Vandals deface Russian sacred place in Jerusalem

Unknown vandals have defaced an Orthodox Holy Trinity cathedral in Jerusalem, the Russian clerical mission’s official website reports.

"Two red inscriptions in Hebrew reading ‘Death’ and ‘Death to Christians’ have appeared on the altar of the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral,” the statement says.

“There have been numerous intimidations towards Russian sacred places and clergy, both orthodox and non-orthodox, made anonymously in oral form,” the website also reports.

Situated in the heart of downtown Jerusalem, the Holy Trinity Church was established by the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society in the second half of the nineteenth century and since then has been among the top pilgrimage destinations for Orthodox Christians.