On December 27, the different Churches of Jerusalem have succeeded one another in the Monastery of St. Saviour for the traditional exchange of greetings during Christmas. "We meet with all families on the occasion of this festival and we exchange vows. It is normal that we, the Christian brothers of Jerusalem visit each other," says the Custos Pierbattista Pizzaballa. "During the year we see each other every 2-3 weeks for meetings, common events, work or lunches. There is no special purpose today; we only meet to share the joy of the Nativity together.”
Greek Orthodox, Syriac and Coptic, Ethiopian and Orthodox Armenians were expected in the morning. Preceded by their kawas and welcomed by those of the Custody, they meet the Franciscan friars in the diwan (living room that takes its name from the Persian), where liqueurs, coffee, chocolate and cakes were offered to them.
"As humans, we are not autonomous and independent, we cannot solve everything. We cannot reach God, but Christmas reminds us that He comes to us." The Custos emphasized the importance, as Christian leaders, to testify the unity among the various Christian Churches, to testify that the good spirit prevails and will always find answers to the difficulties and differences that arise. The Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III went further, noting that the efforts to work together on the Holy Places, in a spirit of mutual understanding, cooperation and dialogue bears fruit, as witnessed by the meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew last May in Jerusalem.
The Custos also stressed that the persecutions faced by Christians today in the Middle East show that 2000 years after the death of Christ, still difficult to witness His faith. But many, especially in Syria and Iraq, who had to give up everything to flee, have not abandoned Jesus. The triumph does not lie in power but in the persistence of the Christian presence, as evidenced by the Armenians almost 100 years after the genocide.
The friars went also to the Greek-Catholic Patriarchate where the Archbishop Jules-Joseph Zerey received them as brothers. Recounting several anecdotes of his childhood where he had been in contact with the Franciscans, he recalled the incredible gift of God to humanity by giving His only son. He called to pray for Christian unity, hoping that one day it will come true.
As the Apostolic Nuncio was unable to attend - he will lunch with the friars another day- the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Fouad Twal, was the one who closed the day with his visit. Thanking the brothers for their work and their love of the Holy Land, he did not forget the older that he visited in the infirmary.
As a Franciscan seminarian highlighted: "We felt in the discussions, in the mood and atmosphere that we were with friends, with brothers." A preview of the Week of Prayer for the Christian Unity held from 18 to 25 January 2015.
Hélène Morlet
Greek Orthodox, Syriac and Coptic, Ethiopian and Orthodox Armenians were expected in the morning. Preceded by their kawas and welcomed by those of the Custody, they meet the Franciscan friars in the diwan (living room that takes its name from the Persian), where liqueurs, coffee, chocolate and cakes were offered to them.
"As humans, we are not autonomous and independent, we cannot solve everything. We cannot reach God, but Christmas reminds us that He comes to us." The Custos emphasized the importance, as Christian leaders, to testify the unity among the various Christian Churches, to testify that the good spirit prevails and will always find answers to the difficulties and differences that arise. The Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III went further, noting that the efforts to work together on the Holy Places, in a spirit of mutual understanding, cooperation and dialogue bears fruit, as witnessed by the meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew last May in Jerusalem.
The Custos also stressed that the persecutions faced by Christians today in the Middle East show that 2000 years after the death of Christ, still difficult to witness His faith. But many, especially in Syria and Iraq, who had to give up everything to flee, have not abandoned Jesus. The triumph does not lie in power but in the persistence of the Christian presence, as evidenced by the Armenians almost 100 years after the genocide.
The friars went also to the Greek-Catholic Patriarchate where the Archbishop Jules-Joseph Zerey received them as brothers. Recounting several anecdotes of his childhood where he had been in contact with the Franciscans, he recalled the incredible gift of God to humanity by giving His only son. He called to pray for Christian unity, hoping that one day it will come true.
As the Apostolic Nuncio was unable to attend - he will lunch with the friars another day- the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Fouad Twal, was the one who closed the day with his visit. Thanking the brothers for their work and their love of the Holy Land, he did not forget the older that he visited in the infirmary.
As a Franciscan seminarian highlighted: "We felt in the discussions, in the mood and atmosphere that we were with friends, with brothers." A preview of the Week of Prayer for the Christian Unity held from 18 to 25 January 2015.
Hélène Morlet