Christian world

Islamic State Demolishes Christian Church in Syria

  The Assyrian Network for Human Rights recently published the following photograph saying they are the demolished remains of the Church of Saint Mar Beesho‘a in Tel Shamiran, an Assyrian Christian village located in the countryside of the northern city of Hasakah—which was earlier occupied and ransacked by the Islamic State.

Armenian Muslims living in Turkey are returning to Christianity

Armenians living in Turkey – descendants of the Christians who embraced Islam – are returning to the faith of their fathers in great numbers, reports the Linga news portal.

According to the famous Agos Armenian weekly newspaper published in Istanbul, the cases of conversion of Armenian Muslims to Christianity, which are becoming more frequent, indicate that they (Armenians) have preserved their ancestors’ faith deep in their memory.

A ‘bulletproof’ cross rises in Karachi

  Pakistani businessman Parvez Henry Gill says he was sleeping when God crashed into one of his dreams and gave him a job: find a way to protect Christians in Pakistan from violence and abuse. “I want you to do something different,” God told him.

Vatican recognizes state of Palestine in new treaty

The Vatican officially recognized the state of Palestine in a new treaty finalized May 13, immediately sparking Israeli ire and accusations that the move hurt peace prospects.

The treaty, which concerns the activities of the Catholic Church in Palestinian territory, makes clear that the Holy See has switched its diplomatic recognition from the Palestine Liberation Organization to the state of Palestine.

The Christian Quarter in Jerusalem was attacked

Residents of the Christian quarter of Jerusalem are becoming victims of attacks by extremists; this time not only were the shrines of the believers desecrated, but also their houses, reports the Linga portal.
On Tuesday, May 5, three Christian public organizations of Jerusalem – “Youths of the Christian Quarter”, “Development of the Christian Quarter Committee” and “the Seed of a Better Life” center published a joint statement in which they condemned the latest events occurred on the territory of the old city’s famous district. According to the human rights activists, a group of individuals made a barbaric raid on the Christian quarter. As a result, a monastery belonging to a jurisdiction of the Ethiopian Church was damaged together with a number of houses and shops belonging to Christians.

New Turkish sites on UNESCO list

Ten new cultural and natural Turkish heritage sites have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik said they were informed about the situation on April 23, adding, “Van’s Akdamar Church, Istanbul’s Yıldız Palace, Antalya’s ancient city of Aspendos, the Dağlık Phrygia region in Kütahya-Eskişehir-Afyon, Edirne’s Uzun Köprü, Siirt’s İsmail Fakirullah shrine, Muğla’s ancient city of Stratonikeia, Bolu’s Mudurnu Ahi City, Amasya’s Harşena Mount and Pontus King and Rock Tombs and Kahramanmaraş’s Eshab-ı Kehf social complex are among these places. The number of our heritage sites on the UNESCO list increased to 62. Every year, we can submit two sites to the UNESCO Tentative List; one is a natural site and the other is a cultural site. From now on, we will start working to determine the ones among these sites to be submitted to the permanent list.”