Fire in the Tabgha monastery and hate graffiti

Fire fighters from Tiberias managed to control the fire that broke out at about four in the morning in the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish in Tabgha, on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The firemen blocked the fire a few meters away from the main hall of the church, whose ceiling is made of wood. Two people were lightly injured from smoke inhalation. Arson experts are checking a suspicion that this was arson because close to the church there were hate graffiti sprayed on the walls. The slogan written was “and may the idol worshippers be cut off”, an expression from the Jewish prayer book. Near the graffiti, there was an attempt to commit an act of arson. The door to the monks’ quarters was burnt and further down the corridor another locale was burnt and from there the big fire began.

Passers-by have told that for a long time anonymous people have been effacing the crosses on the parking signs in the area with paint. In addition, a book storage was also burnt.

Let us pray for the monks and the nuns as well as the lay people who live in this place!