FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—MAY 17, 2021 Statement on the Eruption of Violence throughout the Holy Land The Most Reverend Hosam E. Naoum Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem Over the past week, we have seen the rapid escalation of violence throughout the Holy Land: in the air attacks launched against Gaza and Central Israel, in the rioting between extremists in ethnically mixed cities, and in the continuing conflicts between protesters and police over the pending evictions in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, of which St. George’s Cathedral is a part. It is particularly disheartening that this violence erupted out of police disrespect of [...]

St. Saviour Episcopal Church, Acre, was first dedicated in 1947 to serve a congregation of 500 Anglicans in this ancient Crusader city on the Mediterranean coast. Sadly, the church was closed within a year when the War of 1948 led to most of the parish fleeing the city as refugees. Thanks to the leadership of Archbishop Suheil Dawani and the support of many throughout the Diocese and from around the world, St. Saviour was rededicated by Archbishop Suheil on February 21, 2017 before a packed church that included His Beattitude Theophilos III and other Ecumenical leaders, as well as Anglican [...]

Following a consenting vote by the Synod of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, Archbishop Michael Lewis, Primate, issued a Mandate approving the installation of Bishop Hosam Naoum as “Bishop of the Diocese of Jerusalem, bearing the title Archbishop.” The date of the installation has been set for Thursday, May 13, 2021, Ascension Day, at St. George’s Cathedral, Jerusalem. More information will be forthcoming as planning for the service progresses. Please pray for Bishop Naoum, his family and Diocese. بيان من مطرانية القدس للكنيسة الأسقفية في القدس والشرق الأوسط تعيين تاريخ تنصيب المطران حسام نعوم كرئيس الاساقفة الأنجليكاني [...]

Today was an historic day in the Diocese of Jerusalem. For the first time since the establishment of Israel in 1948, a brand new Episcopal church has been consecrated in the Holy Land: Christ the King Church Tarshiha in Upper Galilee, near the Lebanese border. At noon, Archbishop Suheil Dawani, Bishop Hosam Naoum, and diocesan clergy gathered with Fr. Hatim Jiriys and representatives from his congregation for a moving service of consecration for the beautiful new building. Over the past three years, the parish has partnered with congregations in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, who have generously contributed towards the construction [...]

The Diocese of Jerusalem and the Diocese of Southwark in England met together online to sign an historic Covenant Agreement, formalizing a Companion Relationship between the two dioceses. Following their worship together in noonday prayer, Archbishop Suheil Dawani and Bishop Christopher Chessun signed the agreement, which commits the two dioceses to deepening their relationship with each other in prayer, spiritual reflection, theological education, mutual support, and pilgrimage. The event was broadcast live on YouTube and can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/OwvdnvXLz84

Because of lockdown restrictions, today's annual exchange of Christmas greetings between the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem was smaller and had to be done virtually. Nevertheless, the shared messages of hope in our celebration of Christ's birth at Christmas time were no less heartfelt, as were the expressed wishes for a Happy New Year, one in which we see an end of the pandemic and a new commitment by the nations of the world to work for a just and lasting peace here in the land where Jesus was born.