(Pravmir) St. Matthew’s Monastery founded in 363 AD survived the Ottoman and Persian Empires, the Mongol invaders and Kurdish conquests–it has served as a refuge for persecuted Christians for centuries but today, is being threatened by ISIS Jihad Thugs.
When ISIS stormed the City of Mosul (just 20 miles away) the Monastery’s thick stone walls became a safe haven to Christians and other religious refugees that sought refuge there.
“We can see the battles and the airstrikes from here–especially at night. The sky lights up at night but we of course are not scared, God protects us.” said Fr. Yousif Ibrahim, one of the three Monks that live at St. Matthew’s Monastery.
Before Iraq fell into chaos, St. Matthew’s Monastery was home to thousands of Nuns, Priests and students–the ancient Chapel there traces its founding back to the time of Jesus Christ–some of its earliest founders may have personally known Jesus.
St. Matthew’s Monastery houses one of the most ancient Christian libraries in the region. On the 01 February, I wrote here that when ISIS Thugs invaded and ransacked the Central Library in Iraq Mosul a month before, they were on a mission to destroy a familiar enemy–other peoples ideas which included: Children’s stories, Poetry, Philosophy, volumes on Sports, Health, Culture and Science, only leaving behind Islamic texts.
ISIS has previously vowed to destroy all Christian historical sites in areas that fall under its control. Last July, ISIS Jihadists destroyed the ‘Prophet Jonah’ tomb, they have smashed ancient Iraq artifacts and have also desecrated Churches both in Iraq and Syria.
St. Matthew’s Monastery (another view of the Monastery) is built like a fortress into the side of a mountain (Mt. Al-Faf) last Summer, Kurdish Soldiers were able to push back ISIS to about 4 miles away but today, the ancient Monastery is in danger of falling to ISIS again.
- Flashback: Remember in 2009 when in Egypt when President Obama claimed “Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance” and a year ago when Obama claimed “the world is less violent than it has ever been.”
- Remember in December when Hillary Clinton claimed that America must ’empathize’ with its enemies.
President Obama and Hillary Clinton are either intentional liars or delusional and actually believe what they say, living in their own world of butterflies and daisies.
Related: President Obama’s Foreign Policy Mess –FOX News
Islamic Religious Police Install Posters Outlining the Laws of
“They’re really getting hysterical and this speaks volumes,” writes (my friend) 
ISIS Destroyed Image of Cross in Iraq Mosul Ahead of Easter
ISIS Symbol of a Black Flag Where Cross Once Was
Christians Returning to Syria to Ruins of Churches that ISIS Destroyed
Christian Community in Syria Idlib, ISIS Replaced Holy Virgin Mary