Image: The Jerusalem Post (source article)
Maronite prayer hall vandalised in Nahariya; vandal leaves apology on the altar
Statues and icons were smashed in the hall used by the Lebanese Maronite community; the Haifa archdiocese condemned the attack and police opened an inquiry.
Worshippers from the Lebanese Maronite community in Nahariya, in northern Israel, found smashed statues and damaged religious images on Sunday in the municipal hall they use as a church, The Jerusalem Post reported. A note in English asking forgiveness, with words to the effect of "I don't know what came over me", was left on the altar.
Father Yosef Yaakov, spokesman for the Maronite community in Israel, said the damage was discovered at about 5:30 pm, ahead of a 7 pm service. He said the identity and motive of those responsible were unknown and that it was too early to say whether religious hatred was involved. The community numbers about 1,100 people; several dozen attend Sunday services and hundreds gather on feast days.
The Maronite Archdiocese in Haifa condemned the act as an attack on the sanctity of a place of worship and on believers' right to practise their faith freely, demanded that those responsible be identified and brought to justice, and pledged that services would continue in the hall. "We do not respond to harm with harm," its statement said.
Israel Police said the Nahariya station opened an investigation immediately and was examining all leads. Lebanese Lobby could not independently confirm the details beyond the Post's account.
Know more about this story?
Send us information, photos or video. Our editors verify every submission.
ContributeMore · Church & Faith
Jbeil buries Father Samir Daou as bishop thanks security forces for swift arrest
Bishop Michel Aoun led the funeral at Saint Peter's Cathedral in Jbeil for the 68-year-old priest killed in his home in Ain Jrain, with the patriarch and the army commander represented.
Sheikh al-Aql: the state and the judiciary cannot be halted ‘to please anyone’
Sami Abi al-Mona warned that letting the explosives case bring down the government would be dangerous and urged all sides to rally behind the army.
Statues smashed at Zgharta cemetery; theft for drugs cited in Baalbek graves case
Unknown attackers stormed the Saints Cemetery in Harat al-Fouar at dawn, while a security source says the Hadath Baalbek suspect was looking for valuables to buy drugs.
Audi: we pray God keeps Lebanon from every aggressor and binds Lebanese to their army
In his Sunday homily at St George Cathedral, the Greek Orthodox metropolitan of Beirut also warned that homes chasing social media fame are failing to raise children on values.