The churches of the Holy Land came together in a single prayer on Tuesday 4th January in the Church of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, to mourn, for the second time in a month, the victims of another attack against Christians in the Middle East.
Most of church leaders were present or represented, and all spoke to denounce the conditions of certain indiscriminate attacks, such as that of the New Year whilst the faithful were in prayer.
The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem sent a message which was read out, whilst a representative of Fatah said a few words as did the representative of the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Zyad Bendak, who read a message from the President, Mahmoud Abbas, followed by a number of leading Muslim personalities from the city who deemed it important to attend this occasion and present their condolences.
The public also included the presence of Israeli Jews eager for dialogue with the other monotheistic religions of the country.
It was the Archbishop of the Orthodox Copts of the Holy Land, Mons. Anba Abraham, whose speech concluded the encounter prolonged, according to Oriental tradition, by the presentation of condolences over coffee.
In an interview with the Franciscan Media Centre, Mons. Anba Abraham, said, quoting Tertullian: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of new Christians. This ordeal can strengthen the faith of our faithful, who will be increasingly numerous in our churches. At times, God allows certain events to happen because martyrdom is a testimony for the whole world, testimony that should strengthen our faith, take us closer to the Lord and make us believe more deeply in our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
The Arab Christian community in the Holy Land, however, even living in the safest country in the region, believes that these attacks reflect the inescapably tightening grip. According to the Archbishop Antonio Franco, Nonce and Apostolic Delegate, “The risk is that the community panics.” The unanimous opinion is that it is necessary to invert the trend, make peace where there is war. A simple solution but one that can be reached only at the end of a very long and winding road!
Mab
Most of church leaders were present or represented, and all spoke to denounce the conditions of certain indiscriminate attacks, such as that of the New Year whilst the faithful were in prayer.
The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem sent a message which was read out, whilst a representative of Fatah said a few words as did the representative of the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Zyad Bendak, who read a message from the President, Mahmoud Abbas, followed by a number of leading Muslim personalities from the city who deemed it important to attend this occasion and present their condolences.
The public also included the presence of Israeli Jews eager for dialogue with the other monotheistic religions of the country.
It was the Archbishop of the Orthodox Copts of the Holy Land, Mons. Anba Abraham, whose speech concluded the encounter prolonged, according to Oriental tradition, by the presentation of condolences over coffee.
In an interview with the Franciscan Media Centre, Mons. Anba Abraham, said, quoting Tertullian: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of new Christians. This ordeal can strengthen the faith of our faithful, who will be increasingly numerous in our churches. At times, God allows certain events to happen because martyrdom is a testimony for the whole world, testimony that should strengthen our faith, take us closer to the Lord and make us believe more deeply in our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
The Arab Christian community in the Holy Land, however, even living in the safest country in the region, believes that these attacks reflect the inescapably tightening grip. According to the Archbishop Antonio Franco, Nonce and Apostolic Delegate, “The risk is that the community panics.” The unanimous opinion is that it is necessary to invert the trend, make peace where there is war. A simple solution but one that can be reached only at the end of a very long and winding road!
Mab