Peace concert in Jerusalem
On March 11th, 2023, the Jesus Christ Choir of Trapani from (Italy and Sicily) performed spiritual hymns for the peace of the Holy Land, led by maestro Sabina Braschi, in St. Mark's Church, a Syrian Orthodox church in Jerusalem. The concert was organized by Archbishop Mor Anthimos, the Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem & Holy Lands, and attended by Mgr Giacinto-Boulos
Franciscans advance ‘Christian’ Museum in Holy Land
The priest-director of the Cultural Heritage Office for the Custodia Terrae Sanctae, or Custody of the Holy Land, in Jerusalem, opened a drawer of vestments and casually dropped an unexpected historical tidbit about a clerical chasuble he was showing a group of foreign guests. The chasuble was part of a collection of vestments that the archbishop of Paris wore for
Holy Land: The Church pays tribute to Patriarch Michel Sabbah on his birthday anniversary
Marking the Feast of St. Joseph and the 90th birth anniversary of Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Emeritus Michele Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa celebrated Holy Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, the Holy Land, as prayers of thanks were lifted up in appreciation of Patriarch Sabah's legacy which is dedicated to the Church of the Holy
How the Salesians are helping youth in Syria, a country in its 12th year of civil war
March 15 marked the 12th year of civil war in Syria, where bombs, poverty, and earthquakes have destroyed the country. Nevertheless, the Salesians — the order founded by St. John Bosco in 1859 to help disadvantaged youth — are trying to give hope to young people who have lost everything. According to the Salesian News Agency (ANS), the armed conflict
The engineers and phase two: starting from the houses to rebuild the future.
Diego puts the spirit level to the floor. He checks it deeply. Then, sorrowful, “There’s nothing to do, the floor clearly slopes to the left. The ground has given way. And this building has to be demolished.” It is a story often repeated in the reconnaissance of engineers reviewing houses in Aleppo. Bruno hits the walls of another building with a
Christians In The Middle EaChristians In The Middle East: A Persecuted And Forgotten Peoplest: A Persecuted And Forgotten People
At the beginning of this year, the Christian international network Open Doors presented data on the oppression, discrimination and persecution of Christians around the world. It was announced that between the fall of 2021 and the fall of 2022, 5,621 Christians were killed, 4,542 were arrested, and 5,259 were kidnapped. As many as 2,110 churches and church buildings were
Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem decries attack on Church of Gethsemane
Following an attack on Sunday by two Israeli radicals in the church where the Tomb of the Virgin Mary lies, Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem urges for a better protection of Christians in the Holy Land and their holy places. As Israeli-Palestinian tensions remain high, only a few days ahead of new talks between officials from Israel, the Palestinian
20th anniversary Iraq war: ‘The Church never abandoned its people’
On the 20th anniversary of the outbreak of war in Iraq, the then-apostolic nuncio to the nation recalls his time in Baghdad, where Pope St. John Paul II had sent him as a messenger of peace. Cardinal Fernando Filoni says one of the toughest periods of his life was the war in Iraq. He was speaking to Vatican News exactly
The Custos visits Syria: “Grateful to the Lord for the work of the friars, now we are supporting the Syrian community, the cradle of evangelization”
The Custos of the Holy Land, fr. Francesco Patton, returned from his trip to Syria on 12th March. He had spent ten days visiting the friars and the communities affected by the violent earthquake of 6th February, which sowed destruction and death in an area already harshly put to the test by the war. After a short stop in the community
Letter from the Episcopal Vicar and Catholic Assembly of Bishops to the Minister of Education after the shooting at a Christian school building in Nazareth
Below, we publish the translation of the letter (the copy is attached at the bottom) sent to the Minister of Education (with a copy to the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other persons in charge), following the incident at the school and convent of the Franciscan Sisters, at Nazareth, which was gunned on Thursday 16 March around 18.30