Noting the difficulties due to the extremely critical juncture for the Middle East region, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem issued an official statement regarding this year’s celebration of Passover, announcing restrictions on religious ceremonies.

For the third year in a row, it was pointed out, the celebrations are being held under the shadow of intense human suffering in the Holy Land.

The Patriarchate reaffirms its commitment to safeguard the Christian presence and the sanctity of the rites, as well as the existing regime (Status Quo), which is a fundamental guarantee of freedom of worship in the region.

Particular reference is made to the situation in Gaza, with the Patriarchate expressing its deep sorrow for the suffering of the residents and denouncing attacks on civilians in the West Bank.

At the same time, it noted that restrictions on holy sites, such as the Al Aqsa Mosque, affect religious life and the spiritual bond of the faithful with places of worship.

In this climate, the Patriarchate recalls the message of faith and hope, invoking the Apostle Paul’s words on sharing in suffering and glory.

It points out that, despite the difficulties, the light of hope remains alive and calls the faithful to stability and protection of human life.

On the practical side, it is announced that services from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday will be held exclusively within the churches.

This decision, according to the Patriarchate, is taken with respect for human suffering and to preserve the sanctity of the days.

Finally, the Patriarchate reaffirms its commitment to the preservation of the pilgrimage regime and prays for the prevalence of just peace, the preservation of human dignity and the preservation of Jerusalem as a symbol of faith, love and peace for all humanity.

Statement of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem on the Passover celebrations

For the third consecutive year, at a time when human suffering weighs heavily on the Holy Land, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem reaffirms its commitment to its spiritual and historical mission, founded on the preservation of the Christian presence, the preservation of the sanctity of its religious rites and the protection of the status quo, which is a firm guarantee of freedom of worship and continued Christian witness in this blessed land. In this context, the Patriarchate underlines that its dedication and efforts to ensure the celebration of religious services in the Holy Land and in their appointed times, despite the difficult circumstances, are aimed at preserving our rights and this historical order, as well as at protecting this historical order from any violation.

The Patriarchate, condoling the inhabitants of Gaza and sharing in their suffering, which is an affront to human dignity and the right to life, considers that the repeated attacks by settlers on civilians and their properties in the West Bank are an extension of this human suffering, which affects our Holy Land in more than one place. The Patriarchate points out that the closure of Al Aqsa and the prevention of the celebration of the prayer of the faithful there, under the present circumstances, affect religious life and the spiritual bond of humanity with its holy places.

In such sorrow and circumstances, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem recalls the words of the Apostle Paul: “If we have compassion, let us also have fellowship” (Rom. 8:17), with the conviction that suffering, however intense, does not dim the light of hope in the souls of believers, but calls them to the stability of faith and to the protection of human life, entrusted to us as a divine gift.

Assuming this spiritual responsibility and as the custodian of Christian pilgrimages and protector of the pilgrimage routes to the Holy Land, the Patriarchate announces the continuation of its commitment to the preservation of its religious heritage, and regulates the ceremonies beginning on Palm Sunday and ending on Easter Sunday to the exclusive restriction of these to the religious services inside the temples because of the seriousness and difficulty of this period, respecting human suffering and the preservation of the sanctity of these blessed days.

The Patriarchate also reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the universal preservation of the Sanctuary Statute, both historically and legally, ensuring the protection of the Holy Places and the safeguarding of established religious rights.

We invoke our prayers, one by one, for our flock and for our youth wherever they may be, so that just peace may prevail in our land, that the dignity of every human being may be preserved and that Jerusalem and, as a result, its name as a city of faith, love and peace may remain a living beacon of faith, hope and love.