Even though Churches were closed and unable to celebrate Easter with priests rejoicing Χριστός Ανέστη (Christos Anesti, Christ Is Risen), anarchists could not show respect to the religion of the majority of Greeks.
Shortly after the announcement of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on Sunday, a group of over 50 hooded men threw Molotov cocktails near Ιερός Ναός Αναλήψεως Κυρίου Νέου Κόσμου in Greece's capital city of Athens, according to Security News.
About 50 anarchists attacked the church located on Lagoumitzi Street.
Security forces rushed to the spot, where after a chase in the alleyways of the area, they proceeded to arrest two anarchists and confiscated bottles of flammable liquid from them, Security News reported.
This latest incident follows previous attacks by anarchists against churches before Easter.
The St. Basil Church on Metsovo Street close to the centre of Exarcheia was attacked by anarchists, as reported by Greek City Times.
A video of the attack shows two medical mask wearing women attacking the historic church.
They all wrote vulgar slogans like ”Santa Claus I want to penetrate (copulate) you but the State does not let me" and “Roast my ass," which is making fun of the custom of roasting lambs on Easter.
In another attack, anarchists spray-painted slogans on the walls of the Byzantine-era Church of Prophet Elias in the area of Ano Poli (Upper Town) in Thessaloniki, as reported by Greek City Times. The medieval church was built in the 1300’s and became listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical value and beauty.
“Kiss the priest’s hand and taste death afterwards,” the vandals wrote on the church located on Olympiados Street.
The slogan written is in reference to the coronavirus pandemic and how the infection can be transmitted via human touch.
