Author: Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem

Statement on Libanon
Leaders of the Christian Communities in the Holy Land

The Leaders of the Christian Communities in the Holy Land are deeply affected by all the sufferings in Lebanon, and share in the sorrow of the families who morn their dead.

And in these painful circumstances, they call on all those making war, that they cease the strife and the massacre which causing so much death and destruction.

From the Holy Land, they address themselves to the Kings and the Presidents of the surrounding countries, and the Leaders of every country in the world, to do all that is in their power to re-establish peace, love and fraternity in Lebanon*

They voice a plea to their respective communities in the Holy Land, that they unite in prayer to God for peace in Lebanon* Collections for the relief of the victims of these sad events would also be much appreciated.

  • Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem
  • Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
  • Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem
  • Syrian Orthodox Bishop in Jerusalem
  • Lutheran Bishop in Jerusalem
  • Maronite Patriarchal Vicar in Jerusalem
  • Custos of the Holy Land
  • Greek Catholic Archbishop
  • Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem

Bulletin 290, S. 6

Statement 1988
Heads of Christian Communities in Jerusalem

To all our sons and daughters, our sisters and brothers in the Holy Land

“Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices kindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, says the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

The recent painful events in our Land which have resulted in so many victims, both killed and wounded, are a clear indication of the grievous suffering of our people on the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip. They are also a visible expression of our people’s aspirations to achieve their legal rights and the realization of their hopes.

We, the Heads of the Christian Communities in Jerusalem, would like to express in all honesty and clarity that we take our stand with truth and justice against all forms of injustice and oppression. We stand with the suffering and the oppressed, we stand with the refugees and the deported, with the distressed and the victims of injustice, we stand with those who mourn and are bereaved, with the hungry and the poor. In accordance with the Word of God through the prophet Isaiah, chapter 1, verse 17:

“Learn to do good; seek justice; correct oppression; defend the father less; plead for the widow.”

We call upon the faithful to pray and to labor for justice and peace for all people of our area.

And in response to the same Word of God, prompted by our faith in God and our Christian duty, we have decided to call upon all our sons and daughters who are with us, an integral path of the people of this Holy Land who are laboring and witnessing for justice and peace, to give expression to what we feel we ought to do in these ways:

1.         We call upon all our sons and daughters to pray for justice and peace for or Land and for all its peoples throughout this Week of Prayer: Sunday, 24. January, to Sunday, 31 January 1988.

2.         We call upon faithful Christians to dedicate next Friday, 29 January 1988, as a day for fasting and self-denial, identifying ourselves with our brothers and’ sifters in the camps on the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip. We request to give what you thus save towards the support of our needy brothers and sisters, remembering that Friday speaks to us of passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, of his crucifixion, and of his death to redeem all humanity.

3.         We have resolved to set apart Sunday, 31 January, in all the churches of our various communities as a day prayer and preaching when fervent prayer will be offered in the regular worship services, that justice and peace may be realized in our Land, so that all may live there in safety, security, and peace. At the end of this services , donations toward the support of our needs brothers and sisters will be collected.

We solemnly charge the Christian faithful to fill the churches by their presence, and actively to contribute to the success of what we intend to do, praying that God may inspire and direct all leaders and people in authority to bring to reality what all of us hope and work for so that the foundations of truth, justice, and peace may be firmly laid in our beloved part of the world.

Therefore, we again state unequivocally that all our Christian Churches in this country, standing together, seek real peace based on jus¬tice and which will never be established unless every person’s .rights are fully respected: only when this happens will crises cease, peace permeate our country, and the song of the angels on the birthday of Jesus Christ, “the King of Peace” be a reality.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will towards men”

  • The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate
  • The Latin Patriarchate
  • The Armenian Patriarchate
  • The Syrian Orthodox Bishopric
  • The Greek Catholic (Melkite) Bishopric
  • The Anglican Bishopric
  • The Lutheran Bishopric
  • The Syrian Catholic Church
  • The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land

JT S. 20 | Durst, S. 393f,

See: sog. Gegenerklärung, Durst, S. 394f

Statement [About the So-Called “Christian Embassy”]
Heads of Churches in Jerusalem

The Christian Churches in the Holy Land, whose roots go back to the beginning of Christianity, hereby state the following:

1.  The so-called “Christian Embassy” does not represent nor replace the Christian Community in Jerusalem or the majority of the Faithful all over the world. We do not acknowledge this body nor its activities and conferences. The teachings of our Lord and the Light of the Gospel have gone out from this very Holy Land. We are the representatives of Christianity here, venerating and safeguarding the Holy Places, and we do not expect people coming from abroad, unaware of our problems, to act on our behalf.

