Cheri Berens' book, An American Woman Living in Egypt: Life during an Islamic takeover is available at Amazon
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The syrian army fights for maaloula
In 2013, the US-backed "Free Syrian Army" (a Muslim Brotherhood army), joined forces with al-Qaeda in Syria (Jabhat al-Nusra), to attack the village of Maaloula.
The Muslim Brotherhood and al-Qaeda raped, murdered and committed various acts of atrocities on the villagers. Many villagers were placed in bakery ovens and burned alive.
When the Muslim Brotherhood, calling themselves the "Free Syrian Army", and al-Qaeda entered Maaloula, they destroyed churches, the convent, monasteries, and most of the historical artifacts.
After months of fighting, the Syrian National Army and the National Defense Forces rescued Maaloula, helped re-build it, and then in 2015, a 10-foot tall statue of the Virgin Mary was placed on the mountaintop of Maaloula by the Syrian Armed Forces.
The US-backed "Free Syrian Army" (the Muslim Brotherhood) destroyed 32 ancient churches in Maaloula during their attacks. They also destroyed Maaloula’s historical monasteries. Before the Muslim Brotherhood destroyed them, Maaloula had some of the oldest churches in Syria. About half of Maaloula’s Christian population fled to other parts of Syria, primarily regions where the Syrian National Army could protect them.
Now that the Syrian National Army re-captured Maaloula and have rebuilt it, Maaloula's Christians have returned.
In Maaloula, the people speak Aramaic ~~ the language of Jesus.
The Muslim Brotherhood and al-Qaeda raped, murdered and committed various acts of atrocities on the villagers. Many villagers were placed in bakery ovens and burned alive.
When the Muslim Brotherhood, calling themselves the "Free Syrian Army", and al-Qaeda entered Maaloula, they destroyed churches, the convent, monasteries, and most of the historical artifacts.
After months of fighting, the Syrian National Army and the National Defense Forces rescued Maaloula, helped re-build it, and then in 2015, a 10-foot tall statue of the Virgin Mary was placed on the mountaintop of Maaloula by the Syrian Armed Forces.
The US-backed "Free Syrian Army" (the Muslim Brotherhood) destroyed 32 ancient churches in Maaloula during their attacks. They also destroyed Maaloula’s historical monasteries. Before the Muslim Brotherhood destroyed them, Maaloula had some of the oldest churches in Syria. About half of Maaloula’s Christian population fled to other parts of Syria, primarily regions where the Syrian National Army could protect them.
Now that the Syrian National Army re-captured Maaloula and have rebuilt it, Maaloula's Christians have returned.
In Maaloula, the people speak Aramaic ~~ the language of Jesus.
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Next to a monastery on the mountaintop of Maaloula is a giant stature of Mary. And standing above St. Thakla Convent is a giant statue of Jesus.
UNESCO was about to put Maaloula on the list of World Heritage sites because the interiors of Maaloula’s churches and monasteries were decorated and filled with archaeological treasures. But in 2013, when the US-backed "Free Syrian Army" (Muslim Brotherhood) took over the town, they destroyed as many Christian artifacts as possible, destroying Syria's history.
St. Thakla Convent, St. Sergius monastery, and St. Bacchus monastery were bombed and then destroyed completely. Extensive damage was done to the artifacts inside of these historic buildings and the structures themselves were destroyed.
St. Sergius, a historical treasure, was fully demolished. St. Sergius was dedicated to a Roman officer (Sergius) who was martyred in the 4th century for refusing to renounce his Christian faith.
St. Thakla Convent, St. Sergius monastery, and St. Bacchus monastery were bombed and then destroyed completely. Extensive damage was done to the artifacts inside of these historic buildings and the structures themselves were destroyed.
St. Sergius, a historical treasure, was fully demolished. St. Sergius was dedicated to a Roman officer (Sergius) who was martyred in the 4th century for refusing to renounce his Christian faith.
While fighting Muslim Brotherhood armies in a nearby village, the Syrian National Army captured members of the Free Syrian Army who had two of the original church bells from Maaloula in their possession. Syrian National Army members brought these bells back to Maaloula when they re-built the village. Today, these bells ring loudly.
Syrian National Army units remain on the outskirts of Maaloula to prevent Muslim Brotherhood, al-Qaeda and ISIS from entering Maaloula in the future.
Syrian National Army units remain on the outskirts of Maaloula to prevent Muslim Brotherhood, al-Qaeda and ISIS from entering Maaloula in the future.
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During attacks by the Islamists, witnesses in Maaloula reported that there were many beheadings during the terrorist habitation of Maaloula. Residents also reported that the terrorists were not Syrian. Members of the US-backed Free Syrian Army in Maaloula were primarily Tunisian, Libyan, Moroccan and Chechen mercenary fighters called upon by the Muslim Brotherhood to fight inside Syria to implement an Islamic State.
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A Virgin Mary statue was built and Syrian Army placed the new statue where the old one stood.
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During the months that terrorist groups held Maaloula many atrocities took place. A young man, born and raised in Maaloula, and who eventually joined the Syrian National Army, said that when the U.S.-backed terrorists arrived, they crucified men who would not convert to Islam. The slow and agonizing deaths took place in the town square to set examples to others.