Letter to an Arsonist
by Karim Azar (May ’02)
OUR CHURCH HAS BURNED
Amidst the ashes, we heard from God
April 7th, 2002. This day on the Orthodox Calendar marked the Third Sunday of Lent, exactly halfway to Pascha. The Third Sunday of Lent also marks the Ascension of the Cross. It was also the day that someone burned down our church.
When I got the first news of what was happening I was in disbelief. Not until I saw the 7 A.M. news, which showed a gigantic inferno, could I even begin comprehending the idea. It felt like my own home was burning around me. My father and I got to the church at 7:45A.M., not having any clue what to expect. When we got there, there was no church left. The police and the fire department had closed the entire block. They wrapped crime scene tape all around the outside perimeter of the church grounds. It is shocking to see a place of worship become a crime scene.
From the street, we could begin to see some of the damage. Not a single icon could be seen. The Iconostasis was nothing but a frame. The altar was a mound of char. In the middle of the church was a huge frame, the steeple, crushing even the roof that fell underneath it.
For the next couple of days, the thought “Why would we be a target for this attack?” kept running through my mind. Yes, we are a church where the majority of the parishioners are of Arab descent. Many of the parishioners (like myself) are first-generation Americans, if not immigrants of Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria or other Arab countries. However, this is certainly not our church’s entire identity. We have Greek, Russian, Indian, American, Ethiopian, Eastern European, and Chinese families, too.
I guess there is a reason for someone to hate us. We do give money to the poor. We do send money to orphanages to take care of children. Sometimes we even feed people who are hungry! Worst of all, we love every person who walks through the doors of our parish.
In the midst of the ashes, created by hate, we received a message from God. As the firefighters and investigators approached the altar, they allowed Fr. Samer to do the initial search. Unfortunately, there was not much to save. Yet on top of the burnt-up mound that was our beautiful altar, lay the Gospel book. The cover of the Gospel had burned away, as well as all of the outer edges. But there was one part that was readable: Matt 5:38-41:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek; turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.”
I want justice. The person who did this must face earthly judgment, the same justice that is guaranteed to us all under the Constitution and the law. This needs to happen before another place of worship is destroyed or any other crime of hate can be executed. I will be offering the responsible party love and understanding. I have full faith in God that when the arsonist’s time comes, He will judge the offender accordingly. God has the ultimate decision concerning their fate, whether it be in Heaven or in Hell.
The arsonist did not realize that to destroy a church you must destroy the people, their faith, and their good works. Such things are not bound by mere concrete, wood, and steel. We are still worshipping. We are still helping those in need. We are still welcoming all those who seek us out, embracing them in Christian love. Only this time, we are doing all that we did before with even more intensity, more passion, and more focus.
To the person responsible for this crime: You may have burned down the building, but you failed in your attempt to destroy our church.
Karim Azar Teen SOYO Co-Advisor Orthodox Church of the Redeemer
