Synod of Jerusalem Patriarchate urges to protect Christians in Holy Land
The Synod reaffirmed the historical mission of the Jerusalem Church and called for the preservation of the Christian presence in the Holy Land.
The Holy Synod of the Jerusalem Patriarchate discussed Church affairs, the preservation of the Holy Sites, and the situation of Christians in the Holy Land, says the Synod's Communiqué.
Special attention was given to the historical responsibility of the Jerusalem Church for the Holy Places and its mission in the Orthodox world. The Synod reaffirmed its commitment to ecclesiastical responsibility, pastoral faithfulness, and the preservation of the Christian presence, and also noted the necessity of protecting freedom of worship and the existing status quo at the Holy Places.
Previously, the Patriarchate had emphasized that the current status quo serves as a guarantee of freedom of religion and the preservation of the Christian witness in the Holy Land.
In this context, particular significance was attached to the meeting held in June between Jerusalem Patriarch Theophilos III and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington. The Patriarch urged the U.S. leader to help protect Christians in the Middle East, preserve freedom of worship, and safeguard the sanctity of the Holy Places.
As the UOJ reported, the Jerusalem Patriarchate had previously also noted in Athens that the protection of the Holy Places concerns not only Christian shrines but also the religious sites of other faiths. The Patriarchate stressed the need to preserve the historical status quo and ensure that religious rites can be performed at their established times.