2.  We categorically refuse and reject any political interpretation of the Holy Scripture.

3.  According to our Lord’s commands, we seek peace and justice for all the people in the world, and especially in the region, without any kind of discrimination or violence.

  • Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate
  • Latin Patriarchate
  • Armenian Orthodox (Bishopric) Patriarchate
  • Anglican Bishopric
  • Syrian Orthodox Bishopric
  • Lutheran Bishopric
  • Syrian Catholic Bishopric
  • The Holy Land Franciscans (Custody of the Holy Land)

JT, S. 22f | Bulletin 336 | Lindén 49

The list of signatures and the respective names differ significantly in varoius sources

Christmas-Message 1988
Patriarchs and Heads of the Christian Communities in Jerusalem

Statement on the Occasion of the PNC Meeting in Algier November 15, 1988

To Our Christian Sisters and Brothers Throughout the World.

This is the voice of the Mother Church of Jerusalem.

We, the heads of Christian Churches of Jerusalem, reach out to you today while our hearts are burning for peace in this Holy City of Jerusalem and in the entire Holy Land.

The decisions of the Palestine National Council (P.N.C.) in Algeria on November 15, 1988 after 12 months of uprising are for us a positive step and a sign that a new time is beginning on the road towards justice, reconciliation and peace.

Peace in this land is not like peace in any other land, it is peace in the land that is holy to all Christians.

Pope John Paul II in his encyclical Redemptoris Mater, in which he announced the Marian year 1987, wrote: “Palestine is the spiritual homeland of all Christians because it is the home of Jesus and Mary.” Peace for the Holy Land therefore has a special spiritual significance. The churches of the entire world cannot be unconcerned about peace in the Holy Land and in the whole Middle East.

Therefore we ask you to work with us for peace:

1)         We earnestly beg you, especially the Bishops of the various Churches, Church organisations and Bishop’s conferences throughout the world, to encourage Palestinians and Israelis, Jews, Christians and Moslems to move forward in the peace process.

2)         On the occasion of the coming Feast of Christmas we ask you to make a public statement of support and commitment of the Christian world to peace in the Holy Land,

3)         We further ask you to communicate this statement of support to your faithful, to your respective governments and through available means of the mass media.

May the feast of Christmas, the celebration of the birth of the Prince of Peace in Bethlehem, be the beginning of a new era k the local and international search for justice, reconciliation and peace for Jerusalem, the Holy Land and for all the peoples of the country.

Deutscher Text bei Durst, S. 396 / English: Lindén S. 55f

Statement 1989
Heads of the Christian Communities in Jerusalem

We, the Head of the Christian Communities in the Holy City, have met together in view of the grave situation prevailing in Jerusalem and the whole of our country.

It is our Christian conviction that as spiritual Leaders we have an urgent duty to follow up the developments in this situation and to make known to the world the conditions of life of our people here in the Holy Land.

In Jerusalem, on the West Bank and in Gaza our people experience in their daily lives: constant deprivation of their fundamental rights’ because of arbitrary actions deliberately taken by the authorities. Our people are often subjected to unprovoked harassment and hardship.

We are particularly concerned by the tragic and unnecessary loss of Palestinian lives, especially among minors. Unarmed and innocent people are being killed by ‘the unwarranted use of firearms and hundreds are wounded by the excessive use of force.

We protest against the frequent shooting incidents in the vicinity of Holy Places.

We also condemn the practice of mass administrative arrests, and of continuing detention of adults and minors without trial.

We further condemn the use of all forms of collective punishment, including the demolition of homes and depriving whole communities of basic services such aswater and electricity.

We appeal to the world community to support our demand for the re-opening of schools and universities, closed for the past sixteen months, so that thousands of our children can enjoy again their basic right to education.

We demand that the authorities respect the right of believers to enjoy free access to all places of worship on the Holy Days of all religions.

We affirm our human solidarity and sympathy with all who are suffering and oppressed; We pray for the return of peace based on justice to Jerusalem and the Holy Land; and we request the international community and the United Nations organization to give urgent attention to the plight of the Palestinian people, and to work for a speedy and just resolution’of the Palestinian problem

His Beatitude Diodoros I, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem
His Beafitude Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch
His Beatitude Yeghishe Derderian, Armenian Orthodox Patriarch
Very Rev. Father Carlo Cecchitelli, ofm, Custos of the Holy Land
His Exc. Amba Basilios, Coptic Orthodox Archbisho
His Exc. Mar Dionysios Behnam Jijawi, Syrian Orthodox Archbishop
His Exc. Msgr Lutfi Laham, Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarcal Vicar
Right Rev. Samir Kafity, Bishop of the Episcopalian Church
Right Rev. Naim Nassar, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church

Press release (concerning situation in Beit Sahour)
Patriarchs and Custos

Following the last meeting, held on April 26th, 1989, during which a declaration of the Heads of the Churches w^as issued expressing deep concern over the prevailing Situation in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, their Beatitudes Diodoros I, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Yeghishe Derderian, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, and the Very Reverend Fr. Carlo Cechitelli, Custos of the Holy Land, met today on the 26th [of] October 1989 to re- view the aggravating Situation in the above-mentioned areas and the new methods used against the population in Beit Sahour.

