That did not answer the question, you simply disputed my description of your source.
Are there any other corroborating sources?
As I am sure you will agree - slander is very common on the Internet, especially as it relates to this subject.
I sincerely hope that you're not using this thread as an excuse to not pray for Arab Christians. They endure things from the Muslims and they endure terrible things from the Israelis. It stabs my heart to see people willing to turn a blind eye and deny that the suffering, attacks, etc. even happens because they've been brought up to believe that Israel can do no wrong. Instead of trying to find a way to deny this event occurred, perhaps you should join us in praying for the Christians in the area.
Here's another link with the story (which also has links with related stories from the area):
I also came across quite a few other sites which mention the incident in passing and this story can also be found on Al-Jazeera. Even more importantly, I have a friend in Gaza (one of those Palestinian Christians everyone wants to forget exists) who also says it is true.
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Troparion - Tone 4
Commanders of the heavenly hosts, we who are unworthy beseech you, by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory, and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you: “Deliver us from all harm, for you are the commanders of the powers on high!”
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for me.
"It's later than you think. Hasten therefore, to do the work of God." ~ Fr. Seraphim Rose
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WEST BANK: A third-century Christian shrine in the small West Bank village of Aboud was destroyed May 31 by Israeli explosives.
The Israeli army said it was searching for terrorist suspects and did not know that the cave where the shrine is located was a holy place.
Fr. Aziz Halaweh, parish priest in Aboud, said Israeli soldiers approached the cave, located on a hill some 550 yards away from the old center of the village, late May 31 "without warning and without explanation."
He said the cave was "destroyed completely."
"We asked the soldiers why they did this, and they said they did not know it was a holy place, but that is not true, because the soldiers in this area know every house, know each place in Aboud," said Halaweh. "Their excuse is not accepted."
In a press statement the Israeli army said soldiers in the area identified a suspicious gathering on the hill, which dispersed as soldiers arrived. The army set what it described as a "controlled explosion."
"There was no sign identifying the cave as a religious site, and there were suspicious figures at the site," said an army spokeswoman. "Once it was clarified that it was a holy site, it was promised that no further activity would be conducted there."
The shrine, which belongs to the Greek Orthodox community, marks the spot where St. Barbara was killed by her father for becoming a Christian in the third century.
COPYRIGHT 2002 National Catholic Reporter
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group
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Troparion - Tone 4
Commanders of the heavenly hosts, we who are unworthy beseech you, by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory, and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you: “Deliver us from all harm, for you are the commanders of the powers on high!”
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for me.
"It's later than you think. Hasten therefore, to do the work of God." ~ Fr. Seraphim Rose
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The Arab Greek Orthodox Church councils, committees and institutions in Jerusalem, the Holy Land and Jordan circulated an appeal Aug. 23 on behalf of one of its priests.
On Aug. 22, 2002, Israeli police arrested Archimandrite Dr. Theodosios (Atallah) Hanna, spokesman of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem and the Holy Land. According to the council Hanna was detained at around 10 o’clock in the morning, with Israeli journalists informed in advance of the arrest and present to photograph the event. He was taken to the Israeli detention and interrogation center at the Russian Compound.
The Palestinian priest reported that he was charged on three counts:
•suspicion of relations with terrorist organizations;
•illegally entering an enemy country; and
•incitement.
During his five-hour interrogation, Hanna said he was shown interviews he had given the media expressing support for nonviolent resistance against the Israeli occupation. He was later released with the warning to refrain from political activity.
The charge of entering an enemy country was not unusual, since clergy frequently visit Syria and Lebanon to attend religious conferences and dialogues. Hanna noted that he traveled to these countries on his Vatican-issued passport. Israeli police, however, confiscated both his Vatican and his Israeli passports.
Observers note that this is a further deterioration in relationships between the Israeli government and the Greek Orthodox Church. Just one year earlier a holy synod ignored Israel’s attempt to block certain candidates in the election of Patriarch, and chose Irineos for this important position. Even after the election, the Israeli government refused to recognize him.
A second issue is the role of Arab clergy. As is common throughout the world, the church encourages local leadership. Thus, among Anglicans, Lutherans and Roman Catholics, the positions of bishop and patriarch are now held by Palestinian clergy—a point of public criticism in the Israeli media. Within the Greek Orthodox Church, the position of patriarch has remained in the hands of Greek-born priests. However, as official spokesman for the Jerusalem church, Archimandrite Hanna has risen in the ranks of priests. “This is an Israeli campaign to prevent an Arab priest to obtain a higher position within the Patriarchate,” Hanna reported.
This is the first time that Israeli police have arrested a religious leader or priest.
Click the link to read the rest of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs article by Fred Stickert (Church Leaders Question President's Rush to War):
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Troparion - Tone 4
Commanders of the heavenly hosts, we who are unworthy beseech you, by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory, and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you: “Deliver us from all harm, for you are the commanders of the powers on high!”
