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Sixth-century Christ icon
from St. Catherine Monastery, Sinai
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The aftermath of the rebel invasion and occupation of the city of Qamishli in the northeast of Syria along the Turkish border are only now becoming fully known and follow a similar pattern of Christian persecution.
Among other atrocities, the Islamic-led rebels reportedly killed 70 Christians, beheaded three priests (to be added to all the others beheaded at their hands), and forced the rest of the ancient Syriac community to flee what has been their home since the dawn of Christianity two thousand years ago.
They also destroyed all the Christian icons in the Syriac Church, again following a similar pattern, and robbed the church of its ancient heritage, a reportedly 1,925 year old icon of the face of Christ.