Video from the moment a man enters the Holy Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Gethsemane and tries to vandalize the Orthodox monument was released by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

The Tomb of the Virgin is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives, in Jerusalem and is considered by Christians to be the burial place of Mary, mother of Jesus.

The attack by the fanatical Jew, who was even holding sharp objects, took place yesterday on the Sunday of the Pilgrimage to the Cross, and even during service, when there were believers in the temple.

After a struggle, priests and believers managed to immobilize the attacker and take him out of the temple.

The man was arrested by the police.

The Tomb of Panagia, on the east side of the church

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem has filed a complaint while strongly protesting and requesting that the necessary measures be taken to protect the pilgrimage and that the perpetrator be imposed the sanctions provided for his act.

The entire announcement of the Patriarchate

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem, represented by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III together with the Holy and Holy Synod and the Holy Sepulcher Brotherhood, after the clergy and the people, condemn the heinous terrorist attack, which took place on the morning of Sunday, March 6, 2023 during the Divine Liturgy in the Holy Pilgrimage of Gethsemane in Jerusalem, where is the Tomb of the Virgin.

The Patriarchate also denounces the attempt to cause bodily harm against the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Hellenoupolis, Mr. Joachim, who was leading the Divine Liturgy, as well as the attack on one of the priests of the Pilgrimage.

The Patriarchate expresses its sorrow for this heinous crime, which was observed during the period of preparations for Holy and Great Lent for the celebrations and traditional rituals of Holy Week and Easter, especially on the M. Saturday of the Holy Light, which it is now a sign of seasonal suffering for the faithful, as a result of the physical restrictions, which are imposed by the Authorities, in such a way as to prevent them from reaching the Panieron Temple of the Resurrection and the Holy Sepulcher in order to exercise their God-given right of worship.

The Patriarchate also emphasizes that terrorist attacks, caused by radical Israeli groups, targeting Holy Temples, cemeteries and Christian property, in addition to physical and verbal abuse against Christian clergy, have become an almost daily phenomenon, which apparently intensifies during the Christian holidays. This sad situation has not caused any corresponding reaction, at the local or international level, despite the calls, requests and protests of the Churches of the Holy Land. It is now painfully clear that the authentic Christian presence in the Holy Land is in great danger.

The Patriarchate affirms that attacks on Christian holy places, property, heritage and identity constitute a violation of International Law, which expressly requires the protection of religious sites in Jerusalem and emphasizes the need to respect this basic human right to free worship.

The Patriarchate points out that Jerusalem is an extremely important city for all Christians since the time of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy City is witness to the most important events of Christian history, which are deeply rooted in the Christian faith. These events strengthen the Christian connection and attachment to this city, of which we Christians, the Churches, the holy places and our heritage are an essential component of its diverse history, present and future.

This attack on the Holy Church of Theotokos in Jerusalem is a horrible terrorist crime, which cannot be justified under any circumstances. The Patriarchate appeals to the international community to intervene immediately to provide security and protection to the Christians of Jerusalem and to the holy places, including the Panieros Church of the Resurrection and the Holy Sepulcher, which are suffering deplorable forms of violations and attacks by the radicals Israeli organizations.

The Patriarch further requests that the necessary legal measures be taken against all those involved in terrorist crimes against any holy place.