Syrian Christian beheaded by jihadists
January 17, 2014
Five armed jihadists beheaded a Syrian Christian after they observed that he was wearing a cross around his neck, according to the Fides news agency.
Fides, the news service of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, reported:
The incident, which occurred on 8 January, was reported to Fides only now by a priest in the diocese of Homs. The two, Firas Nader (29), and Fadi Matanius Mattah (34), were traveling by car from Homs to the Christian village of Marmarita. A group of five armed jihadists intercepted the vehicle and opened fire on the car. Upon reaching the car, militiamen, noting that Fadi was wearing a cross around his neck, beheaded him. They then took money and documents, leaving Firas on the ground wounded, believing he was already dead.
Firas instead managed to escape, reaching the town of Almshtaeih on foot and was then transferred to the hospital in Tartou. Some of the faithful were able to recover the body of Mattah, bringing him to Marmarita, where the local Christian community expressed strong indignation for the horrible act carried out.
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Posted by: Athelstan -
Jan. 18, 2014 4:00 PM ET USA
Fadi Matanius Mattah, martyr for the Faith, pray for us.
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Posted by: Defender -
Jan. 17, 2014 12:41 PM ET USA
No one in the Vatican or in our illustrious USCCB dares to call massacres of entire Christian villages "ethnic cleansing" - perhaps they think if they don't say anything, it will go away - or separate incidents, like this, are not mere aberrations. Go ahead, make nice, while those who are proud of the Faith, lead.
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Posted by: jg23753479 -
Jan. 17, 2014 8:49 AM ET USA
Am I wrong in thinking this poor fellow is a martyr, having died for his demonstration of faith? I would like Rome to make more forcefully the point that hundreds of Christians around the world are suffering martyrdom every year in this latest onslaught by the forces of Mohammed.
