Outrage in Lebanon after vandalism attack on a manger

On November 23, in the village of Faraya, located in the Keserwan district of Mount Lebanon, outrage among local worshipers was sparked when a gun was placed near a manger. During the act of vandalism, the perpetrators removed the statue of the Child Jesus and left a firearm in its place.

Residents gathered in the town square ringing church bells in protest, as security forces work to calm tensions.

Keserwan District Context

Keserwan district is known as the stronghold of Lebanon’s Maronite Catholics and is home to important sites such as the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa and the headquarters of the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke.

Many consider this act as an attempt to sow chaos during the Advent season in a country that is currently hosting a large number of displaced people from war regions. Others, however, are awaiting the results of the investigation, according to ACI Mena, the Arabic agency of EWTN News.

The call of a parish priest

The incident sparked widespread outrage, regardless of the motivations behind the act. Father Charbel Salameh, the local priest, joined residents in the town square to condemn the vandalism while also providing comfort to the community.

In a short video, he stated: “We will remain vigilant to protect our village. We remain firm in preserving our unity and harmony, because the Lord brings us together. Maybe this is an opportunity for us all to gather here and pray in front of this manger for those who try to sow discord.”

He continued: “Let us not jump to conclusions: May God forgive those who try to destabilize us. We are here to stay; This is our land and our region. As children of the Church, we pray that whoever committed this act understands that our sacred places cannot be easily desecrated.”

“What happened calls us to act with great conscience, since impulsivity could harm us in circumstances like these. “We pray that the Lord Jesus brings peace to the hearts and minds of the people and to our country, Lebanon, in these difficult times,” the priest added.

Following the incident, Fr Salameh replaced the missing statue of the Baby Jesus with another taken from the Church of Saint Charbel as a temporary measure. Security forces arrived at the scene, cordoned off the area and began investigations to analyze the circumstances and identify those responsible.

Municipality statement

The Municipality of Faraya issued a statement specifying the details of the incident:
“On Saturday, at 6:00 pm, a citizen took photos of his grandchildren in front of the manger in the town square. Surprisingly, the children found a gun lying on the ground. The man informed nearby merchants. “A municipal officer arrived at the scene, inspected the site and contacted security forces, who arrived quickly.”

The statement added: “After investigation, the statue of the Baby Jesus was found among some nearby trees, outside the manger. Security forces confiscated the gun and concluded that the statue was not in the manger when the children and their grandfather arrived. Photos taken at that time confirm this fact.”

“In view of these events, the Faraya Municipality urges residents and all inhabitants to remain united in brotherhood and love, as it has always been. Faraya has long been a symbol of coexistence and a model for promoting peace, security and hospitality,” the statement concludes.

Attack history

Last year, a series of attacks on Christmas symbols occurred in Lebanon, particularly in the northern region of Tripoli, where an active Christian minority lives. These acts included pouring gasoline on a tree in St. George’s Church in Mina and throwing a Molotov cocktail at another tree in the square of St. George’s Church in Zaheriyah.

At the time, these unprecedented acts in a culturally and religiously diverse city were condemned by political, religious and social leaders of various affiliations.

Translated and adapted by ACI Prensa. Originally published in CNA.