The war against Christianity has suffered another casualty in the Middle East.
Satellite photos have officially confirmed what many Christian leaders and preservationists had feared: One of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world, located in Iraq, has been reduced to a field of rubble by ISIS thugs. 
St. Elijah’s Monastery stood as a place of worship for 1,400 years, and most recently hosted U.S. troops for prayers and services. In earlier millennia, generations of monks tucked candles in the niches, prayed in the chapel and worshiped at the altar. The Greek letters chi and rho, representing the first two letters of Christ’s name, were carved near the entrance.
This month, at the request of the Associated Press, satellite imagery firm Digital Globe tasked a high resolution camera to grab photos of the site, and then pulled earlier images of the same spot.
Before it was razed, a partially restored, 27,000-square-foot stone and mortar building stood fortress-like on a hill above Mosul. Although the roof was largely missing, it had 26 distinctive rooms including a sanctuary and chapel. One month later photos show “that the stone walls have been literally pulverized,” said imagery analyst Stephen Wood, CEO of Allsource Analysis, who pinpointed the destruction between August and September 2014.
“Bulldozers, heavy equipment, sledgehammers, possibly explosives turned those stone walls into this field of gray-white dust. They destroyed it completely,” he said from his Colorado offices.
On the other side of the world, in his office in exile, in Irbil, Iraq, Catholic priest Rev. Paul Thabit Habib, 39, stared in disbelief at the before- and after- images.
“Our Christian history in Mosul is being barbarically leveled,” he said in Arabic. “We see it as an attempt to expel us from Iraq, eliminating and finishing our existence in this land.”
The Islamic State group, which now controls large parts of Iraq and Syria, has killed thousands of civilians in the past two years. Along the way, its fighters have destroyed whatever they consider contrary to Islam.
St. Elijah’s joins a growing list of more than 100 religious and historic sites looted and destroyed, including mosques, tombs, shrines and churches. Ancient monuments in the cities of Nineveh, Palmyra and Hatra are in ruins. Museums and libraries have been pillaged, books burned, artwork crushed — or trafficked.
U.S. troops and advisers had worked to protect and honor the monastery, a hopeful endeavor in a violent place and time.
“I would imagine that many people are feeling like, ‘What were the last 10 years for if these guys can go in and destroy everything?'” said U.S. Army reserve Col. Mary Prophit, who was deployed there in 2004 and again in 2009.
Built in 590, tragedy struck at St. Elijah’s in 1743, when as many as 150 monks who refused to convert to Islam were massacred by a Persian general.
Roman Catholic Army chaplain Jeffrey Whorton, who celebrated Mass on the monastery’s altar, was grief-stricken at its loss.
“Why we treat each other like this is beyond me,” he said. “Elijah the prophet must be weeping.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Britain, France , Germany and the U.S. just sit back and allow this hate to continue. Merkel wants to flood Europe with haters so they can go on welfare. Britain’s Parliament is debating on whether to Ban Trump. Ms. Hillary labels anyone who speaks against this evil as intolerant. The West needs leadership to stamp out these haters.
I totally agree with you Main Street. Most of us in the United States agree with you, but our leaders are not listening to us.
All of our leaders, of both parties, and the media, are controlled by the same clique that care nothing about what
the American people need or want.
Leadership to stamp out hate won’t come from Clinton, Trump is the onlyone that can handle this.
Why are we looking to other countries to tell us what to do? They all just want out money, but Iran got it.
VOTE TRUMP…Make our country great again !!!!!
If silly Sarah switches from Cruz to Trump, it is because she believes that Trump can do more for her extremist Zionist patrons than Cruz can do.
You give the word stupid a whole new meaning!
You are exactly right Harold. tx rebel’s liberal hate speech is what’s killing our nation now.
Stick it where it counts most you demoncrat
YOU ARE RIGHT
In this country leadership has been added to the list of what is considered 4 letter words. Thanks to the willingness of the majority of Americans to give the losers a chance at leadership in our government and in all other areas of any import we are going down the tubes into extinction. The dumbing down of our students thanks to Dumbocrap ideologies was the beginning. Now Dumbocraps rule and there is nothing to stop the anti American idiots from making this once great nation even lower than a third world nation. IF only you folks would stop voting based on genitals and start looking into the mindset of the folks trying to become the leaders Hillary Rotten would not even be on the ballot. Her husband’s claim to fame was the number of women he had sex with in the oval office. Her claim to fame will be the same .
i would caution readers to beware of being manipulated into supporting yet another war.
There’s a good deal of evidence that – just like Al Quaida before them – ISIS (or “ISIL,” if you’re D’ohbama or a D’ohbamabot) was created by agents of the USG, who supplied training, supplies, weaponry, and money to “destabilize” the countries on the PNAC agenda.
