Christmas Tree Lights Shine Bright at Heart of Christianity in the Holy Land as Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem Resolves to Resist Radical Threat
This news is also available in Arabic.
Jerusalem – December 9 2021
A delegation from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, led by His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, and accompanied by the Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, held a small reception at the Imperial Hotel in Jaffa Gate to celebrate to wide reaching, positive impact of Christians in the Holy Land and to call for protection of the Christian Quarter in Old City Jerusalem.
During his speech, the Patriarch of the Holy City, pointed out that holding this ceremony at the Imperial Hotel aims to send a clear message to the world that the Patriarchate will not waive or retreat from practicing God’s given right to defend its properties; to show that the battle to defend the Jaffa Gate properties is an existential issue for the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem; and that all the Churches of the Holy Land support the Jerusalem Patriarchate in this battle.
His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III said: “Radicals are the real threat, for at their hands, the Christian community in Jerusalem suffers hate crimes as well as underhanded tactics, intimidation, and systematic attempts to diminish the ability of Christians to remain in their historic homes and neighborhoods.”
“Our enduring efforts on behalf of the well-being of all our peoples without distinction makes the rise of challenges to, and threats against, the Christian community, all the more serious and concerning. Not only is the Christian community threatened by such activity, but so is the stability and health of our whole society.”
Numbers of Christians in the Holy Land have dwindled to historically low levels, driven away from their homes by multiple factors – economic hardship, lack of opportunity, bureaucratic challenges, violence, and vandalism of property. Christians now represent around 1% of the population of the Holy Land, down from 12% a century ago …
This news was originally published on the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem official website. Please click here to read the full text.