Archbishop of Athens condemns Israeli desecration of Jesus statue in southern Lebanon

The Archbishop of Athens on Tuesday condemned the desecration of a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon, warning that war-driven violence risks deepening divisions and harming innocent civilians.

Archbishop Ieronymos II expressed “deep concern” over the incident, which involved damage to a statue depicting the crucified Jesus, and questioned the motives behind the act, according to Orthodox Times.

Ieronymos emphasized that Jesus “did not use violence nor lead military actions,” but instead preached love, repentance, and forgiveness.

The remarks came after the Israel Defense Forces confirmed that one of its soldiers had damaged a Christian religious symbol during operations in southern Lebanon.

The military said it was treating the incident with “great severity,” adding that such behavior does not reflect its values.

Ieronymos also acknowledged the swift condemnation of the act by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing it as a “step in the right direction,” while stressing that broader conditions of war continue to fuel anger and violence.

He warned that such conflicts often result in civilian suffering, particularly among children, referring to reports of casualties in the Iranian city of Minab.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar issued an apology Monday, describing the incident as “grave and disgraceful,” and said an investigation had been opened to hold those responsible accountable.

Israel's public broadcaster previously reported that the soldier involved would not face a criminal investigation but would instead be subject to disciplinary measures.

The Israeli army said it views the incident with “utmost seriousness” and stressed that the conduct does not reflect the values expected of its troops.

The incident is not the first involving damage to Christian symbols in Lebanon.

In September 2024, Israeli airstrikes destroyed the Saint George Church in the town of Derdghaya in the Tyre district. In April 2025, Israeli forces demolished a statue of Saint George in the town of Yaroun in Nabatieh province.

The Israeli military has been conducting operations in Lebanon since March 2 amid escalating regional tensions, with reports of thousands of casualties and large-scale displacement.

A ceasefire announced last week has been repeatedly tested by reported violations, according to Lebanese authorities.