Release of Maaloula Sisters: official communiqué from Patriarchs and Heads of Churches

 

COMMUNIQUE - On Sunday 9th March, after three months of captivity, 13 nuns – Syrian and Lebanese – and their three aids kidnapped in Syria, were liberated.  The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of the Holy Land thankfully welcome this humanitarian gesture.

  
  

Release of Nuns of Maaloula – an olive branch in the midst of the flood

On Sunday 9th March, after three months of captivity, 13 nuns – Syrian and Lebanese – and their three aids kidnapped in Syria, were liberated.  The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of the Holy Land thankfully welcome this humanitarian gesture.

The nuns came from the Monastery of St Thecla, located in the village of Maaloula, some 50 kms north west of Damascus, and were in charge of an orphanage.     They were released last Sunday  at the Lebanese  border  and arrived  in Damascus  on Monday,  after a 9 hour trip, where they were welcomed by religious authorities.

They had been detained for three months in the hills of Qalamun area by “Jabhat al-Nosra”, an Islamist  militia opposed  to the Syrian regime.   In exchange,  the regime  set free over one hundred militant anti-government women who had been held in the prisons of Damascus.

The  Superior,  Mother  Pelagia  Sayaf,  expressed  her  feelings  in  these  terms  : “we  missed nothing (…) God has not relinquished us”.

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem welcome this gesture in the midst of so much suffering and violence.  This release is a sign of optimism, as was the olive branch in the midst of the flood.

We also pray for the long overdue release of other hostages, among whom are two bishops of Aleppo, Boulos Yazigi, Greek Orthodox, and Gregorios Yuhanna Ibrahim, Syrian Orthodox, and many other innocent people.


Patriarches and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem

+Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate
+Patriarch Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarchate
+Patriarch Norhan Manougian, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarchate
+Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, ofm, Custos of the Holy Land
+Archbishop Anba Abraham, Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, Jerusalem
+Archbishop Swerios Malki Murad, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate
+Archbishop Aba Daniel, Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate
+Archbishop Joseph-Jules Zerey, Greek-Melkite-Catholic  Patriarchate
+Archbishop Mosa El-Hage, Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate
+Bishop Suheil Dawani, Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East
+Bishop Munib Younan, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land
+Bishop Pierre Malki, Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate
+Msgr. Joseph Antoine Kelekian, Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate

(Lent 2014)

The Holy Land – what are the borders of the Holy Land?

The term “Holy Land” is based upon the Bible (cf. Zachariah 2:16). It refers to the land in which God revealed himself to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), prophets and holy men and women in the history of the children of Israel and the early Church. The Holy Land is the land in which Jesus Christ was born, lived, died and rose from the dead. It is the land in which the Church was born and from which the Gospel began to preached.

From earliest times, Christians have come to this land in order to pray at the places that are connected with the history of salvation, God’s interaction with human beings. Pilgrimage brings millions of Christians to this land each year as they walk in the footsteps of Christ.

The borders of the Holy Land are not strictly defined. For many, the Holy Land includes at least the territories of Israel and Palestine and can include Jordan too as well as Lebanon, Syria and Egypt as important Biblical events happened in these lands also and there too Jesus walked during his earthly life.

Source: http://popefrancisholyland2014.lpj.org/blog/2014/02/19/the-holy-land-what-are-the-borders-of-the-holy-land/

Heads of Churches in the Holy Land

There are 13 official Churches in the Holy Land that meet together regularly in order to coordinate their efforts in favor of the Christians of the Holy Land.

We publish here the list of names of the heads of these Churches with their contact information:

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem:
His Beatitude Theophilos III
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate Road
P.O. Box 19632
Jerusalem 9119601
Work tel: +972 2 627 4941
Work fax: +972 2 628 2048
Chancellor: Archbishop Aristarchos
website: http://www.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/

Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem:
His Beatitude Fouad Twal
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
Latin Patriarchate Road
P.O. Box 14152
Jerusalem 9114101
Work tel:  +972 2 628 2323 / 647 1400
Work fax: +972 2 627 1652
Chancellor: Father George Ayoub
e-mail: chancellery@lpj.org
website: http://www.lpj.org/ 

Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem:
His Beatitude  Nourhan Manougian
Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem
Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate Road
P.O. Box 14001
Jerusalem 9114001
Work tel: +972 2 626 4866/6264948
Work fax: +972 2 626 4861/2
website: http://www.armenian-patriarchate.com/

Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem:
Archbishop Dr Anba Abraham
Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of Jerusalem
Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Near East
P.O. Box 14006
Jerusalem 9114001
Work tel: +972 2 627 2645 / 628 4405
Work fax: +972 2 627 2773

Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land:
Very Reverend Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM
Custos of the Holy Land
St. Savior’s Monastery
1 Saint Francis St.
P.O. Box 186
Jerusalem 9100101
Work tel: +972 2 626 6563
Work fax: +972 2 628 4717
Secretary: Father Sergio Galdi, OFM
e-mail: custodia@custodia.org
website: http://www.custodia.org/

