Amazing Virgin Mary statue stands tall once again in Syria
FREE Catholic Classes
Following the Assad's success in reclaiming an ancient Christian land in Syria, the statue of the Virgin Mary was once again erected on the cliff where a former depiction was destroyed by Islamists two years ago.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
6/16/2015 (8 years ago)
Published in Middle East
Keywords: Virgin Mary, Statue, Hope, Christians, Faith, Maaloula, Syria
MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - The 10-foot high statue overlooks the town of Maaloula, one of the world's oldest Christian communities. A video where a statue of the Virgin Mary was demolished by a Muslim sheik went viral over the Internet in 2013, raising concern among Christian communities.
The former statue stood tall on the cliff until the war between the loyal forces of President Bashar Assad and the Nusra Front, an affiliate of Al Qaeda in Syria. With the battling forces finally out of the community, the new statue promises to bring peace to the people.
"I made the statue as a message of peace for the ancient and unparalleled town of Maaloula," said the sculptor Buhaij al-Khoury in an interview with the Agence France-Presse, according to The Blaze.
Now, the community, whose residents speak Aramaic, are trying to restore the religious artifacts previously taken down and destroyed, including some images of Jesus Christ.
"The statue was a symbol of protection for me, and when it was gone I felt a huge loss," said a pharmacist in a statement with the AFP, during the ceremony for the statue. Christians in the community and Syria as a whole have faced and continue to face violent persecution from Islamic extremist fighters.
Over the past two years of violence in the ancient Christian area, there have been thirteen nuns and three aides reportedly kidnapped from a convent located at Maaloula. After giving $4 million for ransom and after the Syrian army freed a captured radical Islamist, those kidnapped were released according to The Blaze.
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
Mysteries of the Rosary
-
St. Faustina Kowalska
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
Saint of the Day for Wednesday, Oct 4th, 2023
-
Popular Saints
-
St. Francis of Assisi
-
Bible
-
Female / Women Saints
-
7 Morning Prayers you need to get your day started with God
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Chaplain Reveals Unrest at Columbia University Caused by Communists
-
Discovering Who We Are: God's Truth in Scripture
-
Pope Francis Advises Parish Priests on Fostering a Missionary Church
-
5 Reasons Going To Church Is Important (even on days you feel like you can skip)
-
U.S. Catholic Parishes Experience Resurgence of Traditional Practices
Daily Catholic
- Daily Readings for Saturday, May 04, 2024
- St. Florian: Saint of the Day for Saturday, May 04, 2024
- The Universal Prayer (attributed to Pope Clement Xi): Prayer of the Day for Saturday, May 04, 2024
- Daily Readings for Friday, May 03, 2024
- St. James the Lesser: Saint of the Day for Friday, May 03, 2024
- Prayer before Starting on a Journey: Prayer of the Day for Friday, May 03, 2024
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.