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Coordinated attack feared after massive cathedral blaze
NY Post ^ | May 2, 2016 | Isabel Vincent and Chris Perez

Posted on 05/03/2016 7:26:51 AM PDT by george76

The historic Manhattan cathedral that was gutted in a massive fire was one of four Christian Orthodox churches to go up in flames on Orthodox Easter Sunday — sparking fears of a coordinated attack on the religion.

While FDNY officials said the blaze at the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava on West 25th Street does not appear suspicious, members of the Orthodox community have doubts.

They are worried that the blaze — along with church fires in Australia and Russia — were set in retaliation for the religion’s role in blocking the canonization of Croatian Nazi supporter Cardinal Aloysius Stepinac — whose potential sainthood has created a rift between Serbia and Croatia, with the leaders of each lobbying Pope Francis.

Croatian Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic discussed the issue in a visit to the Vatican in early April, while Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic made his case last September.

Francis decided last week to postpone the ceremony for Stepinac, prompting concerns about potential retaliation.

“Too many churches have burned to call it an accident,” said Dr. Dušan T. Batakovi...

“It is very strange that it happened, that the fires all took place on Easter, the greatest Christian Orthodox holiday,” he said. “Some kind of terrorist action cannot be excluded.”

In addition to the fire that engulfed St. Sava, churches in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, and in northern Russia were all engulfed in flames just hours after Easter services.

...

In Sydney, fire reduced the Macedonian Orthodox Church of the Resurrection to rubble, rending the 126-year-old sanctuary ....

In Melbourne, the 115-year-old Holy Church of Annunciation of Our Lady, a Greek Orthodox church...

In Russia, some 70 parishioners were evacuated from the historic Valaam Monastery in Lake Ladoga after it caught fire during their Easter celebration.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia; US: New York
KEYWORDS: cathedral; christian; church; churches; croatia; croatian; croatiannazi; easter; eastercelebration; eastersunday; fdny; fires; greekorthodox; macedonianorthodox; madisonsquarepark; nazi; orthodoxchurches; orthodoxeaster; serbia; serbianorthodox

1 posted on 05/03/2016 7:26:51 AM PDT by george76
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To: george76

ONE IS A TRAGEDY.
TWO IS A COINCIDENCE.
THREE OR MORE IS A CONSPIRACY....................


2 posted on 05/03/2016 7:40:43 AM PDT by Red Badger (WE DON'T NEED NO STEENKING TAGLINES!...........................)
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To: Red Badger

See also this related thread...

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3426574/posts


3 posted on 05/03/2016 7:53:23 AM PDT by NRx (It's sad when there is no one running for President that I can vote for with a clear conscience.)
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To: george76

Just what we need right now. /s


4 posted on 05/03/2016 7:58:22 AM PDT by mumblypeg (Reality is way more complicated than the internet. That's why I'm here.)
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To: Red Badger

Absolutely so. I had no idea there were others. This one in New York alone is tragic. What a beautiful place of worship.


5 posted on 05/03/2016 8:03:54 AM PDT by SueRae (An election like no other..)
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To: SueRae

The fire started hours after the end of the Pascha (Easter) service. Church is constructed of stone. All of the lights and candles would have been out. And ... three Serbian Orthodox churches burn the same day? I don't think it was started by votive candles.


6 posted on 05/03/2016 8:59:52 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Lord have mercy (40x))
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To: Red Badger

Designed to mobilize the Russians. To get them riled up, I reckon.


7 posted on 05/03/2016 9:03:27 AM PDT by Captainpaintball (Immigration without assimilation is the death of a nation)
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To: Red Badger

I agree.


8 posted on 05/03/2016 9:05:16 AM PDT by Dante3
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To: george76

Bttt.

5.56mm


9 posted on 05/03/2016 9:07:28 AM PDT by M Kehoe
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To: Captainpaintball

Don't get Chekov angry......................

10 posted on 05/03/2016 9:12:31 AM PDT by Red Badger (WE DON'T NEED NO STEENKING TAGLINES!...........................)
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To: Red Badger
I always heard it, once is chance, twice is coincidence, third is enemy action.

Close enough.

And I would agree that three major stone cathedrals from the same group going up in smoke on the same day is likely enemy action.

11 posted on 05/03/2016 9:15:27 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

It’s self evident, in my book......................


12 posted on 05/03/2016 9:58:24 AM PDT by Red Badger (WE DON'T NEED NO STEENKING TAGLINES!...........................)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Irreplaceable.:-(


13 posted on 05/03/2016 10:24:34 AM PDT by SueRae (An election like no other..)
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To: SueRae

moozlums...anyone?


14 posted on 05/03/2016 10:51:10 AM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?.)
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To: hal ogen

They are blaming Catholics. Putin anyone?


15 posted on 05/04/2016 5:22:01 PM PDT by The Cuban
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