— Serbian Orthodox Church in Manhattan, NY
— Greek Orthodox Church in Melbourne, Australia
— Macedonian Orthodox Church in Sydney, Australia
— Russian Monastery in Russia
New York:
Coordinated Attack Feared After Massive Cathedral Blaze
The historic Manhattan cathedral that was gutted in a massive fire was one of four Christian Orthodox churches to go up in flames on Orthodox Easter Sunday — sparking fears of a coordinated attack on the religion.
While FDNY officials said the blaze at the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava on West 25th Street does not appear suspicious, members of the Orthodox community have doubts.
They are worried that the blaze — along with church fires in Australia and Russia — were set in retaliation for the religion’s role in blocking the canonization of Croatian Nazi supporter Cardinal Aloysius Stepinac — whose potential sainthood has created a rift between Serbia and Croatia, with the leaders of each lobbying Pope Francis.
Croatian Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic discussed the issue in a visit to the Vatican in early April, while Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic made his case last September.
Francis decided last week to postpone the ceremony for Stepinac, prompting concerns about potential retaliation.
“Too many churches have burned to call it an accident,” said Dr. Dušan T. Bataković, a former Serbian ambassador who is now director of the Institute for Balkan Studies in Belgrade.
“It is very strange that it happened, that the fires all took place on Easter, the greatest Christian Orthodox holiday,” he said. “Some kind of terrorist action cannot be excluded.”
In addition to the fire that engulfed St. Sava, churches in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, and in northern Russia were all engulfed in flames just hours after Easter services.
Australia:
Authorities in Melbourne and Sydney investigating Orthodox church fires
Australia’s second oldest Greek Orthodox church has been saved, but a Macedonian Orthodox church was gutted
Firefighters survey the scene of a fire at the Annunciation of Our Lady Greek Orthodox Church in Melbourne.
Authorities in Melbourne and Sydney are investigating fires in two Orthodox churches.
Australia’s second oldest Greek Orthodox church has been saved after a fire broke out in Melbourne, a day after Orthodox Easter celebrations. The cause of the fire at the 115-year-old Holy Church of Annunciation of Our Lady in East Melbourne on Monday afternoon is still under investigation.
RUSSIA:
Fire rages at Russia’s revered Valaam monastery.
Valaam monastery, on an island in Lake Ladoga in Karelia, northern Russia, is a popular destination for pilgrims and tourists. Known for its natural beauty as well as revered religious sites dating back to the 14th century, the island is visited by more than a hundred thousand people every year.
Investigators are looking into foul play, this weekend was Orthodox Pascha (Easter) and in many places this happens to them regularly. Usually done by some group with a hatred for the church’s home-country, often seen in Serbia done by Muslim Bosnians.
— Orthodox Easter, April 1999: NATO Bombed Serbian Christians During Easter Holy Week
— Air Attacks Darken Easter for New York’s Serbs
— Orthodox Easter, Sunday, April 16, 1944: USA, GB Were Murdering Their Christian Allies
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