Al-Qusair churches show the signs of the war against Assad and of the religious hatred of the rebels

Beirut (AsiaNews) - The battle between rebels and army for al-Qusair left the town in ruin, now reduced to a pile of rubble. Of the 30,000 residents, including some 3,000 Christians, who lived there before the start of the Civil War, only 500 are left. Images broadcast by the BBC show deserted streets, most residential and public buildings destroyed by mortar fire, or turned into weapons depots by anti-Assad militias, who occupied the town for over a year.

The siege did not spare mosques and churches that for centuries stood side by side, an example of peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians.

Several Orthodox Christian buildings were desecrated by Islamist rebels, as several witnesses testified, including the BBC's Lyse Doucet, the first foreign journalist to enter in Al-Qusair.

In a report, the British correspondent describes the state of neglect of the small Greek Orthodox monastery of St Elijah, symbol of the local Christian community. In recent months, the rebels vented their rage at the building, riddled with artillery shells.

On the floor, dozens of religious objects lay, scattered. On the walls, a few icons and statues are still hanging, but most of them are defaced and slashed, a sign of wanton, not accidental destruction.

Interviewed by AsiaNews, Fr Simon Faddoul, president of Caritas Lebanon, said that for over a year there were no news about the Christian community of Al-Qusair.

"Most of them," he said, "fled when the city fell into the hands of the rebels in 2012. Unlike Muslims, many Christians have crossed the border with Lebanon. Most of the families however preferred to seek refuge in other cities or villages."

“Built on the Rock the Church doth Stand”
by Nicolai F.S. Grundtvig, 1783-1872
Translated by Carl Doving, 1867-1937

1. Built on the Rock the Church doth stand,
Even when steeples are falling;
Crumbled have spires in every land,
Bells still are chiming and calling,
Calling the young and old to rest,
But above all the soul distrest,
Longing for rest everlasting.

2. Surely in temples made with hands,
God, the Most High, is not dwelling;
High above earth His temple stands,
All earthly temples excelling.
Yet He whom heavens cannot contain
Chose to abide on earth with men,
Built in our bodies His temple.

3. We are God's house of living stones,
Builded for His habitation;
He through baptismal grace us owns
Heirs of His wondrous salvation.
Were we but two His name to tell,
Yet He would deign with us to dwell,
With all His grace and His favor.

4. Now we may gather with our King
E'en in the lowliest dwelling;
Praises to Him we there may bring,
His wondrous mercy forthtelling.
Jesus His grace to us accords;
Spirit and life are all His words;
His truth doth hallow the temple.

5. Still we our earthly temples rear
That we may herald His praises;
They are the homes where He draws near
And little children embraces.
Beautiful things in them are said;
God there with us His covenant made,
Making us heirs of His kingdom.

6. Here stands the font before our eyes
Telling how God did receive us;
The altar recalls Christ's sacrifice
And what His table doth give us;
Here sounds the Word that doth proclaim
Christ yesterday, today, the same,
Yea, and for aye our Redeemer.

7. Grant then, O God, where’er men roam,
That, when the church-bells are ringing,
Many in saving faith may come
Where Christ His message is bringing:
“I know Mine own, Mine own know Me;
Ye, not the world, My face shall see.
My peace I leave with you.” Amen.

Hymn #467
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Eph. 2: 19-22
Author: Nicolai F.S. Grundtvig, 1837
Translated by: Carl Doving, 1909, alt.
Titled: “Kirken den er et gammelt Hus”
Composer: Ludvig M. Lindeman, 1871
Tune: “Kirken den er et”

“The siege did not spare mosques and churches that for centuries stood side by side, an example of peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians.”

The OTHER SIDE of Syria - the part that the media and McCain REFUSE to tell us about. The fact that ANY WOMAN in that country WAS able to walk the streets alone and not have to wear a bee keeper uniform. Now it will be VERY DIFFICULT to put the pieces back together.

“The town was shelled and bombed by Assad’s thugocracy for a year, and his Iranian proxies Hizbollah for the past few months — that’s the source of the damage. The pro-Putin pro-Assad agitprop is getting ridiculous.”

Maybe I’m reading the article wrong, but the town sounded like a nice, peaceful, place, before the rebellion, and the rebels started the rebellion. Is the government supposed to just ignore the rebellion?

Wrong. The article (and information I have from Orthodox Christian sources) makes clear the desecration of the Monastery of St. Elijah was not by shells or bombs, but by jihadis entering the monastery and directly defiling icons, the Holy Table and other furnishings.

Shall I return the disfavor and characterize your position as pro-Al-Qaeda agitprop? Both sides in the Syrian war are bad. The problem is the rebels are worse.

The fact is that the opposition to Assad is about 10% democrats and 90% Sunni Islamists, if they win the Sunni Islamists will be in charge, and every indication is that they will murder, drive into exile, or forcibly convert to Sunni Islam all the Christians, Alawites and Shi’ites in Syria. At the beginning before the war started the opposition chant was “Christians to Beirut, Alawites to the grave,” suggesting a pogrom against all non-Sunnis. After the fighting started the graffiti began to read “Alawites to the grave, Christians to the cross”. I guess you think Theodore (ne Walid) Shoebat is a pro-Putin pro-Assad agitator since he has documented the atrocities the Syrian Sunni rebels have committed against non-Sunnis, including crucifixions of Christians.

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.