The monks of Tibhirine : faith, love, and terror in Algeria / John W. Kiser.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kiser, John W.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Trappists--Algeria--Tibehirine--Biography.

Trappists.

Christian martyrs--Algeria--Tibehirine--Biography.

Christian martyrs.

Victims of terrorism--Algeria--Biography.

Victims of terrorism.

Notre Dame de l'Atlas (Monastery : Tibehirine, Algeria).

Tibehirine (Algeria)--Church history--20th century.

Tibehirine (Algeria).

Algeria.

Algeria--Tibehirine.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xvi, 335 pages 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, map ; 22 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : St. Martin's Press, 2002.

Summary:

In the spring of 1996, armed men broke into a Trappist monastery in war-torn Algeria and took seven monks hostage, using them as pawns in a murky plot to free imprisoned terrorists. Two months later the monks' severed heads were found in a tree; their bodies were never recovered.

The village of Tibhirine had sprung up around the monastery because it was a holy place, protected by the Virgin Mary, who is revered by Christians and Muslims alike. But napalm, helicopters, and gunfire had become regular accompaniments to the monastic routine as the violence engulfing Algeria drew closer to the isolated cloister.

These seven monks were martyrs to their Muslim neighbors, whom they refused to desert in their hour of need.

Contents:

Map of Algeria x

Part 1 Monks in a Muslim Land: 1843-1989

1. Mourning 3

2. Two Mohammeds 6

3. Entering the Chain 22

4. Years of Crisis 44

5. Ribats 57

6. Under the Virgin's Gaze 69

Part 2 A Shared Torment: 1988-1994

7. Revolution 85

8. A Visit from the General 101

9. A Country of Orphans 113

10. Poyo 131

11. God Is Great 138

12. Father Christmas 145

13. In God's Hands 156

14. Descent into Hell 167

15. Deja Vu 186

Part 3 A Light Extinguished?: 1995-1996

16. Sorrow and Joy 195

17. Emptying the Fishbowl 209

18. Martyrs of Hope 227

19. Postmortem 248

20. A Visit to Algiers 257

Appendix A Gia Communique No. 43 287.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [321]-329) and index.

ISBN:

0312253176

OCLC:

48466883