It was the last thing members of a Greek Orthodox church expected to find — especially on one of their holiest days of the year.
Worshipers preparing for Palm Sunday services found the outside walls and ground of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension tagged with a giant swastika (foto), profanity and other racial epithets.
“It doesn’t make any sense, why would someone go and deface our church,” said George Polyzos, parish council president. “It’s … sad.”
“It was really just disturbing,” the Rev. Tom Zaferes said, adding that there was also “disgusting and pornographic stuff” in addition to the slurs.
Oakland police were investigating the incident, including a skateboard found at the scene and a spray paint can found by a parishioner Sunday night, Lt. Chris Shannon said.
Graffiti photos were to be examined by the department’s gang unit to see if there were any possible links with other taggings on file.
Meanwhile, the congregation tried to move forward. Polyzos said the graffiti was covered with butcher paper and tape so parishioners would not see it.
It was unfortunate that it happened at the beginning of the church’s holiest week, Zaferes said, but services continued without acknowledging the graffiti.
“I didn’t want to talk about it in church, but there were some people kind of walking by before and after and shaking their heads,” he said.
Church officials hope to remove the graffiti by today, Polyzos said.
Anyone with information can call Oakland police at 510-238-3744.
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