This tactic is known as “agents provocateur,” and has been successfully employed to manipulate the sheeple into wars for centuries. It’s also been routinely employed by police in American demonstrations against injustice, and it works like this: an agent(or agents) embed themselves in the crowd, incite anger, and maybe throw a bottle or brick at the cops so the police can then be justified in applying force to “disperse” the crowd with violent actions. How it works nationally can be best summed up, i think, by understanding the following quote:
“Why of course the people don’t want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally the common people don’t want war – neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”
— Hermann Goering(1893-1946) Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, President of the Reichstag, Prime Minister of Prussia and, as Hitler’s designated successor, the second man in the Third Reich. [Göring] April 18, 1946
Source: Nuremberg Diary (Farrar, Straus & Co 1947), by Gustave Gilbert (an Allied appointed psychologist), who visited daily with Goering and his cronies in their cells, afterwards making notes and ultimately writing the book about these conversations.
What i’m saying is this: do NOT discount the possibility that ISIS agents were ORDERED to destroy the monastery specifically to PROVOKE anger and desire for retaliation. Fall for this act(and similar ones), and you fall into the “get fooled again,” category as The Who so eloquently sang about.
You make an excellent point that makes sence.
I know that God is watching this. This will not go unpunished.
Speaking of religious shrines, I would like to see Israel level Islam’s Dome of the Rock and rebuild their temple on the site. Taking down a Muslim shrine would send a message to ISIS that they aren’t the only ones who can play the game.
AMEN!! but the Lord will do it at the right time
Amen. It will be totally destroyed when the time comes.
“Two wrongs don’t make a right.” But I understand where you are coming from. I say use satellites to cover all holy shrines/places of worship and then unleash drones, and/or special forces troops to wipe out the perpetrators…The old saying, “Live by the sword, die by the sword,” seems to have risen to a new level..No pun intended…
I say go and NUKE them, and Isis.
I can concur but we the USA has the power to wipe them all off the face of this earth NOW. but we have a president who has no balls. A total coward!
afraid this will cause so much more deaths to the innocents. mark them up as just war casualties.
but we need to look at the big picture. WORLD PEACE
nukes will only ruin our earths atmospheres.
Air attacks – Air attacks – Air attacks and then more air attacks.
tis s called President has made us weak and the World knows it.
PUT A PRESIDENT IN WHO WILL BEEF OUR MILITARY UP….not illary
Obamination is not a coward, he is pure evil muslime!
Blaaa blaba words are meaningless unless their is Truth of Love, and to know what is Love one needs to know how to. show and speak of Love.
Wake up and smell the Chit dude. ISIS does not have the inner morals for love more or less show it.
now take a side and stand by it!
Lololol oh boy are you out of touch
Forgiveness and accountability for ones wrong will happen in this .
TGFD here.
I’m hopeful that Trump announces soon that he will not tolerate any further destruction of ancient, Christian monasteries and churches when he takes office.
I expect to hear him say that the biggest and most revered mosques in all of izzlum will be targeted for total destruction if the animals persist in their lunacy.
“And I’m talking about mecca, medina and also that golden dome in Jeruslem with the rock beneath it. Saudi Arabia WILL do something to stop the animals, or they WILL keep their mouths shut when I do it for them. Don’t think I’m joking, either. I WILL destroy radical izzzlum, period”
Go Trump in 2016!!
Why is Mecca and Medina Still standing??????
The word “Christ” is a title,not a name. It means Messiah(Hebrew anglicized) anointed one, or chosen one. Hebrews 11:26 (KJV)calls Moses the Christ since he was chosen by God to liberate his people from Egypt. As for the destruction of the ancient monastery, it is deplorable for anyone to destroy any kind of property belonging to someone else. However, until God’s kingdom under Christ Jesus takes over, we will see this escalate. (Mathew 6: 9-13, Daniel 2:44,Isaiah 2:2-4 also Mathew 24:12)
The Holy Bible indicates that the 13 tribes will be at war and will destroy themselves, and eye for an eye. It’s a pity the Geneva Convention prohibit bombing churches and hospitals. However, we can always do it covertly. This way when they realize what happened it would be too late.
I would not be to quick to retaliate against all Muslims for the actions of a few. Let’s just leave them sitting in the piles of the rubble they create, brew in their own hate, and figure out for themselves how much longer they want to live like vermin. If they get too close to my world, my friends, my treasures, my country … kill them swift and sure. Western culture, western values, and our lens of the world is not for them. I think Trump gets it, but he may blunder into a more deadly war if he plays the eye for an eye card.
That’s why Trump is correct by stating the border will be closed and supervised to eliminate those brain washed peoples who want to destroy Christians and American! This next election can’t come too soon
Built on the Rock the church doth stand, Even when steeples are falling; Crumbled have spires in every land,
Bells still are chiming and calling; Calling the young and old to rest, But above all the soul distressed,
Longing for rest everlasting.
Surely in temples made with hands, God, the Most High, is not dwelling; High above earth His temple stands,
All earthly temples excelling; Yet He whom heavens cannot contain Chose to abide on earth with men,
Built in our bodies His temple.
Grant then, O God, wherever men roam, That, when the church bells are ringing, Many in saving faith may come
Where Christ His message is bringing: “I know Mine own, Mine own know Me; Ye, not the world, My face shall see.
My peace I leave with you.” Amen.
Thank you.
Without the express support of the West, this could NEVER happen.
