SYRIA-RELIGIOUS ICONS Syria's Christians restore statue of Virgin Mary

Record ID: 151145

  • Title: SYRIA-RELIGIOUS ICONS Syria's Christians restore statue of Virgin Mary
  • Date: 14th June 2015
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (JUNE 13, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF UNVEILING OF VIRGIN MARY STATUE PEOPLE WATCHING UNVEILING SYRIAN FLAG FLYING MILITARY PERSONNEL GUARDING EVENT/CARRYING GUNS AND SYRIA'S FLAG PEOPLE SAT ON CAR AT EVENT
  • Embargoed: 29th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAD99ADYOSZOV3TG0JQ2DW3KVQB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The citizens of Maaloula celebrated on Saturday (June 13) after a replica statue was erected on a hilltop above the town. The original, which had been in place since 2006 was damaged by Nusra Front fighters in 2013.
    The town was recaptured in April last year by Syrian government forces.
    Both Christian and Muslim residents of the city were jubilant at the re-inauguration of the statue, marking the installation with applause and hymns praying for peace in the war ravaged country.
    Spectators expressed their joy at seeing the statue back in the town, one of the world's oldest Christian settlements.
    "I cannot describe my feelings. You feel that everything is returning back to the way it was. I do not know how to describe the feeling. It is a real indescribable joy," said Houda Nassif, a resident of Maaloula.
    The figure made from fibreglass stands at over three metres tall and has been positioned at the base of the original statue.
    The inhabitants here still speak Aramaic, a Semitic language believed to have been the language of Jesus.
    In addition to re-establishing the statue, many bibles, and religious icons have been returned to Maaloula after they were stolen and smuggled into Lebanon. Dating back a few centuries, the items are not archaeological pieces, but are items of great cultural and historical significance.
    Louqa al-Khoury, Greek Orthodox Deputy Patriarch, called Syrians not to leave their country whether they are Muslims or Christians.
    "They (rebels) are coming to sabotage Syria's monuments, Syria's civilization and Syria's religions. They are here to damage these beautiful monuments and old civilization that Syria belongs to. They do not know Muslims or Christians. My message to them (Syrians) is not to leave their country and to stay steady and rooted in their homeland whether they are Muslims or Christians," he said.
    During the celebration, Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregorios III Lahham, called for peace and love between all Syrians, regardless of their faith.
    He added, "We have to return to our relatives whom we lived with. We will lie with them. We will return to our tradition, love, village and we will return to our communication and solidarity with each other. This is the biggest return".
    In December 2013 about a dozen nuns from Maaloula were kidnapped by rebels, after Islamist fighters took the ancient quarter of the Christian town, north of Damascus. They were later released, having been held for more than three months.
    Syria's Christian minority has broadly tried to stay on the sidelines of the conflict, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and which has become increasingly sectarian.
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