An Orthodox cross is cut down in Volgograd, Russia, followed by an attempt to burn the chapel

March 14, 2017 Russia

March 14, 2017 – A criminal investigation under category “vandalism” is opened because of an attack on the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, located in central Volgograd. The clergy is certain that the attempt to destroy the cross is a part of a chain of attacks on Orthodox sites in the city.

On the night of Tuesday, March 14, two unidentified men crossed the fence of the church. Their faces were hidden with scarves. They carried a chainsaw and a Molotov cocktail. They first sawed off the cross at the entrance, and then attempted to arson the church. Fortunately, a trespasser noticed the act. The assailants were scared and fled without completing their misdeed.

Shortly afterwards, the deacon who was inside the church was advised that the cross has been sawed off, and that there was an attempt to burn it. He ran out and saw that the cross was already on the ground. There was a bottle nearby with an accompanying smell of gasoline. The assailants dropped everything when they believed that they would be apprehended.

The cross has been taken out to the backyard of the church. It will be restored in the near future in its former place. According to the church service members, this is not the first such attack.

“In 1995, when the church was not yet built, the church watchman was murdered. Five years ago, a group of thieves tried to enter, and they stabbed the security guard there. There are constant attempts to break the altar for sacrifices, located outside the chapel. There is not even very much to steal there, but this does not stop potential thieves. Just a month and a half ago, there was some insulting graffiti on the wall of the church. And each time, these violations are left uncovered”.

Due to bureaucratic delays from the state authorities, the priests decided to take the protection of their church in their own hands.

“In order to defend the church, we decided to increase its security. We installed cameras on the church property and in the chapel. It seems evident why and who is doing it. It appears to be an intentional way of getting even with religion, Orthodoxy and Christianity. It does not look like teenagers and youth do it. It looks to be intentional and conscious.

The suspects were apprehended. They admitted that their misdeed was inspired by vandalism.

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