Churches of Jerusalem criticize "Christian Zionism"
The heads of the Churches of Jerusalem said that the faith of some Christians in Israel as the “fulfillment of prophecies” threatens the Christian presence in the Holy Land.
On January 17, 2026, the Patriarchs and heads of the Christian Churches of Jerusalem issued a joint statement sharply criticizing the ideology of “Christian Zionism,” calling it a threat to church unity and to the Christian presence in the Holy Land. This is stated in the joint statement of the Patriarchs and heads of the Churches of Jerusalem.
In the document, the spiritual leaders warn the faithful that this movement misleads the flock and contributes to division within Christian communities. They say political figures also align themselves with the movement, incorporating into their platforms initiatives that harm the historic Christian presence both in Jerusalem and in the Middle East as a whole.
“The Patriarchs and heads of the Churches of the Holy Land affirm before the faithful and before the whole world that the flock of Christ in this land has been entrusted to the Apostolic Churches, which for centuries have carried out their sacred ministry with unwavering devotion,” the statement says. Citing the words of the Apostle Paul, the hierarchs stress that “to claim authority outside ecclesial communion is tantamount to harming the unity of believers and burdening the pastoral mission of the historic Churches.”
The Patriarchs also expressed concern that supporters of this ideology receive official backing at local and international levels. “Such actions constitute interference in the internal life of the Churches and a disregard for the pastoral responsibility entrusted to the Patriarchs and heads of the Churches in Jerusalem,” the text notes. The hierarchs again emphasized that it is they who represent the Christians of the Holy Land in matters of religious and pastoral life.
The statement explains that by “Christian Zionism” they mean a religious–political current found primarily in evangelical circles, whose supporters interpret biblical prophecies as a call for unconditional support of the modern State of Israel and its political decisions. In the view of the Patriarchs of Jerusalem, such an ideology replaces the Gospel witness with political aims and endangers peaceful coexistence and the mission of the Church on the land where “our Lord lived, taught, suffered, and rose again.”
Earlier, the UOJ reported that Israel’s authorities did not allow the Vice President of Palestine to enter in Bethlehem for Christmas.
