‘Soldiers of God’ accused of desecrating historic Greek Orthodox church in Nazareth

·

The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth has accused a group calling itself the “Soldiers of God” of attacking the historic site on Sunday evening while it was closed.

According to a statement posted on Facebook, the group forcibly removed the outer gate and rang the church bell without permission.

“The Orthodox Community Council will not allow the desecration of a holy place, has filed a police complaint, and will follow up on it,” the church said.

The group reportedly claimed they were protesting a recent attack on the Prophet Elias Church in Damascus, which left at least 20 dead.

A broken gate at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, June 29, 2025.
A broken gate at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, June 29, 2025. Photo: Jerusalem Post.

Footage circulating on social media appears to show a Greek Orthodox priest attempting to calm the scene, while demonstrators waved Israeli and Israeli-Christian flags. The Jerusalem Post reported that protesters were seen striking others in the crowd with wooden crosses.

Senior church leaders confronted the group and called police.

The National Democratic Assembly in Nazareth condemned the incident, stating: “The Assembly considered the attack on the church as an attack on Nazareth and its people, an unsuccessful attempt to desecrate the city’s national position and its people, and an attempt to sow discord and promote foreign and strange agendas to our community.”

The Church of the Annunciation — also known as the Church of Saint Gabriel — is built over a spring believed by Greek Orthodox tradition to be the site of the Annunciation. A major Christian pilgrimage destination, Nazareth is home to both Muslim and Christian communities and holds deep religious significance for Christians worldwide.

Source: Jerusalem Post

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Magna Graecia – Part 4: From Colony to Colossus: Syracuse and Hellenism in Sicily

Syracuse (in present-day Sicily) was founded in 734 BCE by settlers from Corinth and Tenea, led by their oikist (founder), Archias.

Scam no more: Protecting what’s most important with Evan Frangos

Hailing from Ikaria, Greece, Evan is also a Certified Cryptocurrency Investigator, specialising in recovering funds lost to scams and hacks.

Upcoming Sydney lecture will explore the Greek Civil War in Greek literature

The Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW) will delve into the history of the Greek Civil War as presented in Greek literature.

Greek olive oil in Japan: Health, heritage and authenticity

At the Olive Japan International Olive Oil Competition, Greek olive oils earned 12 Gold Medals and 36 Silvers.

The Greek island tourists haven’t overrun

Unlike Santorini, which draws up to 3.4 million visitors annually, the island of Kea remains largely under the radar.

You May Also Like

Receivers take control of Cyprus Community of NSW as legal turmoil deepens

A power struggle within the Cyprus Community of NSW has exposed deep factional divisions, including among directors of Cyprus Capital Limited

Pre-election federal budget reveals key wins and losses for Australians

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has presented his fourth federal budget, setting the stage for a potential election in the coming days.

Greece ranked No. 1 most romantic honeymoon destination for 2020

Greece has been considered the No.1 honeymoon spot for another year in a row by Harpers Bazaar's 'Best Honeymoon Destinations.' In their review of Greece, they wrote: