secret cuttings of the original were taken and planted around the town. It is from one of the new plants that a replacement tree was planted in the original spot over 50 years ago.
Yesterday residents of Glastonbury wept as they surveyed the damage done to the tree on Wednesday night. Katherine Gorbing, curator of the town’s abbey, said: ‘The mindless vandals who have hacked down this tree have struck at the heart of Christianity."
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Why in the world would someone(s) be so hellbent on destroying a magnificent, ancient tree?
(rhetorical)
What exactly is holy about the tree?
LOL, tnx.
I am reminded of a great line I read in a book once (it was a fictionalized account of early christianity..a good read). Anyway the quote was in reference to the romans burning the christian churches, artifacts and holy relics:
‘Realities are not extinguished by the destruction of their symbols’
I always loved that line in the book and it seems appropriate in this circumstance for sure.
FRegards.
Thanks for posting the picture. Such a sad story to have to read about today.
Moronic twit. The heart of Christianity is the deathless Christ, not a tree.
And it certainly was not mindless - in fact, it was probably a carefully calculated attempt at some sort of black magic.
Pathetic and impotent black magic, but an attempt nonetheless.
Knuckledraggers strike again.
Thank you for your comment it is very true..
I do not know what I would do if I did not believe that my heavenly father was there for me..I can’t understand people that have no morals ,but there are those that want to hurt as much as they can..One day these people will have to face God and it won’t be pretty..
“Moronic twit. The heart of Christianity is the deathless Christ, not a tree.”
I had similar thoughts when I read her comment too. I am sure she was just overwhelmed at the senseless and heartless vandalism though and not really measuring her words.
Certainly is. I have a picture of me standing by the tree, taken about 20 years ago.
Its a cutting of the original (or maybe a cutting of a cutting). I know that botanists have had a look at it and confirm that it is not native to Britain, but is of a type commonly found in the middle east.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
