Portuguese On January 17, a crucifix (pictured above) was destroyed in Cinisello Balsamo, a municipality in the Province of Milan, Italy. This comes days after a statue of the Virgin Mary was destroyed and urinated on by a group of North Africans in Italy. According to the report: “Christmas is over and nativities have been taken down, making room again for blasphemous and … [Read more...]
Islamic State Breaks Another Church Cross
A good before and after photo of St. Ephrem Cathedral -- former seat of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese -- in Mosul. To the right is how it stood before the Islamic State took over in July. To the left is after -- with the Cross broken off the cathedral's dome. … [Read more...]
Tripoli: Salafis Ban Christian Crosses and Icons
French In Tripoli, roaming bands of armed Salafis—Muslims who seek to follow the example of Islam’s prophet as literally as possible—went door to door of the city’s jewelry stores, ordering the owners to stop selling any crosses or Christian icons. “Immediately thereafter,” report Arabic media, “the store owners collected all the crosses and Christian icons and delivered … [Read more...]
Coptic Woman ‘Martyred for the Cross’ — ‘Body Torn’
On his Twitter account, Coptic Bishop Raphaeil, who also serves as Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Christian Church, just wrote: Oh how lucky you are, Mary, you who are beloved of Christ. They tore your body because of the Cross. Yet they offered you the greatest service and gave you a name of honor as one who attained the crown of martyrdom. The … [Read more...]
Western Ignorance of the ‘Conditions of Omar’
A jihadi group occupying the Syrian town of Raqqa recently gave Christian minorities living there three choices: 1) convert to Islam, 2) remain Christian but pay tribute and accept third-class subject status, or 3) die by the sword. According to the BBC, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria issued a directive citing the Islamic concept of “dhimma”, [which] requires … [Read more...]