Unknown persons had uprooted an iron cross that was embedded in a rock near the monastery of Tabgha on the banks of the Sea of Galilee, according to Wadie Abunassar, an official with the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land.

He said in a statement that an official in the monastery of monks belonging to the Benedictine Order had informed the Assembly of the vandalism at the church.

He said that the perpetrators, who were not known, are believed to have stormed the property of the monastery from the lake and that they intended to take out the cross and hide it, as the monastery was not subjected to theft or any other act of sabotage during this incident. Police were investigating this incident.

“We strongly condemn this heinous act, which appears to have been committed by people who hate the cross, and we call on the police to seriously investigate this incident and bring the perpetrators to justice,” said Abunassar on behalf of this organization.

“We also call on all concerned and responsible authorities, including the state, educational and religious figures, and the people, to educate everyone to respect the symbols and beliefs of others.”

Tabgha, on the north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee at the foot of the Mount of Beatitudes, about 3km south-west of Capernaum, is best known for Christ’s miraculous multiplication of loaves and fish to feed a multitude.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency