Newsfeed
Palestine's many Christmases: Faces of diversity in the cradle of Christianity
Author: Qassam Muaddi
Publication Date: 24/12/2021
Source: The New Arab
Christmas celebrations in Palestine culminate on December 25. But inside Bethlehem itself, the diversity of Christian traditions translates into different dates of celebration, for different communities.
Patriarch Sabbah: This Christmas, there is ‘no peace on the earth’ in Bethlehem and Jerusalem
Author: Kevin Clarke
Publication Date: America The Jesuit Review
Source: 20/12/2021
In a sobering message from the Holy Land, the Latin Patriarch Emeritus of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah, urged Catholics in the United States to acknowledge the little town of Bethlehem as it actually is this Christmas, not as it is depicted in song and tradition.
“Amid the nostalgia and ancient memories of the first Christmas in Bethlehem, there is today a long sustained religious romanticism,” he said. He called that Christmas-time romanticism “understandable…but not realistic.”
“When you celebrate Christmas, remember that in Bethlehem, in Jerusalem, life is not a Christmas life. It is not the blessed life of the new redeemed humanity. The song of the Angels is far away.
Gaza's few Christians lift economy
Author: Hadeel Al Gherbawi
Publication Date: 21/12/2021
Source: Al-Monitor
Gaza’s very small Christian community has been a strong force for the economy.
Will Lebanon’s economic crunch stir demographic change?
Author: Hanan Hamdan
Publication Date: 13/12/2021
Source: Al-Monitor
The emigration of Lebanese, especially Christians, raises concerns in Lebanon in terms of the demographic change that it may lead to, in light of the economic crisis that the Lebanese have been experiencing for nearly two years.
Turkey converts another Hagia Sophia church into a mosque on Christmas Eve
Publication Date: 26/12/2021
Source: Defend Democracy Press
Turkey has converted another Hagia Sophia church into a mosque. To stress yet another provocation towards the former Greek Orthodox community and Greece , Ankara held the opening ceremony on the Christmas Eve, on December 24.
The 12th century church is located in the northwest province of Edirne on the border with Greece.
Christians in Palestine underestimated and under threat, says new report
Author: Peter Kenny
Publication Date: 11/11/2021
Source: Ecumenical News
Christians living in the Holy Land are a community with a highly vulnerable future as they are challenged by violence, migration, and a lack of investment as community that is highly underestimated, a new study shows.
Palestinians prepare to celebrate Christmas in the West Bank and Gaza amid fears of Omicron
Author: Sally Ibrahim
Publication Date: 23/12/2021
Source: The New Arab
With the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreading rapidly throughout the Middle East, Christmas celebrations in the West Bank and Gaza have had to be scaled back to reflect a changing public health environment. However, some festivities continue.
Heads of churches, patriarchs issue statement on threat Holy Land Christians face
Publication Date: 15/12/2021
Source: La Croix International
Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant leaders in Jerusalem have jointly appealed to authorities in Israel, Palestine, and Jordan to help curb the increasing trend of violence and intimidation that Christians in the Holy Land are currently facing."Throughout the Holy Land, Christians have become the target of frequent and sustained attacks by fringe radical groups," said Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem in December 13 joint statement entitled "The Current Threat to the Christian Presence in the Holy Land.""Since 2012 there have been countless incidents of physical and verbal assaults against priests and other clergy, attacks on Christian churches, with holy sites regularly vandalized and desecrated, and ongoing intimidation of local Christians who simply seek to worship freely and....
Gaza's Christian minority: The hidden victims of Israel's occupation
Author: Emad Moussa
Publication Date: 21/12/2021
Source: The New Arab
Dating back to the fourth century, the Palestinian Christian community is at risk of disappearing in Gaza.
UN passes resolution highlighting Iran’s repression of religious minorities
Publication Date: 18/11/2021
Source: Article 18
The UN’s General Assembly yesterday passed a resolution highlighting “widespread patterns of serious human rights violations” in Iran, including the continued repression of religious minorities.The resolution, which was presented by Canada on behalf of 47 co-sponsors, was passed by a margin of 49 votes, with 79 in favour, 30 against and 71 abstentions.
