Posted on 06/22/2015 5:49:13 PM PDT by markomalley
ISIS Muslims are right now surrounding a 4th century Christian monastery, called St. Matthew’s Monastery. Although the Muslim terrorists are armed with machine guns and knives, the Christians inside the church — three monks and six students — are not afraid, declaring:
“We of course are not scared. God protects us”
Sahar Karaikos, one of six students in the monastery, said
We are not scared, because our teachers give us a feeling of peace here, but we know we are on the front lines, and in seconds the Islamic State could be here… I don’t even want to think or speak about the destruction the Islamic State would cause if they took our monastery.
The Chaldean Archbishop of Erbil, Bashar Warda, explained that a small unit of Kurdish soldiers are protecting the church and the nine Christians. But he also explained that this was not the reason why the Christians are so confident:
There is a kind of feeling that they cannot express but they at least feel relaxed in a way that even if, God forbid, something would happen, they are in safe hands
Multitudes of people from the nearby villages have already fled, but not these nine Christians, even though the church is right on the frontline of the fighting between ISIS and coalition forces. Yousif Ibrahim, one of three monks, said:
We can see the battles and the airstrikes from here in front of us, especially at night. The sky lights up at night, but we of course are not scared. God protects us
The church is located on top of Mount Alfaf in Nineveh Plains, and is recognized and esteemed as one of the oldest Christian monasteries in existence. It is currently under the care of the Syriac Orthodox Church; and like the churches in antiquity, within the monastery there is an amazing library with a significant amount of Syriac Christian manuscripts.
What is disturbing is to hear Christians in the West say stupid things like: ‘They should flee. Its not about a building!’ The building itself is holy; the building is an icon, an icon that signifies the grace that God has given to us through His Church. This little monastery, no matter how insignificant people may say it is, is an icon of Christian civilization, and if they flee, it is only an expression to the enemy, that Islamic despotism is vanquishing Christian civilization. When Christendom rises and Christ returns, this little church will be one of the stones by which the empire of the Cross will be built, and even if the Muslims destroy it, it will be a piece of the fortress of Faith that will stand within our hearts.
It is by courage that the flames of Faith are alighted, for in the flames of valiancy, there is love. But in the cold brick of cowardice, there is only indifference and callousness. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18) God is love; thus, within this little church, there is God.
Would it be appropriate to send out a prayer list ping for the protection of this church, her monks and students?
I pray for them.
May the Lord surround them with His mightiest warriors, and may those warriors destroy these evil men who seek the deaths of God’s people.
God probably wouldn’t mind if you had a few rifles and a case or two of hand grenades and the will to use them.
L
I’D feel better if there was a special forces team up there
with them ready to call in air strikes....
Prayers for these monks and their students.
prayers
Time to remind the mercenary secret service traitors/cowards that you are guarding a monster who is destroying innocent Christians thru his hand in ISIS.
You will not be forgiven and you will not be allowed to beg for forgiveness under the privilege of “following orders.” You will perish alone, unknown and in disgrace. Your names will be erased and unknown to God.
Enjoy your whores and 30 pieces of silver, traitors.
I agree: please put this on the prayer list.
I pray for God to ring them with an army of His angels. Might that God would do a mighty display of His power over mortal affairs.
Yes! I think it would be appropriate.
We are at the crossroads!
Please Pray for these Nine Brave Christians.
Please Pray for Christianity.
Please Pray for Civilization.
Please Pray for Humanity.
A nice concise everyday prayer, I’d say.
The US military should be directed to place a protection zone around this monastery. No fly, no fire.
Lord, please protect your children and your house of prayer. Drive the wolves from the doors, and send them to Hell where they belong.
And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha.
Thanks for the ping and God bless these true Christians.
The bishops will probably be too busy promoting papal global warming dogma.
In many ways I wish I could be there with them.
Our Father who art in Heaven ...
Thank God that we have many that will stand up for our faith in God and stare down evil.
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