Lutheran Church of Jerusalem:
Bishop Munib Younan
Lutheran Bishop of Jerusalem
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land
P.O. Box 14076
Jerusalem 9114002
Work tel: +972 2 627 6111 / 626 6800
Work fax: +972 2 628 5764
Website: www.holyland-lutherans.org

Anglican Church of Jerusalem:
Bishop Suheil Dawani
Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem
Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East
St. George’s Cathedral
20 Nablus Road
P.O. Box 19122
Jerusalem 91191
Work tel: +972 2 627 16 70
Work fax: +972 2 627 3847
Assistant: Reverend Hussam Na’om
Website: http://www.j-diocese.org/

Ethiopian Orthodox Church of Jerusalem:
Archbishop Abba Kwestos
Ethiopian Orthodox Archbishop of Jerusalem
Via Dolorosa – 8th Station
P.O. Box 19025
Jerusalem 9119001
Work tel: +972 2 628 2848
Work fax: +972 2 626 4189

Syrian Orthodox Church of Jerusalem:
Archbishop Mar Swerios Malki Murad
Syrian Orthodox Archbishop of Jerusalem
St. Mark’s Road
P.O. Box 14069
Jerusalem 9114001
Work tel: +972 2 628 0621 /628 3304
Work fax: +972 2 627 7024
Assistant: Father Shem’on Can

Greek Catholic Patriarchate of Jerusalem:
Archbishop Joseph Jules Zerey
Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarchal VIcar
Greek Catholic Patriarchate Road
P.O. Box 14130
Jerusalem 9114101
Work tel: +972 2 628 2023 / 627 1968 / 9
Work fax: +972 2 628 6652

Maronite Exarchate of Jerusalem:
Archbishop Moussa El-Hage
Maronite Archbishop of Haifa and the Holy Land
Maronite Patriarchal Exarch of Jerusalem and Jordan
25 Maronite Convent Street
P.O.Box 14219
Jaffa Gate
Jerusalem 9114102
Work tel: +972 2 628 2158
Work fax: +972 2 627 2821
General Administrator: Deacon Sobhy Makhoul
Website: http://www.maronitejerusalem.org/

Syrian Exarchate of Jerusalem:
Bishop Gregoire Pierre Melki
Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Exarch of Jerusalem
6 Chaldean Street – Nablus Road
P.O. Box 19787
Jerusalem 9119702
Work tel: +972 2 628 2657
Work fax: +972 2 628 4217

Armenian Catholic Exarchate of Jerusalem:
Rt. Rev. Arch. Joseph Kelekian
Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarch of Jerusalem and Amman
36 Via Dolorosa – 3rd Station
P.O. Box 19546
Jerusalem 9119401
Work tel: +972 2 628 4262
Work fax: +972 2 626 1208

Source: http://popefrancisholyland2014.lpj.org/blog/2014/03/13/heads-of-churches-in-the-holy-land/

Motto and logo for Pope’s pilgrimage

The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land (AOCTS) decided on the motto and logo for the Pope’s upcoming pilgrimage to the Holy Land at the meeting of the Assembly on March 11 and 12, 2014 in Tiberias.

So that they may be one

The motto for the pilgrimage is “So that they may be one”.  The Holy Father has insisted that at the center of his pilgrimage will be the meeting with Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and the heads of the Churches in Jerusalem. This is to commemorate and renew the commitment to unity expressed by Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople 50 years ago in Jerusalem.

This gives expression to the desire of the Lord at the Last Supper: “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.  As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23).

The logo also expresses this desire for unity, representing the embrace of Saint Peter and Saint Andrew, the first two disciples called by Jesus in Galilee. Saint Peter is the patron of the Church in Rome and Saint Andrew is the patron of the Church in Constantinople.  In Jerusalem, in the Mother Church, they embrace. The two apostles are in a boat that represents the Church, whose mast is the Cross of the Lord. The sails of the boat are full of wind, the Holy Spirit, which directs the boat as it sails across the waters of this world.

The unity of Christians is a message of unity for all humanity, called to overcome the divisions of the past and march forward together towards a future of justice, peace, reconciliation, pardon and fraternal love.

Source: http://popefrancisholyland2014.lpj.org/blog/2014/03/13/motto-and-logo-for-popes-pilgrimage/

Second meeting between the Israeli Minister of Tourism and Patriarch Twal

 

JERUSALEM – On Thursday, March 13, 2014, the Israeli Minister of Tourism, Dr. Uzi Landau visited the Patriarchate to meet with His Beatitude. The challenge and the organization of the upcoming visit of Pope Francis were discussed, as well as the common desire to continue to work closely for the reception of pilgrims and access to the Holy Places.

Patriarch Twal, welcoming the Minister and his team, immediately praised the cooperation between the Church and the Ministry of Tourism. He emphasized the uniqueness of Jerusalem and its “universal dimension for all peoples” while adding: “Together, we are working to ensure that pilgrimages are facilitated and that access to the Holy Places is possible for all the pilgrims because the reception of pilgrims in the Holy Land is a common interest. Indeed, millions of pilgrims come from all over the world each year in the Holy Land.”

Minister Landau spoke of his desire to “continue this mission together,” and promised pilgrims to have better access to Holy Places, including Bethlehem. He stressed the importance for all citizens and for all pilgrims to have “safe” access to the Holy Places. He also thanked and encouraged Fr. Pietro Felet for his work within the Episcopal Commission for Pilgrimages. On this occasion, Bishop Shomali praised the collaboration and success in terms of the organization of the World Day of Faith in Nazareth last November.

As for the rumors of cancellation of the Pope’s visit to Israel, conveyed by some media last week, the Israeli Minister just mentioned “freedom of expression, sometimes excessive, of the media” while emphasizing that “the strike will soon, hopefully, come to an end.”

Myriam Ambroselli

Syrian Catholic Leaders Call for Release of All Kidnapped Christians

Say Safe Return of Nuns Is Starting Point; Plead for Release of Bishops

ROME, March 14, 2014 (Zenit.org) - Syria’s Catholic leaders made a call for all Christians abducted during the conflict in the country to be set free.

Prompted by the release of kidnapped nuns from Maloula, Syria’s Assembly of Catholic Hierarchs issued the plea during a March 12 meeting in Rabweh, Lebanon.

A statement from the body—which is comprised of bishops from the Roman Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Maronite, Melkite and Syriac Catholic Churches—called for action for all those abducted during the Syrian conflict.

Speaking immediately after the release of the statement, the head of the assembly, Melkite Patriarch Gregorios III told international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need that the release of the sisters offers hope for other kidnapped Christians, including Syrian Orthodox Bishop of Aleppo Yohanna Ibrahim, who was kidnapped April 22, 2013.

The patriarch said: “We are keen to also see the same concern for the two bishops, the Syrian Orthodox and the Greek Orthodox, as well as the priests and many, many other people [who have been] kidnapped, especially those who have nobody to care for them.”

The bishops’ concern particularly extended to lay people who had been seized for ransom. “This initiative [to free the nuns] can be a start to have some strategy how to to release other people, not only bishops and priests but also the very poor people, who have no support, no relations to help them.”

He added: “We hope that this wonderful initiative can be followed by other initiatives and we are happy that it was collaboration between Lebanon, Syria and Qatar [who worked together to secure the release of the nuns], with the countries able to deal [with the release] despite the huge price” in ransom money.

Asked if he feared high prices paid to kidnappers would encourage further abductions, Damascus based Patriarch Gregorios acknowledged that Christians are seen as a source of income by kidnappers. “Sometimes as they were kidnapped, Christians would tell their captors that they had no money, but were told, ‘go to your bishop, he will pay.’ We have heard this from the beginning.”
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Aid to the Church in Need is an international Catholic charity under the guidance of the Holy See, providing assistance to the suffering and persecuted Church in more than 140 countries.www.churchinneed.org (USA);www.acnuk.org (UK); www.aidtochurch.org (AUS); www.acnireland.org (IRL); www.acn-aed-ca.org (CAN)

Archbishop: Christians Don't Want to Leave Syrian Homeland

Says Situation in Homs Is Calm; 20,000 Christians Still There

ROME, March 14, 2014 (Zenit.org) - In spite of an uncertain future, Christians in Syria want to stay put. This was the message delivered by the Melkite Greek-Catholic archbishop of Homs, Hama and Yabrud, Jean Abdo Arbach.

He told international charity Aid to the Church in Need: "We Christians are living in fear, the future is uncertain, but we want to stay in our homeland."

Despite reports to the contrary, the 61-year-old native Syrian said, 20,000 Christians of various denominations currently live in Homs close to the border with Lebanon, and about 200,000 in the Homs region. Many of the faithful, including Melkite, Greek-Catholic, Syrian-Catholic, Maronite, Greek-Orthodox and Orthodox, have now returned to the city of Homs, according to the prelate.

"The situation in and around Homs is calm. Government troops have almost complete control over the region and the rebels control only four to five districts. The main fighting is taking place in the cities of Yabrud and Hama," said the archbishop, who is committed to staying in Homs. “For the faithful it is important that their priests and their bishop bear the suffering and persevere like everyone else,” he added.

He reported that news coming from the north of Syria, which is controlled by the rebels, is alarming. He said: "Islamic law is to be applied, while all Christian symbols which are publicly visible are to be destroyed. Also, Christians who wish to remain will in future have to pay a special tax."
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Aid to the Church in Need is an international Catholic charity under the guidance of the Holy See, providing assistance to the suffering and persecuted Church in more than 140 countries.www.churchinneed.org (USA); www.acnuk.org (UK); www.aidtochurch.org (AUS); www.acnireland.org (IRL); www.acn-aed-ca.org (CAN)