MASSILLON, Ohio -- Is it good versus evil or something less sinister? A satanic pentagram was cut out on church property.
Parishioners at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Massillon are about to break ground to make a garden on a plot of land but it was desecrated before that could happen.
Once every month, the church offers a food pantry and a community meal to those less fortunate so it just made sense to have a garden.
The church owns the land right across the street. "This is a pentagram, a five sided start which is traditionally associated with satanic or demonic rights," said Rev. Constantine Valantasis, the priest at St. George.
The ground had already been consecrated but someone decided to play a prank or send a demonic message using a lawn mower to cut a pentagram in the grass.
Nick Mossides, Parish Council President, said, "I don't know if it was a bad joke or if it was somebody trying to scare the parish by doing something positive with community outreach but our parish is not going to be intimidated."
The plot of land sits next to Marc Harwig's house at the corner of Albright Ave. and South St. SE. He says he has no idea what happened. "We got a lot of family here, like three family members. There's always somebody around but no one seen it."
If it is a battle of good and evil, Rev. Valantasis says he's not worried who will win. "The eternal principle there is the light always, always breaks through the darkness so evil can battle as much as it wants. In the end it loses."
Despite what happened church parishioners are going ahead with their plans.
They'll break ground Thursday at 6 p.m. following a consecration ceremony which they believe will make the ground holy.
Parishioners at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Massillon are about to break ground to make a garden on a plot of land but it was desecrated before that could happen.
Once every month, the church offers a food pantry and a community meal to those less fortunate so it just made sense to have a garden.
The church owns the land right across the street. "This is a pentagram, a five sided start which is traditionally associated with satanic or demonic rights," said Rev. Constantine Valantasis, the priest at St. George.
The ground had already been consecrated but someone decided to play a prank or send a demonic message using a lawn mower to cut a pentagram in the grass.
Nick Mossides, Parish Council President, said, "I don't know if it was a bad joke or if it was somebody trying to scare the parish by doing something positive with community outreach but our parish is not going to be intimidated."
The plot of land sits next to Marc Harwig's house at the corner of Albright Ave. and South St. SE. He says he has no idea what happened. "We got a lot of family here, like three family members. There's always somebody around but no one seen it."
If it is a battle of good and evil, Rev. Valantasis says he's not worried who will win. "The eternal principle there is the light always, always breaks through the darkness so evil can battle as much as it wants. In the end it loses."
Despite what happened church parishioners are going ahead with their plans.
They'll break ground Thursday at 6 p.m. following a consecration ceremony which they believe will make the ground holy.
