Jerusalem experienced today one of its most significant traditions during the Easter season: the exchange of greetings between the Orthodox Churches and the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land.
An appointment that, year after year, renews the spirit of fraternity among the different Christian communities present in the Holy Places and that, in this particularly fragile historical period, assumes an even deeper value.
Traditionally, the visit of the Oriental Churches to the Franciscans of the Custody takes place on the Tuesday of the Octave of Easter.
This year, however, the coincidence with the feast of the Annunciation according to the Julian calendar, observed by the Oriental Churches, suggested by mutual agreement the postponement of the meeting to Wednesday, April 8, to allow all communities to fully live their liturgical celebrations.
The day of the exchange of greetings had a small preview: the Coptic Patriarchate, engaged today in a special celebration at the Jordan River, visited the Custody yesterday to offer its Easter greetings.
But today was the main day, marked by a series of meetings that saw delegations from the main Orthodox Churches take turns.
First to arrive was the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Theophilos III, accompanied by some members of the fraternity of the Greek Patriarchate. Welcomed with the customary ceremonial, they addressed words of greeting to the friars of the Custody, "underlining the meaning of the Resurrection as a source of hope and as the foundation of communion among Christians."
Following this, a delegation from the Armenian Patriarchate, arriving as representatives of the Patriarch, expressed their Easter greetings, "recalling the importance of Christian witness in Jerusalem and of collaboration between communities, especially in difficult times."
It was then the turn of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate, present with a delegation led by Bishop Mons. Jakub Jacke, who wanted to manifest the closeness of the Syrian community to the friars of the Custody, in an atmosphere of respect and cordiality.
Finally, the series of meetings concluded with a delegation from the Ethiopian Patriarchate, bringing the joy of Easter and "the wish that the light of the Risen Christ may continue to illuminate the peoples of the region."
Each delegation greeted with a short speech of wishes, to which the response of the Custos of the Holy Land echoed, the short breaks were cheered by Easter chants of the Latin Catholic tradition performed professionally by the Schola Cantorum of the San Salvatore studentate.
In the various interventions, a common desire emerged strongly: peace. A peace invoked not in an abstract way, but as an urgent necessity for this Land and for the entire world, in a historical moment marked by tensions and conflicts.
The call for peace resonated with particular intensity also in light of the recent two-week truce announced during the night of the ongoing war conflict between the United States and Iran: a fragile signal, but welcomed as an occasion of hope and as an invitation to persevere in prayer.
The morning concluded according to tradition with the visit of the friars of the Custody to the Greek-Melkite Patriarchal Vicariate of Jerusalem, at the Jaffa Gate, to offer their Easter greetings in turn, thus continuing that reciprocal gesture that in Jerusalem becomes concrete testimony of fraternity and unity in diversity. The group of friars was welcomed by Monsignor Yasser el Ayyash, Greek-Melkite Patriarchal Vicar, in the presence of Mons. Ephrem Semaan, Syriac Catholic Bishop of Jerusalem, who was also visiting for Easter greetings.
In a city where faith intertwines daily with history and with the wounds of the present, the exchange of Easter greetings remains a simple but eloquent sign: a reminder of communion among Christians and a shared commitment so that the Resurrection of Christ continues to be an announcement of life, reconciliation, and peace.
Fr. Alberto Joan Pari
