Category: Heads of Churches

Easter Message — 2025
“I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”
John 11:25–26

From the midst of the present darkness that engulfs our region, We, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, nevertheless boldly proclaim to the world a message of life and hope. It is the same message first announced to the women who had come to mourn at Christ’s tomb. As the angel said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen” (Luke 24:5). At these astonishing words, the women’s sorrow was suddenly transformed into joy, their grief into exultation. The Lord had risen indeed!

Two millennia later, the living light of the resurrected Christ that burst forth from the tomb on Easter continues to shine forth from the darkness, overcoming the power of sin and death (Romans 8:2). As human beings, we have experienced times of war and darkness throughout our history. In our personal lives as well, we sometimes fall. We believe that, through his death, Jesus physically carried the burden of our fall. Yet that fall did not crush him: he stood back up, he rose again. His resurrection is the light that dispels the darkness and raises up those who come to him in faith (Romans 6:4).

This marvelous light guides and empowers God’s faithful people to show forth the Almighty’s wondrous deeds of mercy to the poor, the downtrodden, and the oppressed (1Peter 2:9–10; Luke 4:18). With deep gratitude for God’s redeeming grace in Christ, we embrace this mission, especially as we seek to respond pastorally to all who have suffered so grievously in our region over the past eighteen months.

Yet we cannot accomplish this weighty task alone. We therefore call upon Christians and others of goodwill from around the world to recommit themselves to working and praying for the relief of the afflicted, the release of all captives, and an end to the wars and assaults that have led to immeasurable human suffering, death, and destruction throughout our beloved Holy Land—as well as in other parts of the world similarly stricken. Most of all, we call upon them to join us in working for a just and lasting peace—beginning in Jerusalem, the City of the Resurrection—and extending from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

While offering this Easter message to Christians everywhere, we would like to convey our special greetings to our faithful clergy and people taking refuge over the past year-and-a-half inside St. Porphyrios Orthodox Church and Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza. We likewise express our solidarity with the staff of the Anglican-run Ahli Arab Hospital, who have courageously persevered in extending God’s healing hand to the critically wounded in the midst of unspeakable hardships.

Finally, we note with gladness that this year the eastern and western celebrations of our Lord’s resurrection fall on the same date. Providentially, this coincides with the 1700th
anniversary of the Council of Nicea, the first of the great ecumenical councils that brought together Christian leaders from around the world.

We pray that this happy confluence of events may inspire our churches to increasingly strive for greater unity in Christ, even as this year we proclaim to each other on the same day that ancient Easter greeting that continues to reverberate across the ages: “Christ is Risen! (Al Maseeh Qam! Christos Anesti! Christos haryav i merelotz! Pekhrestos aftonf! Christ est Ressuscité! Cristo è risorto! Christus resurrexit! Meshiha qam! Christos t’ensah em’ muhtan! Christus ist auferstanden!) He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia!”

—The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9

As we rapidly approach the twelfth month of the present devastating war, We, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, feel compelled to once again express our grave concerns over its dire direction. For despite repeated calls for the de-escalation of violence from ourselves and the international community, the situation in our beloved Holy Land has only continued to deteriorate.

Millions of refugees remain displaced, their homes inaccessible, destroyed, or beyond repair. Hundreds of innocents are weekly killed or severely wounded by indiscriminate attacks. Countless others continue to endure hunger, thirst, and infectious disease. Among these are those languishing in captivity on all sides, who additionally face the risk of ill-treatment from their captors. Still others, far from the battlefields, have suffered unchecked attacks against their villages, pastures, and farmlands.

Throughout this all, ceasefire negotiations have dragged on interminably, with the leaders of the warring parties seemingly more concerned with political considerations than bringing an end to the pursuit of death and destruction. These repeated delays, coupled with other provocative acts, have only served to heighten tensions to the point where we stand at the precipice of a full-blown regional war.

