RELIGION OF PIECES: Saints’ bones among rubble of Syrian monastery destroyed by Isil. [archive]

The remains of revered religious figures appear to have been thrown into a room along with empty cardboard boxes, clay pots and rubbish as part of Isil’s attempt to destroy the monastery, which they blew up and bulldozed in August 2015 shortly after capturing territory in Homs Province. . . .

The monastery was first established more than 1,500 years ago and was named after a third century Christian from Homs who was killed by his father, a Roman officer, for refusing to renounce his faith. It had been restored just 10 years ago with help of an Italian priest, who had re-established another monastery, Mar Musa, near Damascus.