Christians from the Holy land will speak at the Fourth International Conference on the Holy Land entitled: The Divine Light Still Burns: The Holy Land Christians Endure. The conference, held at the National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC, will feature H.B. Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, as the keynote speaker at the Awards Banquet on Friday night, October 18, 2002.
The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation*
News Release
Holy Land Christians to Speak About Their Homeland
Christians from the Holy land will speak at the Fourth International Conference on the Holy Land entitled: The Divine Light Still Burns: The Holy Land Christians Endure. The conference, held at the National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC, will feature H.B. Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, as the keynote speaker at the Awards Banquet on Friday night, October 18, 2002.
Bethlehem University has been under siege for months. President and Vice President of Bethlehem University, Brother Vincent Malham and Professor Manual Hassassian, respectively, will discuss the impact that the siege has had on the Town of Bethlehem and surrounding area. In addition, the Honorable Hanna Nasser, Mayor of Bethlehem, will discuss the harm that the siege has inflicted on the religious, social and economic life of the town that was the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Father Majdi Siryani, Legal Advisor to the Latin patriarchate will describe experiences negotiating with the Israelis to lift the siege of the Basilica of the Nativity.
Woman have been adversely affected by the conditions created by the military occupation and a panel of Palestinian Christian woman, Claudette Habasch, Director of Caritas International in Jerusalem and Mother Agapia, Administrator of the Orthodox School of Bethany, a girls school in Abu Dis, will describe their work to cope with the restrictions placed on their work in Jerusalem and the environs. Dr. Yvonne Haddad of Georgetown University will moderate this panel.
The Honorable Afiff Safieh, Palestinian General Delegate to Great Britain and The Holy See and Michael Tarazi, Ph.D. Advisor to the Palestinian National Authority will discuss the views of Europeans and the PNA regarding Palestinian statehood. Reverend Dr. Fahed Abu-Akel, recently elected Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, will speak on “Seeking a Path to Peace”
Christians of every denomination are encouraged to participate in the conference. Registration for the conference is available on the HCEF website, www.hcef.org , by email luma@hcef.org, by phone 866-871-HCEF, Fax: 866-871-4234.
for accommodation please contact Nabila Tarabey, Hotel Washington at 202-628-9759
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*The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization, committed to improving the lives of Christians in the Holy Land through building bonds of solidarity with between Christians in the United States and Christians in the Holy Land. We have two goals: inform Americans about the Christians in the Holy Land and provide humanitarian assistance for the needy in the land where Jesus Christ was born, preached, died and rose again. HCEF, 6975 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20815 (301)951-9400, Toll Free (866) 871-4234, www.hcef.org Email: news@hcef.org