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for me.
"It's later than you think. Hasten therefore, to do the work of God." ~ Fr. Seraphim Rose
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I have never once attempted in this thread to deny that anything happened. I am simply asking to know more. I now know why it was hard to find, because this happened in 2002!
Anyway, you have accused me of attempting to deny something has happened (which I did not) and have implied that I seek to persecute Arab Christians by encouraging that they be ignored.
Nothing, could be further from the truth! Please speak carefully as you think judge me - you really do not know what I am about.
Now, aside from everything you have added to my words and intentions...
I did not understand you were rehashing something from 2002. I thought you were implying that this was something that had just happened.
But really, why a story from 2002?
I am sure we could all come up with stories of persecution by people from any faction, ad nauseum. We could dredge up many stories, I am quite sure, of terrible acts committed by:
Jews
Muslims
Roman Catholics
Eastern-Orthodox Christians
Protestant Christians
Atheists
Buddhists
Etc.
I'm very used to seeing random people on Christian websites denying that any wrongful actions could ever happen to the Palestinians at the hands of the Israelis. I'm even more used to seeing people on Christian websites stating that anything the Israelis do to the Palestinians is wonderful and that they deserve it. They usually use this as an excuse to argue and then never pray for the people. You came along wanting to argue over the link from which the information came, which is usually the first tactic among those who only insist on holding the secular state of Israel up as God's own. I've yet to see anything on the link in my OP which would suggest it isn't a reliable site. Those are people who put up with a lot- and yes- even the Muslims there put up with a lot. I was very clear in my hope that you weren't among those sorts of people. If you really aren't, that's great.
Really though, as this site is meant for praying for persecuted Christians- why are you insisting on using my thread to argue instead of seeing the obvious need to continue praying? Indeed the situation in Gaza has only gotten much worse since 2002. It's a horrible thing that has been going on for a long time. The point is, the Christian community there always takes the brunt and it's not getting any better for them. That's the point of this board- to pray for the persecuted Christians in the world. Do you deny that they are? I'm very confused as to why you'd even come here to start an argument on what is supposed to be a prayer thread.
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Troparion - Tone 4
Commanders of the heavenly hosts, we who are unworthy beseech you, by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory, and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you: “Deliver us from all harm, for you are the commanders of the powers on high!”
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for me.
"It's later than you think. Hasten therefore, to do the work of God." ~ Fr. Seraphim Rose
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Last edited by seashale76; 5th November 2009 at 10:27 PM.
The situation the world over is very bleak for Christians, for all who are called, who are the Lord's sheep.
It is as our Lord said, "In this world you shall have persecution. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."
Is is later than we think, is it not? So indeed, let us be about the work of God.
What is this work? "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (Joh 6:28-29)
And so, we are "persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
(2Co 4:9-11)
This world is death to us, as it was death to Him.
And what is death to us, is life to those who will believe through our witness.
The only reason I questioned your source was because there is so much slander in the world... against Christians as well as Jews, as well as Muslims.
And I hate it all.
We all have a common enemy, and it is not the Jews, or Israel, or the Muslims... anything.
It is Satan.
Let us not be ignorant of his devices, as we "suffer all things for God's elect", as He seeks and saves that which is lost, out of all nations and peoples.
The situation the world over is very bleak for Christians, for all who are called, who are the Lord's sheep.
It is as our Lord said, "In this world you shall have persecution. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."
Is is later than we think, is it not? So indeed, let us be about the work of God.
What is this work? "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (Joh 6:28-29)
And so, we are "persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
(2Co 4:9-11)
This world is death to us, as it was death to Him.
And what is death to us, is life to those who will believe through our witness.
The only reason I questioned your source was because there is so much slander in the world... against Christians as well as Jews, as well as Muslims.
And I hate it all.
We all have a common enemy, and it is not the Jews, or Israel, or the Muslims... anything.
It is Satan.
Let us not be ignorant of his devices, as we "suffer all things for God's elect", as He seeks and saves that which is lost, out of all nations and peoples.
exactly
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Troparion - Tone 4
Commanders of the heavenly hosts, we who are unworthy beseech you, by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory, and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you: “Deliver us from all harm, for you are the commanders of the powers on high!”
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for me.
"It's later than you think. Hasten therefore, to do the work of God." ~ Fr. Seraphim Rose
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Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on Thy Priest Hanna and grant him health, safety, and salvation.
Save your people, O Lord through the power of your Cross.
__________________ Virgin Theotokos, rejoice!
O Mary, Full of Grace;
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
For thou hast borne the Savior of our souls.
+ + + + +
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Glory Forever!
O Giver of Life, Glory to Thee!
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