Bones of Christian Saint Discovered After Islamic State Destroys Syrian Monastery

After being buried for centuries, the bones of Christian saints have allegedly resurfaced after the Islamic State destroyed a Syrian monastery last year.

Channel 4 News reporter Lindsey Hilsum visited what remains of the Mar Elian monastery in Al-Qaryatayn, Syria. Though the city has now been reclaimed by government forces from the Islamic State, the site remains in ruins.

During Hilsum's visit, she posted photos of the wreckage to her Twitter account. Among the destruction, the reporter found a destroyed fifth-century sarcophagus apparently containing a skull and bones.

The bones of Christian saints in the rubble of St Eliane monastery in #Qaryatayn. #ISIS blew it up last August. pic.twitter.com/Htyipk1k6I

— Lindsey Hilsum (@lindseyhilsum) April 4, 2016

Another image showed boxes full of "bones of saints" that have been "chucked into a room" after the Islamic State demolished their resting place, according to Hilsum.

Bones of saints, chucked into a room, after #ISIS destroyed their resting place at St Eliane monastery #Qaryatayn pic.twitter.com/WtzzS7is5A

— Lindsey Hilsum (@lindseyhilsum)

April 4, 2016

The Islamic State destroyed the 1,500-year-old Mar Elian, or St. Julian, monastery in August 2015 and posted images of the demolition on Twitter accounts linked to the radical Islamist group.

Total destruction in #Qaryatayn , some by #ISIS, some by #Syrian and Russian bombardment. Govt in control of rubble. pic.twitter.com/wPHsI5OYnF

— Lindsey Hilsum (@lindseyhilsum)

April 4, 2016

Subsequently, Syrian and Russian airstrikes have caused additional damage to the holy site.

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