The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth has reported that a group calling themselves the “Soldiers of God” caused damage to the church on Sunday night while it was closed.
“The Orthodox Community Council will not allow the desecration of a sacred place. A complaint has been filed with the police, and further action will be taken,” stated the church in an announcement on Facebook.
According to the church, the “Soldiers” removed the church’s external gate and rang the bell without permission.

The group, for its part, claimed that it was protesting against last Sunday’s ISIS terrorist attack on the Church of the Prophet Elijah in Damascus, which killed at least 20 people.
A video shared on social media, as reported by the Jerusalem Post, appears to show a Greek Orthodox priest trying to calm a small crowd, while demonstrators wave Israeli flags and other religious symbols.
The same footage seems to show protesters—presumably the “Soldiers”—striking others in the crowd on the head with wooden crosses.

Church personnel arrived at the scene, attempted to calm the protesters, and called the police.
Meanwhile, a gathering has been called for Monday afternoon in the church courtyard “in response to the attack on the church.”
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