The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth claimed in a Facebook post that a group that calls itself the “Soldiers of God” attacked the church on Sunday evening while it was closed.
“The Orthodox Community Council will not allow the desecration of a holy place, has filed a police complaint, and will follow up on it,” the church’s statement read.
The “Soldiers of God” removed the outer gate of the church and rang the bell without permission, the church claimed.
The “Soldiers of God” claimed to be protesting the Islamic State terror attack at Mar Elias Church in Damascus, which killed at least 20, it was noted in the church statement.
Video footage shared on social media appears to show a Greek Orthodox priest attempting to control the small crowd, while the crowd waves the flag of Israel and the Israeli-Christian religious flag. Jerusalem Post reports that the same footage appears to show protesters, supposedly from “Soldiers of God,” hitting others in the crowd on the head with wooden crosses.
Senior church leaders arrived at the scene, confronted protesters, and called the police, it was added. The Israeli newspaper maintained that the National Democratic Assembly in Nazareth has condemned the “Soldiers of God.”
“The Assembly considered the attack on the church as an attack on Nazareth and its people, an unsuccessful attempt to desecrate the city’s national position and its people, and an attempt to sow discord and promote foreign and strange agendas to our community,” the report stated.
The Greek Orthodox church in Nazareth
The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, also known as the Church of Saint Gabriel, holds significant historical and religious importance in Nazareth. It is believed to be built over a spring where, according to Greek Orthodox tradition (based on the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James), the Annunciation took place—the moment the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary to announce she would conceive Jesus.
This spring was Nazareth’s only natural water source and was used by Mary and her family. Early Christians used this site for worship, and its waters were historically believed to contain healing properties.
The church was destroyed by the Mamluk Sultan Baybars in the 13th century (around 1260). After a period of disrepair, the local Greek Orthodox community was granted permission to rebuild it by Zahir al-Umar in 1749, and the current structure was completed in 1750.
Nazareth is a city of immense religious significance, primarily known as the childhood home of Jesus. It is a major center for Christian pilgrimage and is home to a diverse population, predominantly Arab citizens of Israel, with a significant Christian minority (around 31 percent) and a Muslim majority (around 69 percent).
The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation stands alongside other significant Christian sites in Nazareth, each commemorating various aspects of biblical events.
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