The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem Calls For International Protection Of Holy Sites

Following the terrorist attack that took place on Sunday 19 March 2023, morning, during the Sunday service, at the hands of two Israeli radicals, which targeted the Church of Gethsemane in Jerusalem, where the Tomb of the Virgin Mary lies, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem issued the following statement:

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, represented by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, along the Holy Synod and the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, the clergy and the faithful, condemn the heinous terrorist attack that took place on Sunday 19 March 2023, morning, during the Sunday service, at the hands of two Israeli radicals, which targeted the Church of Gethsemane in Jerusalem, where the Tomb of the Virgin Mary lies. The Patriarchate also denounces the attempt to cause physical harm to His Eminence Archbishop Joachim, who was leading the service, as well as the attack on one of the priests in the Church.

The Patriarchate deplores this atrocious crime, which came at the time of Lent preparations for the Easter celebrations and its traditional rituals, especially Holy Light Saturday, which has become a marker of seasonal suffering for Christians as a result of physical restrictions imposed by the authorities to prevent them from reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to exercise their God-given right to worship.

The Patriarchate also emphasises that terrorist attacks, by radical Israeli groups, targeting Churches, cemeteries, and Christian properties, in addition to physical and verbal abuse against Christian clergy, have become almost a daily occurrence that evidently increases in intensity during Christian holidays. This dismal situation hasn’t drawn any appropriate reaction, locally or internationally, despite appeals, requests, and protests made by the Churches of the Holy Land. It is painfully clear now that the authentic Christian presence in the Holy Land is in great danger.

The Patriarchate affirms that attacks on Christian holy sites, properties, heritage, and identity constitute a violation of international law, which explicitly calls for the protection of religious sites in Jerusalem and emphasises the need to respect this basic human right to worship freely…

This statement was originally published on the website of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Please click here to read the full text.