Gaza Catholic parish mourns fellow Christians killed in blast at Greek Orthodox complex October 23, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News The Sister of Charity of the Incarnate Word from Peru, who is serving in the Catholic parish in Gaza, recalled the pain of watching the funeral of Christians killed in an Oct. 19 blast at a Greek Orthodox church.
‘God end this madness now!’ Christians appeal as Gaza church campus is left in ruins October 20, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News An explosion at the St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church campus in Gaza has left the administration building in ruins, and at least 17 people dead, though numbers have not yet been officially confirmed.
Hundreds killed in Gaza hospital rocket strike on the day of prayer, fasting for peace October 18, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News While Christian faithful across the globe prayed and fasted for peace in the Holy Land, a rocket struck the Christian hospital in Gaza City where hundreds of people were being treated, but also where hundreds were taking shelter. U.S. President Joe Biden is on his way to Israel to make a quick visit Oct. 18.
Israeli families missing loved ones wait for proof of life; patriarch appeals for prayer, fasting October 12, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Bodies still remain strewn along roads and in communities as authorities go through the arduous and gruesome process of identifying so many bodies, some of which first responders have said were mutilated and burned beyond recognition.
Pilgrims pray as Israeli families mourn loved ones and Gaza undergoes retaliation attack October 10, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Pilgrims who were in Israel following a surprise terrorist attack by Hamas terrorists against civilian communities in southern Israel Oct. 7 lit candles and said prayers of peace at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher as fighting continued in southern Israel.
Jerusalem church leaders call for peace following deadly Hamas attack October 9, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem united in a call for peace and justice amid unfolding violence, following a surprise attack by Hamas in southern Israel, which has left around 600 Israelis dead, among them civilians and dozens of soldiers and police who were killed battling the Hamas fighters.
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem calls for international help to de-escalate violence amid devastating Hamas attack on Israel October 8, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem called Oct. 7 for secular and religious leaders around the world to help de-escalate the violence between Hamas and Israel following an unprecedented surprise dawn attack by Hamas militants on a major Jewish holiday.
Israeli top politicians, rabbis react after incidents of spitting on Christians causes uproar October 6, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, World News While recent incidents of spitting on Christians outraged the community in the Holy Land, Israeli officials openly condemned the attacks this time, with the foreign minister of the country personally calling the Vatican’s top diplomat.
New metal fence is sign of worsening conditions for Holy Land Christians August 2, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, World News The mountaintop monastery at Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel, facing the sea, has been a place of pilgrimage and tours for peoples of all faiths.
Gaza Strip Catholic priest brings comfort to traumatized community, with special focus on young people May 19, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News In addition to providing spiritual support to the community members during the five days of hostilities, Father Romanelli said he and the nine nuns currently in Gaza worked to find ways to offer psychological and emotional support.
Orthodox Christians celebrated Easter in the Holy Land with another year of Holy Fire restrictions April 17, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, World News Thousands of local and international Christian pilgrims thronged to Jerusalem’s Old City and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher for the ancient Eastern rite ceremony of the Holy Fire April 15, with some scuffles reported as Israeli police restricted the number of people able to reach the church.
Holy Land patriarchs in Easter message place ‘ultimate hope only God’ amid increasing attacks on Christian sites April 3, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Easter, Feature, Lent, News, World News Just as early Christians were sustained by the words of St. Peter describing Jesus’ resurrection as offering a “new birth into a living hope,” so too should the Christians of the Holy Land today be encouraged and empowered by this knowledge as they face tumultuous times, when their own faith continues to be tested, said the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in their March 31 Easter message.
