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Vandals cut down cross on site of Church of St martyr Victor

Early in the morning four people have cut down the cross and disappeared after residents of a near-by house saw them

ARKHANGELSK, August 25 (Itar-Tass) — Unknown vandals have cut down the cross on the site of the Saint martyr Victor church in Arkhangelsk, the eparchy’s press service told Itar-Tass on Saturday.

According to Hegumen Theodosius (Nesterov), early in the morning four people have cut down the cross and disappeared after residents of a near-by house saw them. The axe has been left on the ground.

“This is not the first case that the clergy of the monastery faced,” the eparchy reported. In 2002 the new church in honour of St Prince Alexander Nevsky was set ablaze. In 2004 the church house was set aflame. During the fire, an abbot and three monastery workers just escaped being killed. A cat nailed to the cross was thrown to the doors of the church and pentagrams were drawn.

“The cross is the symbol of mercy, compassion and sacrificial love. Those who destroy these symbols are trying to sow discord and hatred between people,” Metropolitan Daniil of Arkhangelsk and Kholmogory said.

“But the slander and repressions will only strengthen faith in the Russian people. We will erect the cross and this sacred relic will be much more valuable for the heart of Arkhangelsk people,” the metropolitan said.

The cross was installed near the metochion and consecrated by latter Bishop Tikhon of Arkhangelsk and Kholmogory in 2004.

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