Jerusalem: 16-year-old held over 'Death to Christians' graffiti at Benedictine abbey

An Orthodox monk cleans the graffiti from the door of the Greek Orthodox Seminary, next to the Dormition Abbey. Reuters

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested for vandalising the Catholic Benedictine Abbey of the Dormition and the Greek Orthodox Seminary in Jerusalem.

The arrest was made yesterday after a joint operation by Israeli police and the army, according to the Jerusalem Post.

The church in Jerusalem's Old City was atttacked with the Greek Orthodox Seminary next door early on Sunday morning.

Graffiti in Hebrew was scrawled on the walls, including the slogans "Christians to Hell", "Death to the heathen Christians the enemies of Israel" and "May his name be obliterated", accompanied by a Star of David.

article,article,article,article Related

The Benedictine abbey is on the slopes of Old Zion just outside the Old City of Jerusalem.

In a previous attack on the abbey in 2014, furniture and wooden crosses were set on fire. Two Israelis, including a minor, were recently charged over this incident and an earlier arson attack on a church on the Sea of Galilee.

Wadia Abu Nasser, of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops in the Holy Land, said: "Despite promises by the government, these incidents continue to happen. If we were to actually count all of these incidents, they'd be in the hundreds."

The Abbey is said to be on the site where Mary, Mother of Jesus, ended her days on earth.

related articles
Burning of biblical church in Israel an \'attack on us all\'—Israeli PM
Burning of biblical church in Israel an 'attack on us all'—Israeli PM

Burning of biblical church in Israel an 'attack on us all'—Israeli PM

Christian sites need more protection, Israeli church leaders say

Christian sites need more protection, Israeli church leaders say

Grave crosses desecrated in cemetery near Jerusalem
Grave crosses desecrated in cemetery near Jerusalem

Grave crosses desecrated in cemetery near Jerusalem

Christian sites in Jerusalem desecrated by hate graffiti
Christian sites in Jerusalem desecrated by hate graffiti

Christian sites in Jerusalem desecrated by hate graffiti

News
Assisted suicide: Scotland’s shame
Assisted suicide: Scotland’s shame

Increasingly Western societies, as they turn away from their Christian roots, become cultures of death.

Joe Rogan questions Big Bang theory, says he's 'sticking with Jesus' over Resurrection
Joe Rogan questions Big Bang theory, says he's 'sticking with Jesus' over Resurrection

Joe Rogan finds the idea of the Resurrection more realistic than the claim that the universe created itself.