Washington, D.C., January 31, 2023
Photo: jerusalem-patriarchate.b-cdn.net
His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem was among the guest speakers at the 2023 International Religious Freedom Summit currently being held in Washington, D.C.
The IRF Summit aims to “bring together a broad coalition that passionately supports religious freedom around the globe.”
“Together we will raise the profile of international religious freedom on a wide variety of issues using an array of mechanisms best suited for each circumstance,” reads the official IRF site.
Pat. Theophilos attended the opening session for the annual event yesterday morning, drawing attention to the increasing threats against the Christians and Christian holy sites of the Holy Land.
After greeting the attendance with the peace of Jerusalem, His Beatitude took the opportunity to relay the current circumstances of Christians of the Holy Land and Jerusalem to the audience. Pointing out that the “peaceful mosaic that we have known for hundreds of years is under threat” explaining that for years now “the Christian community has faced hate crimes and acts of vandalism” that are no longer targeting properties alone but carrying subtle messages with every attack, that being “that Christians are not welcome in Jerusalem”. In addition, Patriarch Theophilos III underlined that those attacks are intensifying and targeting the Christian pilgrim route at Jaffa Gate, New Gate, as well as the Mount of Olives, which will impact the Garden of Gethsemane.
Being a main speaker at this summit, representing his fellow Church leaders as well as the faithful communities of the Holy Land, His Beatitude utilized the joint statement published yesterday by the Heads of Churches in Jerusalem regarding the increasing cycle of violence in the Holy Land, “we have been constantly warning of an exploding, senseless cycle of violence that will only cause hurt and suffering to everyone. Such a state of affairs will almost certainly bring further atrocities and anguish, driving us away from the much sought-after peace and stability that we all seek.”
Towards the end of his speech, His Beatitude called on Members of the Congress and leaders of American civil society to support the Christian existence in the Holy Land to thrive alongside other communities, highlighting that although “we are small in number but large in mission” and to ensure that the upcoming generations would be able to visit the Holy City and walk in the footsteps of the Prophets and Christ, and be welcomed not only by stones “but by a vibrant Christian presence.”
The Patriarchate and other denominations in the Holy Land also issued statements last week condemning the attack on a Christian Armenian restaurant by a group of Israeli radicals.
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