Ancient relics survive in Syrian monastery ransacked by ISIS

Jardine Malado Thursday, December 01, 2016

Syrian army soldiers stands on the ruins of the Temple of Bel in the historic city of Palmyra, in Homs Governorate, Syria | Reuters/Omar Sanadiki/Files

A priest who escaped from the Islamic State found signs of hope for Syria when found the fourth-century relics in the monastery of Mar Elian were kept safe from the jihadists.

"In Mar Elian, we have always hoped to welcome everyone. Mar Elian was really a sign of hope for the Syrian people," Fr. Jacques Mourad told Catholic News Agency.

He said that everything changed since he was captured by ISIS, but he still plans to rebuild, and he is waiting for the war to end.

Mar Elian, which is located in Al Qaryatayn, had collaborated with Muslim donors to take in hundreds of displaced Syrians and provide for their needs.

"In Mar Elian, we have always hoped to welcome everyone. Mar Elian was really a sign of hope for the Syrian people," said Mourad.

In August last year, ISIS captured and ransacked the monastery and abducted between 160 and 230 Christians and Muslims from the town.

"After the destruction of the monastery, we thought his relics were lost, but instead we were able to find them. This gave us great consolation," the priest recounted.

Al Qaryatayn was liberated from ISIS by Russian-backed Syrian forces in April 2016. The priest said that the Mar Elian's tomb was one of the first things attacked by the terrorists.

"They cannot accept that the cities they seize have places where tombs or relics of saints are kept. They believe that there is no need for a tomb, as once a person passes away, his existence is over on earth," Mourad explained.

In an interview with Western Morning News, he said that the Russians and Syrian forces also bombed a new chapel that he had built in their attempt to drive out ISIS. Mourad and his parishioners were able to flee to safety with the help of his Muslims friends.

Earlier this year, Mourad traveled around Europe and the Americas to highlight the situation in Syria. He said that he was disturbed by the apathy and ignorance displayed by many countries that he visited.

He will be working with his monastic community to help Christian refugees in Kurdistan after mid-December.