Statue of Christ Erected in Syria… Syrian Christians Ask for Russian Passports… Syrian Rebels Destroy Muslim Historical Sites

Monastery of the Mother of God. Saidnaya (al-Tall District. Rif Dimashq Governorate) SYRIA

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Monastery of the Cherubim. Saidnaya (al-Tall District. Rif Dimashq Governorate) SYRIA

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An MP delegation from Russia and the Ukraine erected a monumental statue of Christ on top of the mountain near the Monastery of the Cherubim in the Syrian city of Saidnaya. The statue symbolises hope and peace. Today, the Moscow Theological Academy, which initiated the project, noted that this monument could become a symbol of the hope of all Christians that there’d be a quick termination of the bloodshed in Syria. One of the group said, “The figure of Christ giving a blessing is on the path of the historical pilgrimage route from Constantinople to Jerusalem, at a height of 2,100 metres. One can see the sculpture from Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, and Israel“. The installation coincided with the Orthodox feastday of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God and the Muslim feast of Kurban Bayram. One of the Russian delegation said, “During the three days when the work was under way, the warring parties suspended military operations in the area and watched the installation of the sculpture, which is called ‘I Came to Save the World’”. The placing of the monument was under the auspices of the Spiritual Heritage of St Paul the Apostle Foundation, known for its charitable projects in the Middle East.

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In a statement posted on its website on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MID) said that some 50,000 Syrian Christians plan to apply for Russian citizenship, as they fear that Western-backed terrorists seek to eliminate the ancient Christian presence in Syria. A group of Christians from the Kalamoun area near Damascus wrote in a letter to the MID, “As Syrian law allows dual citizenship, we’d like to apply for Russian citizenship, if it’s possible. This would be an honour to every Syrian Christian seeking to obtain it. Of the 50,000 people… doctors, engineers, lawyers, and businessmen… ready to put their signature to this appeal, not a one wants to flee their home. We have everything that we need, we aren’t begging for money”.

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After destroying and looting two Christian churches, Islamist rebels holding the northern Syrian town of ar-Raqqah destroyed a historic mosque built to commemorate the 8th-century Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid. The insurgents suppressed local protests against the destruction with the use of live gunfire. The rebels who seized the town last March are members of the radical group Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. They make no secret of their affiliation to al-Qaeda. In a related development, Syria rebels destroyed a statue of the Arab poet Abu Tammam (Habib ibn Aws Al-Ta’i) in Jasim in southern Syria.

16 October 2013

Voice of Russia World Service

http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_10_16/Syria-Christians-erect-statue-of-Jesus-Christ-as-symbol-of-hope-and-peace-7536/

http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_10_16/About-50-000-Syrian-Christians-to-apply-for-Russian-citizenship-Foreign-Ministry-0055/

http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_10_04/Syrian-rebels-destroy-heritage-2111/

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Eid al-Adha Celebrations: Putin Lauds Tighter Ties Between State and Muslims in Holiday Speech

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President Vladimir Putin greeted Russian Muslims at the start of Eid al-Adha (a religious holiday better known in Russia as Kurban Bayram). In his Tuesday address, Putin said, “This holiday, which marks the end of the Muslim pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca, is an integral part of a rich spiritual legacy that belongs to our multinational community. It has a profound moral sense and conveys joy; it reinforces people’s faith and spirituality. Islam is based on eternal values of compassion and justice, on mercy and love for your neighbour”. Putin said that he was glad to see Russian Muslims coming up with more initiatives in the cultural and educational spheres. He emphasised that the state paid much attention to beefing up ties with Russian Muslims by facilitating dialogue between them and other confessions.

15 October 2013

Voice of Russia World Service

http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_10_15/Putin-lauds-tighter-ties-between-state-and-Muslim-community-in-holiday-speech-1712/#246568313

Editor’s Note:

You can stand with Vladimir Vladimirovich or you can stand with the usual cast of suspects who ape sectarian hatred of Muslims. I stand with VVP… proudly, without pretence, and without equivocation. God requires this of us… we must oppose the haters… we shouldn’t rest or relax our vigiliance until we drive them out or shut them up. That’s what REAL Christians do…

BMD

St Petersburg Police Foil Attempted Race-Hate Clash Provocation

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On Wednesday, St Petersburg Police Chief MVD Major General Sergei Umnov said that cops forestalled an attempt by nationalists to incite interethnic clashes during important Islamic holiday celebrations in Russia’s second largest city. He said that nationalists planned to stir up unrest in the city during the festivities for Eid al-Adha, celebrated in Russia from Tuesday to Thursday this year, in a bid to “to square off natives of St Petersburg against immigrants from the Caucasus and southern borders”, who are predominantly Muslims.

According to police, unidentified leaders of nationalist movements paid two young men to pretend that Muslim emigrants injured them in attacks. One of the young men gave himself a self-inflicted knife wound, whilst an accomplice shot the other in the back with a non-lethal firearm. Later, both took pictures of their wounds and posted them on social websites, claiming they came from attacks on them by emigrants, calling on people to take to the streets in response. A spokesman for the cops said that the two young men confessed that the attacks were shams after investigators doubted the credibility of their allegations during questioning. The police added that the youth who staged the gunshot wound to his back said that the perps paid him 20,000 roubles (625 USD. 645 CAD. 655 AUD. 460 Euros. 390 UK Pounds) to agree to stage the injury.

Umnov said that the SKP opened a criminal case on charges of incitement of racial-hatred, and police are looking for the organisers of the foiled plot. The incident comes after Moscow witnessed a major surge of inter-ethnic tensions last weekend, which flared up after an emigrant, believed by police to be foreign, stabbed a native Muscovite to death last week. On Sunday and Monday, cops detained hundreds of people overnight in response to the violence that erupted in Moscow’s southern Biryulyovo neighbourhood, where the stabbing took place, after protests over the murder turned into a mass riot.

16 October 2013

RIA-Novosti

http://en.ria.ru/crime/20131016/184185287/St-Petersburg-Police-Foil-Attempted-Race-Hate-Clash-Provocation.html

Editor’s Note:

Islam is one of the Big Four Traditional Religions (Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism) of Russia. Any questions? The authorities treat Islam and Muslims with respect… as does the Church. The American konvertsy who echo sectarian hatred of Muslims are chock fulla shit. As for me, I agree with HH and with VAC… they respect Muslims and treat Islam with full courtesy. It’s up to you to choose your stance. I’ve chosen mine… it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out where I stand… and I’m NOT alone…

By the way, there are extremist Far Right elements in ROCOR who echo the nationalist haters in Russia. These are the same folks who sucked up to (or, are still sucking up) to Langley (do remember how they brought that provocateur John Herbst to the talks discussing unity with the MP). Don’t fall for their lying cant. Most probably, it’s a provocation to weaken and discredit the Rodina. Look at who associates with whom… both now and in the past… after all, shitbirds of a feather DO flock together.

BMD 

Putin Sent Greetings to Muslims on Eid al-Adha

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On Thursday, the Kremlin press service reported that President Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to Muslims on Eid al-Adha, which begins on Thursday and continues through the weekend. Putin wrote, “Over the centuries this holiday brought the brightest and most gracious feelings. It brings people closer, affirms the ideals of kindness, compassion, and respect, and reveals the depth of the timeless spiritual values of Islam”. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov offered the more specific wish for a ceasefire in Syria throughout the holiday period. After meeting with his Swiss counterpart, Didier Burkhalter, Lavrov said, “I very much expect that the attempts to organise a truce that are currently underway will succeed”.

The UN/Arab League special envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, called Syrian government forces and rebels to agree a truce throughout Eid al-Adha. On Wednesday, the Syrian government said that it agreed the proposal and some members of the armed opposition also responded positively. Speaking about his talks with Burkhalter, Lavrov said, “We’re convinced that there can only be a political solution to the [Syrian] crisis and that the sooner the violence ends and a dialogue without preconditions begins, the more hope all of us will have for exiting the crisis with the least harm done”.

Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, comes the day after pilgrims making the Hajj to Mecca in Saudi Arabia descend from Mount Arafat. It commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim‘s readiness to sacrifice his first-born son Ishmael. Nowadays, the holiday celebrates commitment, obedience, and self-sacrifice in the name of Allah. As a symbol of Ibrahim’s sacrifice, all Muslims who can afford it must slaughter a sheep or cow and distribute its meat equally among members of their family, friends, and the poor.

25 October 2012

RIA-Novosti

http://en.ria.ru/russia/20121025/176902101.html