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ISIS bombs historic Christian monastery in Iraq
By ARIEL COHEN
03/22/2015 16:36
PHOTOS: Pakistanis mourn in wake of Taliban church at...
ISIS defaces churches in Iraq as assaults on Christia...
Mideast Christian groups urge UN to act on Islamic St...
ISIS militants first took over the church in July, 2014, storming the
monastery and expelling its monks.
Militants blow up 4th-century Christian Mar Behnam monastery near
Mosul.. (photo credit:TWITTER)
Islamic State militants have reportedly destroyed the ancient
Christian Mar Behnam Monastery in the predominantly Christian town of
Qaraqosh in northern Iraq on Thursday.
The destroyed monastery dates back to the fourth century and is known
to contain one of the most valuable Syrian libraries in Iraq. Images
of the destruction of the Christian holy site were released by Islamic
State media this past week, but it is unclear when the actual bombings
occurred.
The photos show bombings of both the tomb complex of Saint Behnam and
of Saint Sarah, two saints who were converted to Christianity by Saint
Matthew. The two saints were the children of Iraqi Assyrian ruler
Sennacherib, who killed his children after realizing they had
converted from paganism. Sennacherib is said to have converted to
Christianity on his deathbed.
The church contained intricate decorations and features, such as
Syriac and Armenian carvings. The main church structure dates back to
the 14th century. It is a place of pilgrimage for Christians in the
Middle East for its links to Assyrian and Syriac heritage, and because
it is one of the most richly carved and artistic monasteries in
northern Mesopotamia.
ISIS militants first took over the church in July, 2014, when they
stormed the monastery and expelled its monks, forcing them to leave
the premises The militants allowed the monks to carry some of the
monastery's relics with them when they left.
The destruction of the monastery comes just a week after photos were
released by ISIS militants showing the destruction of relics in the
George Chaldean Catholic Monastery near Mosul. The Islamic State has
previously vowed that they will destroy all Christian historical sites
in the regions that fall under their control.
ISIS destroyed Jonah's tomb in Mosul, Iraq in July and destroyed
countless Assyrian artifacts in Nimrod this March. The jihadist
organization believes that Christian relics represent both a
polytheistic and idolatrous religion, and thus, are an assault on
Islam.
In February the Islamic State decapitated 21 Egyptian Christians in
Libya, and last month, the militant group kidnapped over 220 Assyrian
Christians. Due to Islamic State violence in both Iraq and Syria,
thousands of Christians have fled their homes in fear and are living
as displaced persons in the surrounding region.
http://www.jpost.com/Christian-News/Islamic-State-bombs-historic-Christian-monastery-in-Iraq-394721
From: A. Papazian
By ARIEL COHEN
03/22/2015 16:36
PHOTOS: Pakistanis mourn in wake of Taliban church at...
ISIS defaces churches in Iraq as assaults on Christia...
Mideast Christian groups urge UN to act on Islamic St...
ISIS militants first took over the church in July, 2014, storming the
monastery and expelling its monks.
Militants blow up 4th-century Christian Mar Behnam monastery near
Mosul.. (photo credit:TWITTER)
Islamic State militants have reportedly destroyed the ancient
Christian Mar Behnam Monastery in the predominantly Christian town of
Qaraqosh in northern Iraq on Thursday.
The destroyed monastery dates back to the fourth century and is known
to contain one of the most valuable Syrian libraries in Iraq. Images
of the destruction of the Christian holy site were released by Islamic
State media this past week, but it is unclear when the actual bombings
occurred.
The photos show bombings of both the tomb complex of Saint Behnam and
of Saint Sarah, two saints who were converted to Christianity by Saint
Matthew. The two saints were the children of Iraqi Assyrian ruler
Sennacherib, who killed his children after realizing they had
converted from paganism. Sennacherib is said to have converted to
Christianity on his deathbed.
The church contained intricate decorations and features, such as
Syriac and Armenian carvings. The main church structure dates back to
the 14th century. It is a place of pilgrimage for Christians in the
Middle East for its links to Assyrian and Syriac heritage, and because
it is one of the most richly carved and artistic monasteries in
northern Mesopotamia.
ISIS militants first took over the church in July, 2014, when they
stormed the monastery and expelled its monks, forcing them to leave
the premises The militants allowed the monks to carry some of the
monastery's relics with them when they left.
The destruction of the monastery comes just a week after photos were
released by ISIS militants showing the destruction of relics in the
George Chaldean Catholic Monastery near Mosul. The Islamic State has
previously vowed that they will destroy all Christian historical sites
in the regions that fall under their control.
ISIS destroyed Jonah's tomb in Mosul, Iraq in July and destroyed
countless Assyrian artifacts in Nimrod this March. The jihadist
organization believes that Christian relics represent both a
polytheistic and idolatrous religion, and thus, are an assault on
Islam.
In February the Islamic State decapitated 21 Egyptian Christians in
Libya, and last month, the militant group kidnapped over 220 Assyrian
Christians. Due to Islamic State violence in both Iraq and Syria,
thousands of Christians have fled their homes in fear and are living
as displaced persons in the surrounding region.
http://www.jpost.com/Christian-News/Islamic-State-bombs-historic-Christian-monastery-in-Iraq-394721
From: A. Papazian