Students are from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles California with The Most Reverend Archbishop Suheil, Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem during their visit to St George’s Cathedral. The students were on a study tour entitled 'Literature and Faith in the Holy Land: A Study Tour in Israel.' The Trip was led by Dr. Holli Levitsky together with Father Alexie Smith and Rabbi Mark Diamond.
Honey Becker left the services of our Diocese during May 2016. Her work began in January 2012 when she became Minister of Hospitality at St. George’s College. Then for 6 months she was a Missioner at St. Peter’s Church, Jaffa before returning to Jerusalem to become the Manager of the St George’s Guest House. During a reception, held for her on the 18th May, Honey was thanked by the Cathedral, College and Guest House for all that she had achieved during her 4 ½ years. She has asked for friends and colleagues keep in touch with her on -alohamagnolia@aol.com. Thank You Honey!
This Sunday, 15th May, the Archbishop celebrated the Feast of Pentecost at St. George’s cathedral, which was overflowing with many pilgrims from across the world, as well as the Congregations from Palestine and Israel. This follows the annual tradition of the in-gathering of Clergy and Parishioners from across the Land of the Holy One at the commemoration of the ‘birthday of the church’ in Jerusalem, the city where the first Pentecost took place. It was a day of celebration, with two choirs, one English and one Arabic speaking, and a meal for the whole congregation was held at St. George’s School afterwards, where songs of worship and praise were sung during lunch.
Archbishop Suheil Dawani attended graduations at the Arab Evangelical Episcopal School and the Episcopal Technological and Vocational Training Center. The ceremony was held at the Ramallah Cultural Palace in the presence of a large gathering of students, relatives and their friends.
The Archbishop accompanied by Dean Hosam and Canon David Longe paid their respects to Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, the Armenian Patriarch at Easter Greetings.
The Archbishop, Dean Hosam and Canon David Longe visited the Greek Patriarch for 'Easter Greetings'. Theophilus III addressed the Heads of Churches at the visit.
The Archbishop preached and presided at the Easter Service at two packed services at the Church of the Redeemer, Amman. Due to the differences between the Easter and Western Church calander, many churches in the Diocese chose to follow the Eastern Calendar to celebrate Easter.
Archbishop Suheil met with the Society of St. John the Evangelist Brothers (Cowley Brothers) and the Fellowship of Saint John.
On 28th April 2016, Archbishop Suheil attended the Armenian Maundy Thursday service at St James’ Cathedral. There is a long tradition (dating back to the days of the British Mandate) of the Anglican Archbishop reading the Gospel at this service, demonstrating the friendship between the two churches.
The Archbishop attended the board meeting for Christ’s School, Nazareth.
On 24th April, there was great celebration at St George’s, as the Feast of St George’s was celebrated along with Archbishop Suheil’s birthday. In commemoraction of the 101st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide prayers were said and the Archbishop wore an Armenian Cross.
The Archbishop attended the Atlanta Summit of Churches in the USA and the Holy Land, Pursuing Peace and Strengthening Presence, from 19 to 20 April 2016.
All Saint’s Episcopal Church, Beirut was delighted to receive Archbishop Suheil over the weekend of Sunday 10 April 2016. He was accompanied by his wife Shafeeqa who leads the Diocesan Women’s Ministry, the Revd. Canon Victor Diab, his wife Leila and the Revd. Fouad Dagher from St. Paul’s Church, Shefa’amr.
The Archbishop met St Thomas', Seattle, Medina, Washington. Led by The Rev. Jane Maynard. Also present were Fred and Mary Pneuman who served in the Diocese in 2006.
On Monday, 4th April 2016, the Archbishop of Melbourne, and Primate of Australia, the Most Reverend Dr Philip Freier was installed as Episcopal Canon in the seat of Mount Hermon by the Dean of the Cathedral, The Very Reverend Hosam Naoum.
On 1st April 2016, The Greek Orthodox Patriarch, His Beatitude Theolphilos III made a courtesy visit to Archbishop and Mrs Dawani at St George’s following Easter. Also present were Archbishop Aristarchus, Dean Hosam Naoum, Dr Hisham Nasser and Canon David Longe. The Patriarch also met Archbishop Dawani’s new Personal Assistant, Pauline Collier.
The Archbishop attended at reception, with other heads of churches, at the invitation of the Latin Patriarch. Following the Latin Patriarch’s address, the Archbishop also addressed those attending the reception.
The Archbishop preached and presided in a full Cathedral on Easter Sunday. The choir sang again Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus. The cathedral clergy were joined by the Reverend Dr Yazeed Said, and the Right Reverend Dinis Sengulane DD (previously bishop of Lebombo, Mozambique).
The Easter Vigil commenced at 8pm with the Archbishop preaching and presiding. St George’s choir sang Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus. The cathedral clergy were joined by the Reverend Dr Yazeed Said, and the Right Reverend Dinis Sengulane DD (previously bishop of Lebombo, Mozambique). The Dean sang the Exultet.
At 6am, The Most Reverend Suheil Dawani, Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, with The Right Reverend Dr Munib Younan, Evangelical Lutheran in Jordan and the Holy Land, Reverend Páraic Réamonn, Minister of St Andrew’s Memorial Church (Church of Scotland), and The Right Reverend Wolfgang Schmidt, Propst, led the stations of the cross in the Old City. This was followed by ‘Good Friday Devotions’ in the Cathedral at midday, accompanied by St George’s Choir. The Dean of the Cathedral, the Very Reverend Hosam Naoum, preached.