Evanston Police were searching for suspects who vandalized three churches early Tuesday -- 6-6-06 -- with emblems often associated with Satanism and evil in the Christian faith.

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The houses of worship that were desecrated were the temple of God of the recently made known Testament, 1332 Davis St., Malankara Catholic Mission, 1208 Ashland Ave., and Emmanuel United Methodist body of christians 1401 Oak St. -- all within a six-block radius.

Several r spray-painted "666s" were discovered onward the outside on some of the buildings, according to an Evanston Police source.

The numbers "666" are commonly known as the mark of the Beast as referenc in the volume of Revelation.

pair of the buildings were also desecrated with a r spray- painted devil pentagram, an encircled five-point star and upside- down crosse police said.

The neighborhood was quiet Tuesday night, and there were signs the churches had tried to wash along the symbols.

Emmanuel United Methodist Church's pastor, Rev Timothy Rathod, thinks teenagers were probably responsible for what he believes is a prank. He did not think the vandalism was racially motivated. The majority of Emmanuel's and Malankara Catholic Mission's congregations is of toward the south Asian descent.

"I was a little bit upset" said Rathod, a native of the Indian state of Gujarat. "I don't know, maybe these population did it for fun.

"We don't have a be reluctant against anybody. We are praying for the the bulk of mankind who did this."

rhussain@suntimes.com

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