Trump is no savior nor should be worshiped. The truth is Trump is a slander, liar, woman hater, racial bigot, temper tantrum throwing child, too many faces than one can count – he puts them on at hi convenunce, anti Semetic, spoiled rotten economic bigot who is a slave owner.
Are you by any chance looking in the mirror?
Shove your face up someone’s ass …
WOW you had to copy that again to place on here AGAIN? you already been told you are brainwashed and listen tyo the Demos and MSM too much!
This was only an earthly building used for religious ceremonies. Let’s remember the words of Christ Jesus concerning the Old Testament temple, which the Romans destroyed in 70 AD. By faith, by our baptism and work of the Holy Spirit we Christians down through the centuries are united with the Eternal Temple, Christ Crucified. It is God’s temple, not made by hands, and it will remain forever and ever. Praise God! And it is our mission to continue to build this Temple around the world with more and more sons and daughters of God, our sisters and brothers in Christ.
Which begs the question why are we not destroying mosks in the US.
YES, I plan to vote Trump, but because he says he will negotiate agreements which will benefit the U S. Hopefully both sides must benefit to negotiate a deal but clear benefit to the U S must be PARAMOUNT. No more treaties or trade agreements to help other nations at our expense. And no more open borders with no controls of type, number and character of immigrants. We need to return to our previous policy of limiting and tailoring legal immigration to admit only desirable immigrants and to changing our ethnic mix unlike current policies are designed to change the mix for political purposes. And no immigration of individuals or groups who do not WANT to change THEIR culture to integrate with and strengthen OUR culture. And no increase in legal immigration. We must avoid becoming an overpopulated, impoverished country with insufficient food and water as most countries will be at current world population growth rates including us if “refugees” feely flow into our country.
YOU KNOW WHAT, some of your news or thoughts are really good and funny, but this time when you used MUSLIM THUGS DESTROYS CHRISTIANITY is totally ignorant, uncivilized and unacceptable in the society, who told you that ISIS are MUSLIMS, this organization was created by US and ARABS especially SAUDI ARABIA to destroy SYRIA and ASSAD, all this time they were arming REBELS with all sort of ARMS and EQUIPMENT, when they saw nothing happening with ASSAD, the trend changed into FROM REBEL to ISIS, just imagine these ISIS so called have brain to think and establish any name like ISIS which is said to be meant ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA, come on – let us grow up, – ISIS have all type of people BLACK, BROWN, WHITE , ARABS, PAKISTANIS, SOMALIS, SUDANESE, SAUDIS, TUNISIAN, LIBYAN, PALESTINIANS, EGYPTIANS (ex Morsi people) CHIRSTIANS, MUSLIMS, JEWS, all sort of people. Frankly speaking, I am totally against of these STUPID so called ISIS, (ACTUALLY THESE GROUP ARE CALLED DAHESH) WHY CANT US make plan with other countries to destroy and eliminate them from the MAP , when they could do it to SADDAM and GHADDAFI why can’t they do it ISIS,
I am sick To see the destruction of these Holy sites by these Muslims is absolutely sickening. God does say to give of your heart and forgive. Something that would help me to forgive is to see all of these bastards snubbed out. But yes, let’s first smash to pieces every muslim ancient holy place on earth. As far as the American Presidential candidates. Hillary would sacrifice a few hundred or even thousands of fatalities from terrorist activities carried out wherever whenever so long as she pretends to give a rats shit about these muslims. That religious group for her is just another voting block. Anything , ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING to get into the Whitehouse . Get the #Power .
Those of you who think that Donald Trump is going to ride in on his shiny private jet and be our nations greatest ever president. Please , Please , Please do your due diligence on this guy. He is no different than a schoolyard bully . He says about @TedCruz that he is ” Nasty ” &
” Nobody likes him ” C’mon those exact words were lobbed at me in middle , elementary school. Not H.S. I smartened up and became nasty and kicked their ass. But seriously, Please give much more scrutiny to Trump. Don’t follow for the sake of following. He never ever gives details on any aspect of his so called platform. Which if you can tell me what it is. You’re doing something amazing. I am not suggesting getting behind Senator Cruz. I am just saying really take a look at Trump. He lives for Poll Results. I’ve never seen anything like it. He gets any criticism he makes goofy childlike faces and runs home and starts tweeting unbelievable personal insults. If he goes overboard he’ll blame it on some poor intern. Really ??
We need to be ‘politically correct’ when we identify TRUE Christians ! It has become just another blanket term. We True Christians have love for our Jewish brother’s and sister’s and knowledge of our branch grafted into the family of our creators place in HIS will concerning the Apple of HIS eye. We are more than ‘Christian’. We do not discount the TORA, or pick and choose what verse or statement’s to make our point. The King James bible is our blueprint for life. So do not confuse the true Christians with the crusaders ideas of false beliefs ! We , not the so called ‘leaders’ of our country support Israel and it’s phrofetic importance for us. Do not trust the USA or the E u. Trust only in the word of our G-D. We pray for the peace of ISRAEL and our PRINCE of PEACE to return us back to HIMSELF ! To judge the world with righteousness. We will never replace a religion with the TRUTH.