Robbing the church at the site of Christ’s Transfiguration has drawn disgusted comments.
Leading Holy Land Christians called the burglary at the site “a heinous crime and an act that violates the sanctity of the Holy Sites”.
They have asked the police to conduct an investigation. They hope the police will “seriously look into the matter and apprehend the perpetrators who are culpable of these disgraceful act”.
The Church of the Transfiguration is on Mount Tabor, near the Sea of Galilee in Israel.
It is held to be the site of Christ’s Transfiguration.
Unknown burglars robbed the church Monday. They destroyed the tabernacle, desecrated the Hosts, and stole the ciborium after throwing the Hosts on the floor. A ciborium is a container shaped like a shrine or a cup with an arched cover. It is used to hold the Eucharist.
Icons were damaged, chalices were stolen, and the donation box was robbed.
Although Jewish extremists have targeted some Christian churches and holy sites for vandalism, church officials say they believe robbery was the motive in this instance.
There was no graffiti painted on the church, which is a major pilgrimage site for Christians.
At the Transfiguration, Christ went up the mountain to pray and his appearance was physically changed. He conversed with the prophets Elijah and Moses, according to the gospels.
The Transfiguration revealed Christ’s divinity to his disciples Peter, James, and John, who were with him at the time.
Source
- CNA
- Source: See the Holy Land