During this meeting:

  1. They express satisfaction for the efforts which are being made all over the world to reach a settlement for the Middle East question.
  2. They feel disappointed with the general deterioration of the Situation in the life of the population on the West Bank and Gaza Strip since their meeting of 26th April 1989.
  3. They consider what is going on.in Beit Sahour for the last forty days, and which is causing undue suffering to the population, as unjust and unacceptable.
  4. The Patriarchs, who are the spiritual fathers of the people and share the suffering of those who are afflicted, express their growing concern and call all believers to pray with them for peace and justice.
  5. They ask their respective communities to hold special prayers on Sunday, 29 October 1989, for the sufferings in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and for the population of Beit Sahour in their particular Situa­tion.
  6. They will send food supplies for the population of Beit Sahour.
  7. They decide to follow up the Situation with all appropriate means at their disposal.

To be added

JT.: S. 24f

Christmas Statement 1989
Heads of the Christian Communities in Jerusalem

To our beloved children in the Lord.

As we approach the third Christmas under the present difficult and trying conditions, we the spiritual Heads of the Christian Communities wish to address our compassionate greetings to our children in the Holy Land, who experience times of great injustice and violence.

We remind the world .of our, solidarity and sympathy with the victims of violence. We wish to tell the world that we are witnessing an escalation in the sad events and there are omens of human tragedy unfolding in coming year, hence our appeal to all concerned and the world.

As we live these moments of despair and tragedy the message of “peace on earth” which was proclaimed from the fields of Bethlehem brings consolation and a ray of hope to all the afflicted and suffering.

Jesus Christ, “the Prince of Peace”, through His Incarnation calls all people in this, Land to reconcile in mutual love and respect, based on justice and reciprocal tolerance.

“Peace on earth” is possible only when all people and states concerned recognise the Intimate rights of all individuals and nations to freedom and self-determination.

Specially today, when the Superpowers are heading for global reconciliation we appeal to the leaders of the world to give urgent attention to the pressing painful problem in the Holy Land.

We the spiritual Heads of the Christian Communities are called by our Lord to stand by those who suffer from injustice and pray for the establishment of justice and peaceful settlement of the conflict.

In this spirit, we condemn all manifestations of violence, indiscriminate us of force, as we have witnessed almost every day during the last two years.

We grieve with the families who have lost their beloved ones and we pray God to alleviate the suffering of the wounded and the prisoners.

We expect from the Leaders and concerned Authorities to show timely courage and wisdom in solving the painful problems of this land to the mutual benefit of both nations.

We address to both peoples in the area, despite of the sufferings they are passing through, to prepare themselves for reconciliation and love towards one another.

We pray to the Lord to strengthen us in hope and love to carry our burden as Shepherds of our people and we hope that soon we will witness fie end of human suffering and bloodshed in this Land of Peace, so that all of us together may glorify the name of the Lord.

May the divine Infant of Bethlehem bless you on this Christmas time and all through the new year 1990.

JT.: S. 25f | Bulletin 348, S. 2 / Linden S. 71 f

Statement [after occupation of Saint John’s Hopice in the Old City [on April 11, 1990]
Patriarchs, Custos and Heads of Churches and Christian Communities

Today, Monday, April 23rd, 1990, We, the Patriarchs, the Custos, the Heads of the Christian Churches and Communities in Jerusalem, have gathered together to consider our response to the extremely grave events that occurred during Holy Week and their enduring consequences.

In the afternoon of April 11th, 1990, Wednesday in Holy Week, one hundred and fifty settlers, many of them armed men, forcibly occupied St. John’s Hospice in the heart of the Christian Quarter of the Old City, a 3000 square meter property of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.

Their action received support from Israeli authorities. It was financed, at least in great part, by the government, and there have been visits by government ministers and parliamentary authorities to encourage the settlers. Subsequently, it appeals that high level governmental authorities intervened to restrain the police from carrying out judicial eviction orders.

This action occurred towards the culmination of Holy Week and caused grievous disruption to some of the most solemn rites of the Christian religion, at the holiest shrine of Christendom, the basilica of the Holy Sepulchre Church.

This government-backed settlers’ action continues to provoke almost daily violent Incidents in and around the area containing the Holy Sepulchre and the centres of church governance, and has occasioned the provocative presence of numerous armed men in the same restricted area. Consequently, freedom of access to the Holy Sepulchre and freedom of worship within it have been threatened.