In view of these alarming developments, We, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, once again implore the leaders of the warring parties to heed our calls and those of the international community (UNSC Resolution 2735) to reach a rapid agreement for a ceasefire resulting in the end of the war, the release of all captives, the return of the displaced, the treatment of the sick and wounded, the relief of those who hunger and thirst, and the rebuilding of all public and private civilian structures that have been destroyed.

Just as importantly, we call upon the leaders of these peoples, in concert with the international community, to take up without delay diplomatic discussions addressing longstanding grievances between them, leading to concrete steps that promote a just and lasting peace in our region through the adoption of an internationally legitimate two-state solution.

While issuing these calls in the best interests of all who inhabit the region, we express our special concern for those Christian communities under our pastoral charge. These include those taking refuge in Gaza at St. Porphyrios Orthodox Church and Holy Family Catholic Church, as well as the courageous staff of al-Ahli Anglican Hospital and the patients under their care. We pledge to them our continued prayers and support both now and at the conclusion of the war, when we will labor together to rebuild and strengthen the Christian presence in Gaza, as well as throughout the Holy Land.

Finally, we appeal to Christians and all those of goodwill around the world to promote a vision of life and peace throughout our war-torn region, recalling Christ’s words, quoted above: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). During this time of extreme crisis, let us all recommit ourselves towards working and praying together in the hope that, by the grace of the Almighty, we might begin to realize this sacred vision of peace among all God’s children.

—The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem

Access the original statement here.

With a positive atmosphere, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of the Holy Land met today with His Excellency the Mayor of Jerusalem, Mr. Moshe Leon, to convey to him in person the contents of their letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu earlier in June and their concern from the recent legal actions of the municipality against the Churches for the collection of so called Municipal taxes debts.

The Heads of Churches reiterated their long-standing position that such unilateral actions by the Municipalities is not in accordance with the Status Quo and with the rights of the Churches, recognized and upheld for centuries and granted to the Churches for their immense contribution to the Holy Land and the Holy City of Jerusalem.

The Heads of Churches insisted that any solution for the pending issues between the Churches and the municipalities must be solved through dialogue with the government that possesses a holistic understanding of the complex matters and relationships. The Heads of Churches restated their readiness to hold dialogue with the special committee created by the Government in 2018 for this purpose, and sincerely see that the Municipalities will be part of this holistic solution.

The Heads of Churches await the response of His Excellency the Prime Minister to their letter in this regard, and in the meantime look to His Excellency the Mayor and his positive reception of today to help push forward the dialogue mechanisms so that a favourable outcome can be reach for the benefit of all sides.

Read the original post here.

Patriarchs and Church Leaders in Jerusalem Issue the Following Clarification Regarding Meeting with Herzog:

Jerusalem
23-12-2023
Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem have issued a clarification
statement regarding their recent meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog
two days ago. The statement emphasized that the meeting was not a mere
exchange of Holiday Season pleasantries but aimed at conveying the global
ecclesiastical stance, demanding, on behalf of Christians worldwide, an
immediate cessation of the bloodshed in Gaza. Additionally, it addressed the
plight of civilians, the restrictions on movement imposed in the West Bank,
especially those around Bethlehem during the holiday season.
The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches highlighted that they promptly issued
a statement upon the conclusion of the meeting with President Herzog to
outline its objectives and proceedings. However, certain Israeli media outlets,
driven by political motivations, chose to focus on marginal aspects of the
meeting, neglecting the core of the meeting and the unified statement
released by the Church Leaders on the matter. Unfortunately, some social
media influencers adopted the distorted narrative presented by these Israeli
media outlets, leading to a complete misrepresentation of the meeting and its
goals.
The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches reiterated that their consistent
message since the beginning of the war on Gaza is: an immediate and
permanent humanitarian ceasefire, the protection of civilians, and the
safeguarding of institutions providing services to them. They emphasized that
this stance was at the core of the meeting, and anything discussed outside
this framework aims to tarnish the image of the Christians and the Churches,
serving political agendas that the churches abstain from engaging in or
addressing.

– Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem issued the following Christmas message:

We, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, convey our Christmas greetings to the faithful around the world in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, born here in Bethlehem more than two-thousand years ago.
In extending these greetings, we are well aware that we do so during a time of great calamity in the land of our Lord’s birth. For over the past two-and-a-half months, the violence of warfare has led to unimaginable suffering for literally millions in our beloved Holy Land. Its ongoing horrors have brought misery and inconsolable sorrow to countless families throughout our region, evoking empathetic cries of anguish from all quarters of the earth. For those caught in the midst of such dire circumstances, hope seems distant and beyond reach.
Yet it was into such a world that our Lord himself was born in order to give us hope. Here, we must remember that during the first Christmas, the situation was not far removed from that of today. Thus the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph had difficulty finding a place for their son’s birth. There was the killing of children. There was military occupation. And there was the Holy Family becoming displaced as refugees. Outwardly, there was no reason for celebration other than the birth of the Lord Jesus.
Nevertheless, in the midst of such sin and sorrow, the Angel appeared to the shepherds announcing a message of hope and joy for all the world: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord” (Luke 2:10–11).
In Christ’s Incarnation, the Almighty came to us as Immanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), in order to save, redeem, and transform us. This was to fulfill the words of the Prophet Isaiah: “The LORD has anointed me . . . to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor” (Isaiah 61:1–2a; Luke 4:18–19).
This is the divine message of hope and peace that Christ’s Nativity inspires within us, even in the midst of suffering. For Christ himself was born and lived amid great suffering. Indeed, he suffered for our sake, even unto death upon a cross, in order that the light of hope would shine into the world, overcoming the darkness (John 1:5).
It is in this spirit of Christmas that We, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, denounce all violent actions and call for their end. We likewise call upon the people of this land and around the globe to seek the graces of God so that we might learn to walk with each other in the paths of justice, mercy, and peace. Finally, we bid the faithful and all those of goodwill to work tirelessly for the relief of the afflicted and towards a just and lasting peace in this land that is equally sacred to the three Monotheistic Faiths.
In these ways, the hope of Christmas will indeed be born once again, beginning in Bethlehem and extending from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth—thus realizing the comforting words of Zechariah, that “the dawn from on high will break upon us to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, guiding our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:78–79).

—The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem

The Patriarchs And Heads of Churches In Jerusalem Issued a Statement On The Recent Events In The Armenian Quarter:

November 18, 2023

We, as the Christian community of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, share grave concern over the recent events taking place within the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem. In recent days, a contested contract for development on a considerable portion of the Armenian Quarter has been declared canceled. Instead of it being handled through the proper legal channels, the alleged developers have decided to hire armed provocateurs, obstruct parking entrances, and begin demolition work. We are worried that these events potentially endanger the Armenian presence in Jerusalem, as they set a precedent for similar engagements. The illegal actions taken by the alleged developer against the Armenian Patriarchate and community are not conducive for the social order that the peaceful and law-abiding Armenian community, which is a member of our Christian family in the Holy Land, longs for.
The provocations that are being used by the alleged developers to deploy incendiary tactics threaten to erase the Armenian presence in the area, weakening and endangering the Christian presence in the Holy Land.
As the Heads of the Churches, we express our solidarity with the Armenian Patriarchate and community in their decision to take the proper legal procedures in their cancellation of this transaction and urgently appeal to all relevant governmental and non-governmental bodies able to assist in this matter to help us restore the former peace and harmony enjoyed by all those who have used this land in the Armenian Quarter.
We are convinced that matters of this nature should be handled only through legal negotiations and procedures to avoid further escalations and violence.

– The Patriarchs And Heads of Churches In Jerusalem

We, as the Christian community of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, share grave concern over the recent events taking place within the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem. In recent days, a contested contract for development on a considerable portion of the Armenian Quarter has been declared cancelled. Instead of it being handled through the proper legal channels, the alleged developers have decided to hire armed provocateurs, obstruct parking entrances, and begin demolition work.

We are worried that these events potentially endanger the Armenian presence in Jerusalem, as they set a precedent for similar engagements. The illegal actions taken by the alleged developer against the Armenian Patriarchate and community are not conducive for the social order that the peace and law-abiding Armenian community, which is a member of the Christian family in the Holy land, longs for.

The provocations that are being used by the alleged developers to deploy incendiary tactics threaten to erase the Armenian presence in the area, weakening and endangering the Christian presence in the Holy land.

As the Heads of Churches, we express our solidarity with the Armenian Patriarchate and community in their decision to take the proper legal procedures in their cancellation of this transaction and urgently appeal to the relevant governmental and non-governmental bodies able to assist in the matter to help restore the former peace and harmony enjoyed by all those who have used this land in the Armenian Quarter.

We are convinced that matters of this nature should be handled only through legal negotiations and procedures to avoid further escalations and violence,

– The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem

Access the original statement here.

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem issued the following Statement on the Celebration of Advent and Christmas in the Midst of the War:
November 10, 2023
Each year during the sacred seasons of Advent and Christmastide, our Christian communities throughout the Holy Land take great delight in their preparations for the commemoration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In addition to attendance in religious services, these celebrations have normally involved participation in numerous public festivities and the large- scale display of brightly lit and expensive decorations as a means of expressing our joy at the approach and arrival of the Feast of the Nativity.

But these are not normal times. Since the start of the War, there has been an atmosphere of sadness and pain. Thousands of innocent civilians, including women and children, have died or suffered serious injuries. Many more grieve over the loss of their homes, their loved ones, or the uncertain fate of those dear to them. Throughout the region, even more have lost their work and are suffering from serious economic challenges. Yet despite our repeated calls for a humanitarian ceasefire and a de-escalation of violence, the war continues.
Therefore, We, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, call upon our congregations to stand strong with those facing such afflictions by this year foregoing any unnecessarily festive activities. We likewise encourage our priests and the faithful to focus more on the spiritual meaning of Christmas in their pastoral activities and liturgical celebrations during this period, with all the focus directed at holding in our thoughts our brothers and sisters affected by this war and its consequences, and with fervent prayers for a just and lasting peace for our beloved Holy Land.

Moreover, during this season of giving, we also invite the faithful to advocate, pray, and contribute generously as they are able for the relief of the victims of this war and for those in dire need, as well as to encourage others to join them in this mission of mercy.
In these ways, we believe, we will be standing in support of those continuing to suffer-just as Christ did with us in his Incarnation, in order that all of God’s children might receive the hope of a New Jerusalem in the presence of the Almighty, where “death shall be no more, neither mourning, nor crying, nor pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

-The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem Host the Archbishop of Canterbury and issue the following statement:

Jerusalem, October 21, 2023
“For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me.” (Matthew 25:35-36)
We, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, having gathered in prayer with Jerusalem’s honorable guest, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, join with him in expressing, in the strongest possible terms, our condemnation of the Israeli airstrikes that exploded without warning at the Orthodox Church compound of Saint Porphyrios in Gaza on the night of October 19th
These blasts led to the sudden and catastrophic collapse of two church halls around the scores of refugees, including women and children, sleeping within. Dozens found themselves instantly crushed beneath the rubble. Many were injured some severely. At last count, eighteen have died, nine of whom were children.
In condemning this attack against a sacred place of refuge, we cannot ignore that this is but the latest instance of innocent civilians being injured or killed as a result of missile strikes against other shelters of last resort. Among these are schools and hospitals where refugees had fled because their homes were demolished in the relentless bombing campaign waged against residential areas in Gaza over the past two weeks.
Despite the devastation wrought upon our own and other social, religious, and humanitarian institutions, we, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches, nevertheless remain fully committed to fulfilling our sacred and moral duty of offering assistance, support, and refuge to those civilians who come to us in such desperate need. Even in the face of ceaseless military demands to evacuate our charitable institutions and houses of worship, we will not abandon this Christian mission, for there is literally no other safe place for these innocents to turn.
As the above passage of Scripture reminds us, our Lord Jesus Christ calls us to minister to the most vulnerable. And we must do so not only in times of peace. The church must especially act as the church in times of war, for that is when human suffering is at its greatest.
Yet we cannot accomplish this mission alone. We therefore call upon the international community to immediately enforce protections in Gaza for Sanctuaries of Refuge, such as hospitals, schools, and houses of worship. And we call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire so that food, water, and vital medical supplies can safely be delivered to the relief agencies ministering to the hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians in Gaza, including those operated by our own churches.
Finally, we call upon all warring parties to de-escalate the violence, cease from indiscriminately targeting civilians on all sides, and operate within the international rules of warfare. Only in this way, we believe, can the groundwork be laid for an eventual diplomatic consideration of longstanding grievances so that a just and lasting peace can finally be achieved throughout our beloved Holy Land-both in our time, and for generations to come.

-The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem have issued a joint statement on the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza:

Jerusalem, October 13, 2023

“God created mankind in his own image” (Gen 1,27)
Today, an emergency committee of the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem met for prayer and consultation over the grave humanitarian crisis that has befallen all of us.

Our beloved Holy Land has changed dramatically over the past week. We are witnessing a new cycle of violence with an unjustifiable attack against all civilians. Tensions continue to rise and more innocent and vulnerable people are paying the ultimate price as the dramatic level of death and destruction in Gaza clearly show.
The order to evacuate the north of Gaza and to ask 1.1 million people including all the members of our Christian communities there to relocate to the south within 24 hours will only deepen an already disastrous humanitarian catastrophe. Gaza’s entire population is being deprived of electricity, water, fuel supplies, food, and medicine. According to UN sources, 423,000 people have already been displaced because of the destruction of their homes. Many civilians in Gaza have said to us that there are no realistic ways in which they can evacuate to safety in any direction.
We call upon the State of Israel, with the support of the International Community, to allow humanitarian supplies to enter Gaza so that the thousands of innocent civilians may receive medical treatment and basic supplies. Moreover, we call upon all parties to de- escalate this war in order to save innocent lives while still serving the cause of justice.
Finally, in support of all those who have suffered in this war and of the families reeling from the violence, we call upon the people of our congregations and all those of goodwill around the world to observe a Day of Prayer and Fasting on Tuesday, October 17th.
There is yet time to stop the hatred.

-The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem have issued a joint statement:

October 7, 2023

The Holy Land, a place sacred to countless millions around the world, is currently mired in violence and suffering due to the prolonged political conflict and the lamentable absence of justice and respect for human rights. We, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, have time and again appealed for the importance of respecting the historic and legal Status Quo of the holy shrines. In these trying times, we come together to raise our voices in unity, echoing the divine message of peace and love for all humanity.

As custodians of the Christian faith, deeply rooted in the Holy Land, we stand in solidarity with the people of this region, who are enduring the devastating consequences of continued strife. Our faith, which is founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ, compels us to advocate for the cessation of all violent and military activities that bring harm to both Palestinian and Israeli civilians.

We unequivocally condemn any acts that target civilians, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, or faith. Such actions go against the fundamental principles of humanity and the teachings of Christ, who implored us to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31).

It is our fervent hope and prayer that all parties involved will heed this call for an immediate cessation of violence. We implore political leaders and authorities to engage in sincere dialogue, seeking lasting solutions that promote justice, peace, and reconciliation for the people of this land, who have endured the burdens of conflict for far too long.

In our capacity as spiritual leaders, we extend our hands to all those who suffer, and we pray that the Almighty may grant comfort to the afflicted, strength to the weary, and wisdom to those in positions of authority. We call upon the international community to redouble its efforts to mediate a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land, based on equal rights for all and on international legitimacy.

Let us remember the words of the Apostle Paul: “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). In the spirit of this divine message, we implore all to work tirelessly towards an end to violence and the establishment of a just and lasting peace that will allow the Holy Land to be a beacon of hope, faith, and love for all.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all during these challenging times.

-The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem