Why did this happen? Did someone at the monastery draw Muhammad? Did some Iraqi cleric provoke the poor dears, poking them in the eye in some way, and failing to show proper respect for Islam? As far as Western Christian leaders are concerned, the Christians of Iraq have no one but themselves to blame for this sort of thing. “Our Christian history in Mosul is being barbarically leveled,” said Iraq-based Catholic priest Rev Paul Thabit Habib. “We see it as an attempt to expel us from Iraq, eliminating and finishing our existence in this land.” If only the Christians had devoted themselves more assiduously to “dialogue”! Then none of this would have happened!
“Isis razes to ground the oldest Christian monastery in Iraq, satellite images show,” by Adam Withnall, Independent, January 20, 2016 (thanks to Lookmann):
The Isis jihadist group has completely destroyed a 1,400-year-old Christian monastery in Iraq, the oldest of its kind in the country.
Satellite images released on Wednesday by the Associated Press showed just a pile of rubble where St Elijah’s Monastery used to stand on a hill above Mosul, Isis’s stronghold in Iraq.
The monastery had survived as a place of Christian worship for almost one-and-a-half millenia, predating Islam itself, and had only suffered superficial damage throughout the country’s most recent conflicts.
An historically significant site, the partially restored 27,000-square-foot stone building had 26 distinct rooms including a sanctuary and chapel. It still had niches where monks used to tuck candles, and the fourth century Greek “Chi-Rho” symbol, representing the name of Christ, was still visible carved into its right gatepost.
The site was recently used as a place of worship for US troops in Iraq, but fell into Isis hands in June 2014. This month, AP reported, satellite images commissioned from the firm DigitalGlobe confirmed what local antiquities experts have feared for some time.
“Our Christian history in Mosul is being barbarically leveled,” said Iraq-based Catholic priest Rev Paul Thabit Habib. “We see it as an attempt to expel us from Iraq, eliminating and finishing our existence in this land.”
The demolition itself appears to have taken place at some point between August and September 2014, image analyst Stephen Wood told AP.
Images show the stone walls “have been literally pulverized”, he said. “Bulldozers, heavy equipment, sledgehammers, possibly explosives turned those stone walls into this field of gray-white dust. They destroyed it completely.”
Isis has saught [sic] to destroy sites like St Elijah’s Monastery (Dair Mar Elia in Arabic) across Syria and Iraq since its reign of terror began in earnest in early 2013.
The group seeks to wipe out non-Islamic history, calling all religious shrines even to other sects within Islam idolatrous….

Jayke says
It is within a stone’s throw of the Mosul Airport. Who controls Mosul? I thought IS has been diminished?
https://goo.gl/ReKH10
These animals may be able to reduce building to rubble but the heart will survive.
An interesting report on life in Mosul under IS:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/10/mosul-residents-one-year-on-isis-brutality
Christianblood says
Let us blame this on the “regime changers” who destroyed Arab dictators who would not have allowed this kind of thing under their watch. After Iraq, Yemen, Egypt and Libya, let us now hope Syria becomes a new Stalingrad for the crazed and jihad-backing ‘regime changers’ and we all know who they are.
Ex-muslim says
Christianblood
Very well-said! Expect much more massacres and much more monastery destruction if the brutal Islamic jihadists that are fighting Assad and their international backers succeed in their agenda to topple president Assad’s regime there. Trust me. It will even be more destructive and more bloodier than Iraq for the minorities including Christians there.
Christianblood says
@ Ex-muslim
Thanks ‘Ex-muslim’. I can assure you, if Syrians were not getting the legal (government-to-government) Russian support, Assad’s regime would have been toppled long time ago by the jihadist-backing ‘regime changers’ and Syria would have already fallen into the hands of the Western-backed barbaric islamic jihadists such as ISIS and dozens of similar jihadist groups. Because of this, Syrian Christians can still celebrate Christmas in the streets of Damascus and that is really something to thank God for. Watch:
https://www.rt.com/news/327064-christmas-celebrate-syria-damascus/
ICH says
unreal that ISIS can be beaten when you KNOW where they are at !!
Seems like they are sitting ducks.
ICH says
ugggh typo at the worst moment lol
make that CANT be beaten !
I wish we could just have an old fashioned fisticuffs with them all
no weapons no dirty tactics
man vs man
Spot On says
If I was in the desert somewhere, with no where to hide and Obama wanted our military to take me out, how long would it take for a 250 # bomb to land on my head. If I was hiding in a building somewhere, The bomb would come through my window 10 minutes after he gave the order.
The best way I know to get Obama to take out ISIS is to get ISIS to join the Republican Party.
13pr108 says
off-topic: there are thousands of girls (mostly hindu or sikh) being held captive as slaves by shoddyarabia – why indian gov’t won’t rescue these girls? indian gov’t too busy imitating worst qualities of every culture. Nonmoslems ought not set foot in moslem lands except to rescue persons held in captivity – I wonder why any lands are declared moslem.
why didn’t they turn monastary into mosque – because they are engaged in ethnic and religious cleansing of greater arabia – which gov’t has courage to extirpate izlam from root? who created daesh?is greater isrile being created (judaism allow slavery)
bollywood is creation mostly of moslem mafia – bollywood defames Sikhs and Sikhi at every opportunity. gandhi married moslem and ruined Panjab. indian media does not represent ground level reality of South Asia.
gravenimage says
is greater isrile being created (judaism allow slavery)
……………………………
This Sikh supremacist was recently excoriating Hindus, falsely claiming that Islam was a “Shiva” cult.
Now he is claiming that Jew-hating Islam is–somehow–actually Judaism, and that Muslims who want to destroy Israel are creating “greater isrile” (sic). Jews have not practiced slavery for centuries. It is only Muslims who have resurrected this vicious practice, and all on the tenets of Islam and the model of the “Prophet”. This isn’t about Judaism.
And now 13pr108 is ranting about Bollywood, of all things.
Most Sikhs are sane and quite clear-eyed about the threat of Islam–not 13pr108, for whatever reason.
Michael Copeland says
Memo to the Pope:
When Islamic State demolished the tomb of Saint Elian at Mar Elian they said it was because it was dedicated to a God other than Allah.
mortimer says
The answer to ISIS is to bring Muslims into every country that doesn’t yet have them and then make them the MAJORITY in every country.
Angemon says
Speaking of bringing people in, do you know who doesn’t get the right of asylum in Germany, the same Germany who is taking in “Syrian” “refugees” with no questions asked? 95% of the pople seeking refuge from the war in Ukraine:
http://newobserveronline.com/white-war-refugees-not-allowed-in-germany/
Apparently, Germany’s population is aging and all foreigners, especially refugees are welcome, asterisk, see footnote, footnote reading “as long as they’re not European”
Michael Copeland says
Maybe she has been talking to Cameron.
“Too many White Christian faces in Britain’ says Cameron:
see youtube.
Old England and Scotland and Ulster and Wales
No longer need show any traces
Of the hundreds of years of their stories and tales.
They’re too many white Christian faces.
Voytek Gagalka says
I would like to see Al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock (if possible also Mecca) similarly razed to the ground one day. “Islamophobic”? “Racist”? Call it as you will. And no – just applying exactly the same methods and measures: No Christian manastery? no Islamic artifacts either.
Walter Sieruk says
That ISIS thugs destroyed an ancient monastery should really be of no surprise to anyone. For destroying is what the fiendish jihadists of ISIS do best. The callous character’s who compose the hideous jihad entity ISIS can’t create anything of value or worth. Likewise, they can’t contribute anything this is good or worthwhile or constructive. The ISIS savages are just destructive . Not only do the ISIS jihadists destroy building both ancient and modern, they also destroy art, both and modern .they destroy literature , they destroy history, The very worst. is that the brutal,cruel and malicious jihadists of ISIS even destroy people . By many demonic ,malice-filled ,heinously vile,,murderous and bloodthirsty ways. In fact,the jihadists who makeup ISIS are so extremely awful, terrible and wicked that they are similar, in character , to the villains described in the Bible. Which reads “Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are their ways ,and the way of peace they have not known.”
Romans 3:15-17. [K.J.V.]
13pr108 says
Quote from Sikh Scripture aka Adi Granth i.e. Eternal Granth: “Mera vaid Guru Govinda”. (i.e. Loving God who condemns every imaginable form of slavery and desires for everyone to unite to fight slavery so that one is free to worship The Divine.) (translation: God is my doctor/teacher)
Fanatics want people to be afraid. First step in defeating evil is to not fear.
2nd step: it is time for every dharmic (ethical) person to raise first born child as Sikh of True Guru. (aka God – God goes by countless names).
Let us solve problems and not create new problems.
Yohanan says
here is more history on the monastery from wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dair_Mar_Elia
linnte says
The vehicle tracks leading to the blown up monetary seem very large. I wonder what was driven there?
gravenimage says
Thanks for posting that link, Yohanan.
Notice that the monastery had been abandoned. Why was that?
Because this was not the first attack on the monastery–it was not even the worst.
From your link:
“In 1743, the Persian Tahmaz Nadir Shah ordered the destruction of its property and massacred the monks who dwelt there.”
It’s just that the destruction was not complete enough for the Islamic State. And now with Infidel technology the Muslim Shah lacked over two hundred years ago, it’s easy for them to finish the job.
God, I hate Islam.
gravenimage says
Also, notice *this* bit of grim irony from the same Wikipedia article:
“After the Iraq War, the site lay within Forward Operating Base Marez and American forces began to visit and later tend for the site….Dair Mar Elia has been fenced off to protect the site and military chaplains guided soldiers on tours of the ruins. These actions were part of a long-term effort to help local Iraqis become more aware of the site as well as to promote the awareness for historic preservation.”
Well, they became “more aware of the site” alright–as can be seen by ISIS’s actions here. This is not what the civilized Americans had in mind…
nacazo says
An ex-navy seal who fought in iraq against jihadists discuss “islamophobia” in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnKcquMobHQ
The whole interview is fascinating but the “islamaphibia” discussion is aroung 1:25 into the conversation.
kregg says
HAS ANYBODY NOTICED WHERE THE TEMPLE USE TO BE THAT GOT DESTROYED IT LOOKS LIKE OBAMASFACE AND IN A TRIANGLE TO WOW HOW DEMONIC IS THAT !
sidney penny says
Yes Robert,Why did this happen?
Why did the Iraqi Army trained and funded by America and other Western powers.not prevent this?
Why do e not hear this in the MSM (Main Stream Media)
gravenimage says
Why do e not hear this in the MSM (Main Stream Media)
……………………..
Actually, it was covered on FOX News–that’s pretty mainstream. See the video posted by Stephanie, above.
As for the Iraqi Army, Muslims are never consistent in fighting Jihad–too many of them agree with it. They would be even less likely to fight to protect a Christian archaeological site.
In fact, no one should rely on them for anything. It was not the quality of the training, but the quality of the material.
“Iraqi corruption probe finds 50,000 fictional soldiers”
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2014/11/iraqi-corruption-probe-finds-50000-fictional-soldiers
There are many more such stories.
Adrian says
gee, i wonder if Fr. Ron Rolheiser (who infamously wrote how “it’s time to establish a greater solidarity with Islam”) will raise his shocked voice in condemnation?
or the rest of the church bishops and hierarchy, for that matter??
not a snowball’s chance in Allah’s hell….
Mark A says
Coming soon to a neighborhood near you……………
gravenimage says
Islamic State razes to ground 1,400-year-old Christian monastery
…………………
Damn barbarians.
Carl says
Why not ask Obama what he thinks?