Alleluia! Christ is Risen. He is Risen Indeed. Alleluia!
We, the Heads of the Churches in the Land of the Holy One, share with you the
Good News of the life of our local Christian Church as one Body in Christ who
live the resurrection faith every day. Our message to you, whether near or far,
is one of hope, encouragement and perseverance. We know the struggles so many
Christians face, both here in this land and elsewhere in the world.
We know the power of despair. We know the power of evil. We know the power of the
“principalities and powers” of this world which promote agendas of
division and oppression to bring harm to God’s people throughout God’s
creation. We, with you, know the power of sin and death.
We also know the power of the Resurrection. We know the power of God to bring
hope out of despair. We know the power of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord and
Savior, to use forgiveness and love to conquer evil. We know the power of God
in Christ to confront those same “principalities and powers” to promote
faith, mutual respect, compassion and courage to speak the truth to benefit all
of God’s people. We know the power of the forgiveness of sins to redeem
relationships in families and among the family of nations. We know the power of
the gift of eternal life for all who believe.
Christians, in all generations, face many challenges. Our current generation is
no different than those who have gone before us . We, with you, have great
responsibilities and many obstacles. The Christian Church faces struggles here
in this land and yet we continue to be full of hope that we are at one and the
same time the Church of Calvary and the Church of the Resurrection. Our faith
is not in the power of death, but in the power of the sacrificial life of
Christ.
We encourage your prayers for us and all your Christian brothers and sisters,
the “living stones” of all the Christian traditions, here in the Land
of the Holy One. We ask you to pray for us in our struggle for justice, peace
and reconciliation, so that when Jesus returns he will not again weep for
Jerusalem but share in our joy of unity, respect and love for all people in the
Holy Land. Be assured, at the same time, of our prayers for you.
May the one and living God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit bless,
preserve and keep you, now and always. Amen.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen. He is Risen Ind eed. Alleluia!
+ Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch
+ Patriarch Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch
+ Patriarch Torkom I Manoogian, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarch
Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, ofm, Custos of the Holy Land
+ Archbishop Anba Abraham, Coptic Orthodox Patriarch
+ Archbishop Swerios Malki Murad, Syrian Orthodox Patriarch
+ Archbishop Bishop Jules Zerey, Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarch
+ Archbishop Abouna Matthias, Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarch
+ Archbishop Paul Sayyah, Maronite Patriarchal Exarch
+ Bishop Suheil Dawani, Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem
+ Bishop Munib Younan, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and
the Holy Land
+ Bishop Pierre Malki, Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Exarch
+ Fr. Rafael Minassian, Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarch