MECC in Solidarity With Holy Land Churches’ Decision to Close Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Protest

In response to the pressure that the Churches are facing in Jerusalem, and which led to the decision to close the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Middle East Council of Churches issues the following statement:

The Middle East Council of Churches declares its total solidarity with the situation of the heads of Churches in Jerusalem which led to the serious decision to close the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in protest in the presence of pilgrims arriving from all over the world.

Additionally, the Council calls upon the relevant authorities to preserve the prevailing customs of the Holy city, and to respect the laws imposed by international conventions regarding the position of the Churches in Jerusalem.

Finally, the Council stresses on the importance of respecting the current situation and expresses its deep concern regarding the future of Christians in the Holy Land in general, and in Jerusalem specifically, as a result of arbitrary decisions taken by the local authorities, which if implemented, will result in stripping the Church of its property and threatening its presence in the city altogether, which is unacceptable.

We pray for God to inspire all parties involved towards what is good in the Holy Land for its religions and communities. We ask the Almighty to maintain peace, which is necessary for all God’s people to be blessed with stability and tranquility.