Flock returns to bombed-out church...link follows

Mr. Jamil had cleared the rubble, put the basin on a small table, with a sheet and some candles, and decorated the cracked marble altar with flowers.
A sole icon of the Virgin Mary had survived the fire. Mr. Nabil placed a painting of Christ washing the feet of his disciples to hide another icon disfigured by the fire.
"It is ridiculous. [The attackers] are trying to transform this into a religious war. We are here to put an end to that," said Sgt. Rick Donahou, who came with a U.S. military team to assess the damage.
http://washingtontimes.com/world/20041017-111440-4043r.htm

Prayers for our brethren in Iraq and most especially for the continued well-being and safety of the baby, Savio, who has been baptized into the faith and family of God, his parents Nabil and Fayza, and Father Mansour.

Dear Pani Rose,

What a beautiful story of hope,love and the power of the Holy Spirit! You've made my day.

I also join with Neil in prayer for those affected by the turmoil in Iraq and for all who courageously keep the faith amid the threat of persecution.

We take so much for granted.

This calls for a Byzantine Cross over the 1/4 moon of Islam. The problem: I can't find one on the net.

Dan L

Dear Dan,

Actually, in the new Russian book "Encyclopedia of Orthodoxy," the moon over the cross is given another interpretation that has nothing to do with victory over Islam . . .

I've read others say that the crescent and the star of Islam are Byzantine emblems of the Virgin Mary that it appropriated.

Alex

Various explanantion regarding the crescent and star.

http://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/bldefsstarcrescent.htm

http://www.themodernreligion.com/misc/hh/crescent.html

http://www.altway.freeuk.com/Answers/139-ReFlag.htm

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Bunker/6066/ayyildiz.html

http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Flag_of_Turkey

Are we talking about the same thing? I've never seen a crescent over the cross. I've seen a cross over the crescent though. I'd like to see a picture of one.

Dan L

There is a picture of the cross and crescent on this page, which also says it predates the conflict between Islam and Christianity:

http://www.russia-hc.ru/eng/religion/chbuild/orthch4.cfm

--tim

Dear Tim,

Thanks for that substantiation!

Next time someone asks me for some, I'll know who to ask!!

God bless!

Alex

Dear Fr. Deacon Lance,

Having an easy day at work, are we?

Alex

Dear Pani Rose,

Thank you for the post, but what a sad story. Sad because of the consequences, that are now so prevalent throughout the world. With each terrorist attack, no matter where it is, Christians will leave. Actually, everyone will leave except the Muslims. They are forced to stay no matter how dangerous a place it is, so that the political/religious system of Islam may continue to grow. What an evil triumphal god they worship.

In Israel though, they came up against a wall. The Jews from their past experiences, know that they cannot leave. They must maintain their homeland...thus the problems in that part of the world. Two immovable people confronting one another.

On a whole, people will usually relate to their own kind and have compassion for them. In the case of these Muslims though, human nature itself has gone askew. They lack compassion even for their own, and rationalize it as being their 'fate'. What a pity!

With the Islamic mind the way it is, how can it not grow? Imagine them growing and conquering the vast economic network the West has formed. They are not stupid people. They watch us Christians war with one another, and then manipulate it to their best advantage.

Well, we can well say that through our economic know how, we seem to have prepared the world for the ultimate anti-christ.

Zenovia

Tim,

Thanks for that link - not so much for the cross/crescent discussion, as I can't say that it has gripped me, but for the site itself, which I hadn't seen previously.

The site is very interesting. It is intended to be available in 9 languages eventually - a curious mix, including Danish and Irish, among others. It's obviously an ongoing effort and there are varying amounts of material up in the 4 or 5 languages that are presently functional.

The main page is at:

Russia

Alex,

You'll want to look at the Irish page (if you haven't already). The English text suggests links between Ireland and Russia. Maybe more in the text that follows, if you want to teach yourself Irish Gaelic in your spare time

Celtic Introduction

Dave,

Lovely collection of icons pictured here:

Russian Icons

Unfortunately, some of the photos seem a bit dark, even allowing for the sometimes darker coloration seen in Russian iconography and darkening by smoke, etc.

Many years,

Neil

Neil,

It definitely is an ambitious site with loads to explore.

I love that it doesn't cut Orthodox Russia off from the wider world, but embraces the secular as well as the spiritual culture.

--tim

Tim,

I absolutely agree. Thanks again.

Many years,

Neil