Sectarian graffiti, vandalism at St. Cyril's Church in Damascus spark outrage

A controversial incident occurred at St. Cyril's Church in the Qassaa neighborhood of Damascus, where offensive sectarian graffiti, including threats contradicting the beliefs of the Christian community, was written on the church's exterior and interior walls.

ANHA correspondent reported that the incident took place on Thursday dawn, between 2:00 and 3:00 AM, as surveillance cameras captured a young man, dressed in black and wearing white shoes, jumping over the church wall in a manner suggesting prior knowledge of the cameras' locations, indicating a possible premeditated act.

The perpetrator wrote the offensive graffiti on the walls and then vandalized a statue inside the church with a stone before leaving the scene.

The incident sparked outrage and anger among the Christian community in the area, who called on the authorities to take swift action to identify and hold the perpetrator accountable. They emphasized their rejection of such actions, which target civil peace and coexistence in Damascus.

It is worth mentioning that the Church of St. Cyril was established in 1930 during the reign of Patriarch Cyril IX Mughbagh, and it bears the name of St. Cyril of Alexandria. Since 1950, it has been served by priests from the Salvatorian Order.

J.J