Vandals Desecrate Monastery of the Cross in Jerusalem

Algemeiner ^ | 12.12.12 | Algemeiner

[Cronos]

The Monastery of the Cross Church in Jerusalem. Photo: Yosarian/Wikimedia Commons.

Vandals spray-painted profanities on the entrance to and on three vehicles belonging to the Monastery of the Cross in Jerusalem overnight Tuesday in the latest in a spate of so-called “price-tag” attacks on Christian institutions in Israel over the past year.

The vandalism at the church is the second such attack on the site this year, with a similar attack occurring some ten months ago. In both cases, police have made no arrests. The Orthodox Greek church, which lies in Jerusalem’s Valley of the Cross close to Sacher Park in Rehavia, also had graffiti spray-painted on its entrance which read: “Jesus is a son of a bitch” and “Jesus is an ape.” The cars were spray-painted with the messages: “Victory of the Maccabees, and Happy Holidays.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the vandalism, saying in a statement that the perpetrators’ actions did not reflect the Jewish people as a whole. “It goes against Jewish values we have been raised on and the values we pass on to our children,” Netanyahu said Wednesday. “The continued freedom of worship for all religions in Israel will be safeguarded and we will make sure the lowly vandals are brought to justice,” he said.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said the attack was an attempt to disrupt the religious coexistence in the city. Father Claudius, who runs the church, confirmed the vandalism and mentioned that a similar attack occurred 10 months ago at the exact same place.

“I forgive those who did this and I say Happy Hanukkah. I am not angry. I believe in peace and the love of the religious people. The people who did this have no peace in their hearts,” the father told Israel Radio.

[Cronos]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the vandalism, saying in a statement that the perpetrators’ actions did not reflect the Jewish people as a whole. “It goes against Jewish values we have been raised on and the values we pass on to our children,” Netanyahu said Wednesday. “The continued freedom of worship for all religions in Israel will be safeguarded and we will make sure the lowly vandals are brought to justice,” he said.

If this happened in the Mozzie section, would any Moslem leader say that? I doubt it...

good on you, Prime Minister! Happy Hannukkah

[Cronos]

For reference to the Biblical books of the Maccabees that the graffiti artists refer to

Chapter 1	Chapter 2	Chapter 3	Chapter 4	Chapter 5	Chapter 6	Chapter 7	Chapter 8
Chapter 9	Chapter 10	Chapter 11	Chapter 12	Chapter 13	Chapter 14	Chapter 15	Chapter 16

[wideawake]

It is disgusting that it happened in the first place.

If this Ben Ari-ism continues in Israel, Israel may lose many Christian supporters.

Good for Netanyahu for being the grownup.

[Cronos]

The 2 biblical books of the Maccabees are about the leaders of the Jewish rebellion against their Greek overlords in the years between 175-150 BC. These were the guys who created the separate Jewish Kingdom and gave the Jews a solid, religious state.

They talk of how the salvation of the Jewish people in this crisis came through Mattathias' family, particularly his sons, Judas Maccabeus, Jonathan Maccabaeus, and Simon Maccabaeus, and Simon's son, John Hyrcanus.

These books were in the original KJV Bible and one can read, enjoy and be inspired by the story of Jude Macchabeus (the Hammer) and the struggle of the Jewish peoples.

[crusader71]

“No arrests have been made.” Obviously the Israeli authorities are not taking it seriously. The Netanyahu statement seems purely for media consumption. Christians are treated worse in Muslim countries for sure, but they are still second-class citizens in Israel and subject to much street thuggery such as this.

[Pecos]

Since no arrests have been made, why do we assume that the perps were Jewish? If you were a Moslem, wouldn’t this be a good way to pry Christian support away from Israel? Just sayin’ ....

[Pecos]

Second thought that hit me just after clicking “send” - The reference to Christ and apes is straight from the Koran with regard to Jews. Since Christ was a Jew, they could very well be taking that tack.

[Alex Murphy]

Vandals spray-painted profanities on the entrance to and on three vehicles belonging to the Monastery of the Cross in Jerusalem overnight Tuesday in the latest in a spate of so-called “price-tag” attacks on Christian institutions in Israel over the past year....

....graffiti spray-painted on its entrance which read... “Jesus is an ape”...

Well, it's not like it's without precedence...

[goat granny]

Bombs away over Mecca if it happens again..

[BlackVeil]

These books were in the original KJV Bible and one can read, enjoy and be inspired by the story of Jude Macchabeus ...

I would enjoy reading the Macabees in normal times, but not if it is scrawled on a monastery wall by vandals.