'The Spoils of War" - ISIL and al-Nusra Front sell looted Maalula’s Christian artifacts via internet.

'The Spoils of War" - ISIL and al-Nusra Front sell looted Maalula’s Christian artifacts via internet.(BNS).

Reports have revealed that members of al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have started a new trade.

Where, in Maalula, they have roped all the antiques, artifacts, ancient sarcophagi and crosses to sell them through brokers and smugglers outside the Syrian territory. As well as they promote them by sending photos via internet to the interested people in buying antiquities, the Lebanese newspaper “al-Akhbar” citing field sources.

The head  the United Nations’ cultural, education and science organization (UNESCO) has expressed concern about the illegal mining operations on the historical artifacts in Syria, saying that the organization warned the auction houses and museums of this problem.

"Irina Bokova," told reporters that: "The biggest problem there, apart from the devastation that we have seen on the World Heritage websites, is the illegal mining operations on the antiquities."Hmmm....Just like the Turks were looting Cypriotic Christian churches for Religious artifacts.

Video - Maria Finoshina reports the suffering of Christian Syrians in the ancient Christian village of Maaloula.

Video - Christian town Maalula, how much of it will Obama Backed Syrian Rebels destroy?

This is a village where Aramaic "the language of Jesus" that was prevalent in his time throughout the Middle East continues to be spoken by the people in a local dialect which attracts many linguists language ancient Semitic. This is precisely the Aramaic remained alive in Maaloula, who made famous the small Syrian village. Outside Maaloula, it is used in two other nearby villages and Bakhaa Joubadine. In all some 1,800 souls speak the dialect but did not write. A Maaloula mass is still given in the language of Christ especially in the monastery church of St. Sergius.

Maaloula is distinguished by its exceptional natural mountain where we noted a large number of caves and shelter rock- old and showing a continuous occupation from prehistory to the present day, which created in memory collective many legends and beliefs. This site refuge first time, he was also the time when Christianity lived persecution. St. Thecla, converted through the choice of St. Paul, persecuted by his own parents, was among the first Christian martyrs who found refuge and where the Greek Orthodox Community was later built a monastery in his memory. The convent of Santa Tecla although much restored now occupies the same cliff next to a rock shelter ceiling which flows a source close to the mausoleum of the Holy Martyr. A chapel, a cloister and other addictions today a homogeneous and well integrated into the natural landscape together.

The Convent of St. Sergius and the church which is adjoining were built in the early fourth century in honor of the Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, both of Syrian origin martyred under the Emperor Maximian in 297 to Russafa . Convent and church had to be built in the period between 313 (date of publication of the Edict of Milan which granted religious freedom to the citizens of the Roman Worse) and 325 (date of the convening of the Council I. Creed). It would be at this time that Christians living in the surrounding caves, had demolished the pagan temple to build on its location Convent and St. Sergius Church. But nothing seems ancient past remain today. Even the so-called Greek Catholic Church rite belong to this time probably keeps in its walls and foundations some reminiscences (can also be wooden beams and a door). But his plan is three naves ending with three apses and three bays, the central reserve crossing a square surmounted by a dome niches angles, remains enigmatic.

This does not detract from the value of this religious building whose walls were once richly decorated with frescoes and now maintains a rich collection of icons, some of which date back to the thirteenth century. In the same village there are two other churches, one of which showed a mosaic dating from the fourth century AD.Source: Unesco.

Syrian Obama supported rebels 'seize ancient Christian town Maalula'.

Syrian Obama supported rebels 'seize ancient Christian town Maalula'.HT: AFP.

 Syrian rebels, including jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda, have taken control of the historic Christian town of Maalula, north of Damascus, a watchdog and a resident said on Sunday.
Maalula is home to around 5,000 residents and is of strategic importance for the rebels, who are trying to tighten their grip around the capital Damascus, adding a northern post to existing bases in the south and west of the city.
Capturing the town, around 55 kilometres north of the capital, could also help rebels threaten the nearby highway between Damascus and Homs, a supply route used by the regime.
The battle for the town left at least 17 rebels dead and more than 100 wounded overnight, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, adding that dozens of regime forces and pro-militia members were also killed or wounded in the fighting.
"Overnight, Syrian regime troops moved into the village, but rebel forces sent reinforcements and were able to take control of the entire town," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

He said the Al-Nusra Front, which has pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, was among the forces that had taken control of the town.
A Maalula resident, reached by phone, confirmed that regime forces had withdrawn from the area and rebel forces were now in control.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the resident said the situation on the ground was quiet.
"The rebels are inside Maalula, all of Maalula. The government troops have pulled out of Maalula," the resident said.
Abdel Rahman said "fierce fighting broke out between regime forces and rebel fighters overnight, and the soldiers withdrew to the outskirts of the town."
Troops were still stationed around the town, raising the possibility of renewed fighting.

Picturesque Maalula is nestled under a large cliff and is considered a symbol of the Christian presence in Syria.Many of its inhabitants speak Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus Christ that only small, scattered communities around the world still use.

It is full of troglodyte caves dating back to the first centuries of Christianity, and also houses the Mar Takla Greek Orthodox monastery.
The clashes first erupted on Wednesday, when Al-Nusra Front fighters and other Islamist rebels attacked a regime checkpoint at one entrance to the town.
The advance raised fears of attacks against churches or Christians in the town but on Friday, the opposition Syrian National Coalition said rebels had withdrawn from the area.
On Saturday, the Observatory said rebel forces were fighting pro-regime militias in the west of the town, and were also engaged in clashes with Syrian troops on the outskirts of Maalula.

Obama: We are no longer a Christian Nation