On Friday the 27th of December, the friars of the Custody who live at Saint Saviour Monastery passed their day to the rhythm of visits from the various Churches of Jerusalem.
In the morning, the Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic, and then the Copts and Syriac Orthodox in the afternoon—visit after visit took place in the friar’s salon, as representatives of the Churches came to give their Latin brethren their Christmas greetings.
Added to the spiritual greetings celebrating the humility of the Word (Logos) Incarnate and the light and hope he brought, was shared concern about Christians of the region, particularly in Syria and Egypt.
Talking about the Prince of Peace born in Bethlehem and the hope he brings does not mean not hearing the cry of those who suffer.
All the Churches can sadly recall Christians who have been kidnapped, pillaged, attacked, killed or who are living in terror, as in the Syrian villages where fundamentalist emirates that have forbidden any religious symbols, such as crosses on convent doors or bells that are now silenced because Christians no longer have the right to issue a call to prayer.
Everyone agrees that even in countries that are not getting media attention at the moment, it is best to be vigilant and to continue working to maintain a Christian presence. This includes Israel and Palestine, where protection of the Holy Places and work with pilgrims from all over the world, being a witness to the local peoples in all their variety, cannot be done without paying attention to the ancestral Christian community.
Like Jesus, true God and true man, presenting himself without defense, so the Christians of the Middle East present themselves without power but what they do have, says the Custos of the Holy Land, Fra Pierbattista Pizzaballa, no one can take away: the love of Christ.
With the traditional visit to the Greek Orthodox patriarchal exarch, Mgr. Jules Joseph Zerey, in the presence of ten priests from his Jerusalem diocese, and the visit of Latin Patriarch S.B. Fouad Twal to the friars, the tone of the conversation did not change.
Mgr. Zerey traced a brief portrait of the history of his Church and warmly suggesting that the friars say “I love you” to the Holy Spirit, while the Patriarch took the time, as he does every year, to pay a visit to the friars in the infirmary.
The high point of the coming and going of visitors came from the Nuncio and Apostolic Delegate, Mgr. Lazzarotto. After all the greetings and salutations had been exchanged, Mgr. Lazzarotto shared the news that Pope Francis is closing all his letters with the words, “Per favore, please, pay for me.” We ask our readers, “Per favore, please, pray for the Christians of the Middle East.”
In the morning, the Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic, and then the Copts and Syriac Orthodox in the afternoon—visit after visit took place in the friar’s salon, as representatives of the Churches came to give their Latin brethren their Christmas greetings.
Added to the spiritual greetings celebrating the humility of the Word (Logos) Incarnate and the light and hope he brought, was shared concern about Christians of the region, particularly in Syria and Egypt.
Talking about the Prince of Peace born in Bethlehem and the hope he brings does not mean not hearing the cry of those who suffer.
All the Churches can sadly recall Christians who have been kidnapped, pillaged, attacked, killed or who are living in terror, as in the Syrian villages where fundamentalist emirates that have forbidden any religious symbols, such as crosses on convent doors or bells that are now silenced because Christians no longer have the right to issue a call to prayer.
Everyone agrees that even in countries that are not getting media attention at the moment, it is best to be vigilant and to continue working to maintain a Christian presence. This includes Israel and Palestine, where protection of the Holy Places and work with pilgrims from all over the world, being a witness to the local peoples in all their variety, cannot be done without paying attention to the ancestral Christian community.
Like Jesus, true God and true man, presenting himself without defense, so the Christians of the Middle East present themselves without power but what they do have, says the Custos of the Holy Land, Fra Pierbattista Pizzaballa, no one can take away: the love of Christ.
With the traditional visit to the Greek Orthodox patriarchal exarch, Mgr. Jules Joseph Zerey, in the presence of ten priests from his Jerusalem diocese, and the visit of Latin Patriarch S.B. Fouad Twal to the friars, the tone of the conversation did not change.
Mgr. Zerey traced a brief portrait of the history of his Church and warmly suggesting that the friars say “I love you” to the Holy Spirit, while the Patriarch took the time, as he does every year, to pay a visit to the friars in the infirmary.
The high point of the coming and going of visitors came from the Nuncio and Apostolic Delegate, Mgr. Lazzarotto. After all the greetings and salutations had been exchanged, Mgr. Lazzarotto shared the news that Pope Francis is closing all his letters with the words, “Per favore, please, pay for me.” We ask our readers, “Per favore, please, pray for the Christians of the Middle East.”