All cases
Man attacks church in Turin in broad daylight by throwing rocks and insulting Christians
August 17, 2023, ItalyOn 17 August a foreign man attacked the historic church of Santa Cristina in Turin's Plazza San Carlo in broad daylight. The attack can be seen in a video that is circulating on the Internet. In the video, the man can be heard cursing at the worshippers inside the church, and shouting: 'F****ng Christians'. The perpetrator was arrested by the police and was taken to a hospital, as he injured himself while throwing stones against the church.
Cyprus: Man harasses priest in Monastery by reciting the Islamic profession of faith
August 17, 2023, CyprusOn August 17, a video surfaced on the Internet showing a man in the Apostolos Andreas Monastery in the Karpasia peninsula of Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus, harassing a priest by reciting the Shahāda (Islamic profession of faith). Legal proceedings have been initiated against the provokator.
Belarus: Pastor of the New Life Church Minsk Arrested Again
August 15, 2023, BelarusPastor Viachaslau Hancharenka of the New Life Full Gospel Church in Minsk, was detained together with his son-in-law Illia Budai on the 15th of August. According to the news, 20 armed policemen broke into his house, searched and detained them. He was sentenced to 10 days in jail and his son-in-law to 5 days in jail for resisting the detention.
Vandals devastated facilities of the Santa Maria Liberatrice parish in Milan
August 8, 2023, ItalyOn the night of 7-8 August, a group of unidentified vandals entered and destroyed the parish facilities of the Santa Maria Liberatrice parish in Vigentino, Milan. "The area with all the objects was ransacked, plus two fire extinguishers were emptied. There was white powder everywhere," told one of the founders of the association that is helping to clean and repair the destruction. The carabinieri investigating the case are also voluntarily helping with the clearing clear out of service hours.
Church vandalised with Red paint in Lucca
August 7, 2023, ItalyUnknown perpetrators targeted the side entrance of the Basilica of San Paolino in Lucca with red paint. The parish priest Don Lucio Malanca told the newspaper "La Nazione" that they have experienced of repeated acts of vandalism. He said: "Unfortunately, this is not even the most serious act of vandalism suffered by our Lucchese churches and monuments in the historic centre".
Serbian Orthodox church vandalised in Kosovo the night before its commemoration
August 7, 2023, KosovoThe Office for Kosovo and Metohija of the Government of the Republic of Serbia reported and shared pictures of a vandalic attack that the church of Saint Petka suffered on 7 August. The church is located in the settlement of Suvi Do, close to Mitrovica, and belongs to the Serbian Orthodox Church. The church was attacked the night before its dedication day (temple's glory day).
"World Youth Day" monument in Leiria vandalised with anti-Church inscription
August 6, 2023, PortugalOn the night of August 6-7, the monument with the letters "Leiria" in the city of the same name in Portugal was vandalized with an anti-Church slogan. The letters were put in commemoration of World Youth Day 2023 in Portugal painted with the colors and the logo of WYD.
Recently inaugurated St Anthony statue decapitated and vandalized in Portugal
August 5, 2023, PortugalThe statue of St Anthony recently inaugurated in Torres Novas was vandalised on 5 August. It was found the next morning with the head cut off, baby Jesus destroyed and a carton banner written "God is dead" and "You paedophiles." The damage was valued at €13,000.
"God is Trans" tagged on Religious Panel during World Youth Day
August 5, 2023, PortugalOn August 5, a tile panel depicting the Ecce Homo (an image of Jesus Christ), the 5th station of the ancient procession of "Nosso Senhor dos Passos," was vandalized with the graffiti "God is trans" in the city of Torres Novas. This panel had recently been restored and blessed.
Vandals raid medieval church in Varigotti and destroy several objects
August 5, 2023, ItalyUnknown vandals entered San Lorenzo's medieval church in Varigotti on the night of 5-6 August and destroyed several things during the raid. Apart from ransacking the premises, they also stole offerings and other equipment from the church.