The Synod of the Jerusalem Patriarchate Called for the Protection of Christians in the 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 matters related to the life of the Church, the preservation of the Holy Sites, and the situation of Christians in the Holy Land. This is stated in the Synod's communiqué.
Special attention was given to the historical responsibility of the Jerusalem Church for the Holy Sites 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 order at the Holy Sites.
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 Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III and US President Donald Trump in Washington. The Primate called upon the American leader to promote the protection of Christians in the Middle East, the preservation of freedom of worship, and the inviolability of the holy sites.
As the Union of Orthodox Journalists reported, the Jerusalem Patriarchate had previously also noted in Athens that the protection of the Holy Sites concerns not only Christian shrines but also the religious sites of other confessions. The Patriarchate stated the necessity of preserving the historical status quo and ensuring the possibility of performing religious rites within the established timeframes.