This act of armed settlement seriously jeopardises the integrity, cultural, and religious autonomy of the Christian, Armenian, and Muslim Quarters, in violation of the centuries-old status an character of the Holy City, honoured by all previous rulers of Jerusalem, and in the international community (and which the Israeli Government authorities have repeatedly pledged themselves to uphold). This action further endangers the survival of all Christian communities in the Holy City.

We, the heads of Jerusalem’s Christian Churches Communities unreservedly condemn the actions of the settler.

We deplore the open support and encouragement it has received from Israel government quarters. We demand that the Israeli authorities effect the immediate removal of these settlers and secure the property for its legitimate owners, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.

We appeal to the International Community, to all churches and religious leaders, and to all people of good will throughout the world to give their active support to our call.

We have unanimously decided that:

  • On Friday, April 27, all Christian Holy Places in Jerusalem. Nazareth, and Bethlehem and elsewhere in the Holy Land will close their doors as of 9:00 a.m. and will not reopen until the following day.
  • On the same day, all church bells throughout the country will ring a funeral toll every hour from 9:00 until noon.
  • Sunday, April 29, shall be a special day of prayer on behalf of the Christian Community of Jerusalem, in which we invite our fellow Christian believers throughout the world to join.

We have decided to remain in an open session to monitor developments in the case.

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem
Custos of the Holy Land
Coptic Archbishop of Jerusalem
Syrian Archbishop of Jerusalem
Ethiopian Archbishop of Jerusalem
Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem and President Bishop of Anglican Church
The Greek-Catholic Patriarchal Vicar
The Lutheran Propst of Jerusalem
Lutheran Bishop of Jerusalem

JT.: S. 27f (there only fragments) / Full: Lindén  77f

Signed also by the German Propst

Statement Release (Fragment)
Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem

We, the Patriarchs, the Custos, and the Heads of the Churches and Chris­tian Communities of Jerusalem, have gathered together today, April 23, 1990, to formulate our response to the extremely serious events that took place during Holy Week and the consequences that followed.

On the afternoon of April 11, 1990, Wednesday of Holy Week, 150 settlers, among whom numbered many armed men, forcibly took Saint John’s Hospice, located in the heart of the Christian Quarter in the Old City, a 3,000 square-meter property belonging to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.

Their act was supported by Israeli authorities. It was financed, at least in large part, by the government, and there have been visits from government ministers and parliamentary officials to encourage the settlers. It appears that later on, high-level government officials interceded to prevent the police from enforcing court Orders for eviction.

This act took place just before the culmination of Holy Week and un- fortunately led to the Interruption of some of the most solemn ceremonies of the Christian religion in the most sacred sanctuary of Christianity, the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre.

The government-backed act of the settlers continues to provoke daily violence within the neighborhood around Saint Sepulchre, where admin­istrative centers for the Churches are situated; it has occasioned the pro- vocative presence of a large number of armed men within a confined space. Consequently, freedom of access to Saint Sepulchre and the freedom of the area in general are now threatened.

This act of armed settlement seriously compromises the integrity and the cultural and religious autonomy of the Christian, Armenian, and Mus­lim neighborhoods and is in violation of the secular status and character of these neighborhoods of the Holy City, which have been respected by all who have ruled Jerusalem in the past and by the international community (and which the Israeli authorities themselves have promised to safeguard on numerous occasions).37

Furthermore, this action constitutes a danger to the survival of all Christian communities within the Holy City.

The Jerusalem Heads of Churches Speak

We, the Heads of the Christian Churches and Communities of Jerusa­lem, unreservedly condemn the actions of these settlers.

We deplore the open support and encouragement that this action has received from Israeli government quarters.

We ask that Israeli authorities arrange for the immediate evacuation of these settlers and return the property to its legitimate owners, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.

We call upon the international community, upon all the Churches, upon all religious leaders, and upon all men of goodwill throughout the world to lend us their active support.

We have unanimously decided that:

  1. On Friday, April 27, all the Christian Holy Places in Jerusalem, Naza­reth, Bethlehem, and elsewhere in the Holy Land shall close their doors at nine a.m. and shall not re-open until the next day.
  2. On the same day, Churches throughout the country shall toll their bells once per hour between nine a.m. and noon.
  3. Sunday, April 29, shall be a special day of prayer focusing on the Chris­tian community of Jerusalem. We invite all our Christian brothers throughout the world to join us.

We have decided to remain in open session in order to closely follow the developments in this affair.

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem

Custos of the Holy Land (Franciscan)

Coptic Archbishop of Jerusalem

Syrian Archbishop of Jerusalem

Ethiopian Archbishop of Jerusalem

Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem

Greek-Catholic Patriarchal Vicar

40 Lutheran Bishop of Jerusalem