My Epic Day of Video Blogging From Beirut
I've has a very busy day of reporting from Beirut. Here are my videos for the day. Enjoy.
“They died because they were Christians…”
Why did three villagers die in the Syrian town of Maaloula?
Why were they killed by the U.S. backed Muslim rebels?
Listen for yourself to an excerpt from my interview with Maaloula residents…
Jordanian Prince’s Great Comments On Middle East Christians: Why Isn’t This Reported?
A friend sent me this: this major story, known to everyone from citizens to clergy to princes in the Middle East is buried in the Unites Statws.
On September 2-4, in Amman (Jordan), the international joint religious conference “Challenges facing Arab Christians” was held on the King Of The Hashemite Kingdom Of Jordan Abdullah II's initiative and under patronage of Prince Ghazi Bin Muhammad.
Amman, September 7, 2024
On September 2-4, in Amman (Jordan), the international joint religious conference “Challenges facing Arab Christians” was held on the King Of The Hashemite Kingdom Of Jordan Abdullah II's initiative and under patronage of Prince Ghazi Bin Muhammad, reports the Synodal Information Department of the Russian Orthodox Church.
His Beatitude Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine Theophilus III, heads and representatives of other Churches and confessions of the Middle East and Africa, delegates of international Christian organizations, Muftis of states of the Middle East region, heads and members of international Muslim organizations, scientists and theologians arrived to the conference.
With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church took part in the forum. The delegation included Metropolitan Theodosy of Tambov and Rasskazovo and Igumen Theophan (Lukyanov), acting head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem. Alexander Kalugin, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Jordan, was present at the opening of the forum.
On the first day of the conference's work, its participants were received in his residence in Amman by the king of Jordan Abdullah II who addressed those present with his welcoming speech. At the end of the reception the king arranged dinner for the guests.
Prince Ghazi Bin Muhammad spoke at the conference's opening. In his speech he said, specifically, the following:
“In Jordan, we feel that for the first time for hundreds of years the Arab Christians have become a target in some countries. Not only did they become victims of the blind and deaf instigation to revolt from which everyone in certain Arab countries has suffered since the beginning of what is wrongly called “the Arab spring”. But they are also suffering just because they are Christians. It is absolutely and categorically unacceptable for us. Firstly, we do not accept it according to our Holy law as Muslims before God. Secondly, we do not accept it morally as Arabs and relatives. Thirdly, we do not accept it on the level of our feelings as neighbours and dear friends. And, fourthly, we do not accept it personally as human beings.
Over last 13 centuries we, both Arab Muslims and Arab Christians, have been one, undivided society…. Here it is impossible to express that huge role that on all levels and in all spheres Arab Christians have played in creation of our countries and in protection of them from all those who had ever attacked us. I should remind myself and the whole world about two things.
First: Christians had appeared in this region earlier than Muslims. They are not aliens, not colonizers, not foreigners. They are natives of these lands and are the same Arabs as Muslims are. Second: throughout our long history in this region Muslims have never forced anyone to accept Islam against their will. Force also contradicts the word of God in the Holy Koran….
The Arab Christians have always supported and strengthened the Arab Muslims in the struggle against foreign aggression…. During the period of struggle with colonialism Christians were on the front line…. Now in Syria, Iraq and Egypt they are being persecuted, their Churches are being burnt, their Priests, Monks and Nuns are being kidnapped and even killed, and at the same time they are not armed to defend themselves.
They are obeying the words of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Who said: “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also” (Matthew 5:39). We, Muslims, must remember it. We must also remember that Christians of Abyssinia were the first to accept the Muslims and to defend them, when they were weak…. We cannot allow persecution of Christians as well as any other religious or racial minorities to take place for whatever reason”.
The position of the Russian Orthodox Church regarding the situation of Christians in the Middle East was represented in the report of Metropolitan Theodosy of Tambov and Rasskazovo. The words of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, said by him on August 28 this year, were cited in the report:
“We know what is happening in Syria, how Christian Churches are being destroyed, how people are being destroyed, killed only because they believe in Christ the Saviour. This is happening under the influence of the evil force of those who, while proclaiming that the aim of their struggle is justice, bring the death, destruction and murder of Christians, including Orthodox”.
Metropolitan Theodosy also noted that, “The ideology of radicalism which is being spread within the Arab world and which instructs Muslims to war against Christians, not only has became a tragedy for Christians in the Middle East, but also has become destructive for the Arab countries themselves…. Christians, especially those who belong to one, Arab nation, consider Arab Muslims as their neighbours and even brothers in blood. Christians follow the words of the New Testament: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18)…. The Russian Church is calling upon national, regional, international public and humanitarian organizations to raise their voice in defense of rights of Arab Christians and to do their possible to retain peace and the traditional Christian presence in the Middle East”.
Pravoslavie.ru
Beirut Blogging: Four Videos
Here’s a compilation of snippets of four video interviews I’ve done while in Lebanon.
Archbishop Issam Darwish
Syrian says Islamists want a Caliphate.
Patriarch of Babylon Louis Sako
How big an issue is this for the average Lebanese citizen?
LISTEN: Witness Describes U.S. Backed Anti-Christian Attack On Syrian Village
I traveled over 7,000 miles to hear this story.
Just a couple of weeks ago, I was in the comfort of my Dallas condo reporting on the story of the U.S. backed rebel coalition attacks on the small Christian village of Maaloula, about 45 minutes north of Damascus, Syria. I was getting all my information from the internet. The reports were sketchy and solid facts were hard to come by. I felt called to travel to the Middle East and try to get the real story.
Now I was in Lebanon, sitting on a sofa with a woman who was attacked in Maaloula because she was a Christian.
All America needs to hear this. She’s describing an attack on Christians that the Obama Administration and Republicans like John McCain enabled. It’s even more ominous because it’s part of pattern on the part of President Barack Obama, Senator John McCain and others of backing forces-such as Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood-who are clearly targeting Christians.
Christianity in the Middle East is on the verge of being wiped out by Islamic jihadists and the United States government is helping make it happen.
The attack on Maaloula was carried out by U.S. backed rebel forces. It happened concurrently with John Kerry calling the Free Syria Army ‘moderates’ in Senate Testimony. It happened by rebels that appear to have been emboldened by Obama and McCain’s talk of launching missiles against the Assad regime.
All the foreign policy rhetoric comes down to real stories like this.
A jihadist suicide bomber takes out the checkpoint in Maaloula. As you listen, remember what John McCain said about shouting “Allahu Akbar” being the same as shouting ‘Thank God!”
Armed men enter the house.
How did they know they were Christians?
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