2002 - News & Press Releases

Appeal Regarding the Church of the Nativity April 20, 2002

 

Urgent Appeal from the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Regarding the Church of the Nativity

 

From Archimandrite (Doctor) Atalla Hanna
Official Spokesman for the Orthodox Church in Jerusalem and the Holy Land
Regarding the Siege and Break-in Attempts of the Church of the Nativity

  

+ We strongly denounce and condemn the attempts of the Israeli Occupation Authority to break into the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Shelling and bombing have set the sanctuary of St. George Church, where children are baptized, on fire. Several of the rooms at the monastery adjacent to the Church of the Nativity, where the Greek Orthodox Bishop of Bethlehem resides, were also burned. The shells, bullets and bombs resulted in massive losses and obvious impact on the structure of the Church which is considered to be a spiritual, humanitarian and cultural landmark of Christianity. Several of the besieged inside the church were also hit by the shells.

+ We charge the Israeli Government and its occupation forces with responsibility for this vicious attack on the most important Christian Churches in the world. We affirm that these Israeli acts of occupation are shameful assaults on the sanctity of holy things and a disgraceful violation of the religious consciousness of Palestinian Christians, in particular, and all Christians throughout the world, in general. The Occupation Authority has overstepped all boundaries and acts without restraint, ignoring all spiritual, human and cultural morals.

+ We call for immediate international intervention to prevent the Occupation Authority from engaging in any further inhumanity towards people and property. Nothing seems to be beyond their reach, including all things that are holy and sacred to millions of faithful throughout the world.

+ We demand the end of the siege on the city of Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity in particular. We will not accept any attempt to harm the Palestinians who are blockaded inside the Church of the Nativity. We are very concerned about their safety and insist on the end of the siege on all Palestinian towns, cities and camps. We are further concerned about the tragic living conditions of the Palestinian people. We appeal to the human rights advocates to intervene and save the Palestinian people from the severe violations of human rights committed against them.

+ Occupation poses a great danger to the security and stability of the national and international community. It is, therefore, imperative that this scandalous aggression against the Palestinian people and property be stopped, the occupation ended and the Palestinian Nation, with Jerusalem as its Capital, established. This is the only way stability in the area and in the whole world can be guaranteed.

+ We appeal to all the Christian Churches of the world in general and of the Middle East in particular to dedicate tomorrow (Sunday) as a day of unity in which we pray for the Palestinian People and the besieged Church of the Nativity. We further appeal to the Christians in the Holy Land to go to Bethlehem on this day to pray at the Church of the Nativity and to show to the entire world our rejection and condemnation of the siege and occupation that is imposed on the Church of the Nativity.

Jerusalem: April 20, 2002

Translated 24-Apr-2002 by Lucy Hanna

View this Appeal in the original Arabic

Appeal Regarding the Church of the Nativity April 20, 2002 (Arabic)

 

Urgent Appeal from the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Regarding the Church of the Nativity

 

Original Arabic text will take time to download, if you're using a slow connection.

 

Click Here for English translation

 

Statement on Crisis in Holy Land

 
   

 

SCOBA STATEMENT ON CRISIS IN THE HOLY LAND

 

 

April 5, 2002

 

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all

understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:7)

In the midst of this holy season of Great Lent, our souls are troubled deeply by the escalation of hostilities in the land where our Lord has walked, where the shadow of the Prince of Peace, moved upon the ancient roads of Israel.

In one voice, we, the hierarchs of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in America, address this appeal to the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority, for reconciliation, justice and peace in the Holy Land. To every Palestinian and Israeli citizen who is praying for an end to the violence, we extend to you the prayers and solidarity of our faithful in America.

Churches, mosques and temples are constructed as houses of prayer. The desecration and destruction of these sacred buildings, historic edifices and treasures of humanity, cannot be tolerated and must cease immediately. We urge a halt to all aggression against all religious sites. We urge for freedom of access to the faithful and religious leaders related to their places of worship.

We deplore the unprecedented escalation of violence, and the senseless destructions of lives and infrastructures. We urge the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority to abide strictly by the United Nations Resolutions 194, 242, 338, 425 and 1402 which represent international legitimacy.

In unison we raise our voice of supplication to the Government of Israel and to the Palestinian Authority for a cessation of actions that bring violence and death to innocent people. We issue our supplication because we agree with our brothers, the Heads of Churches in the Holy Land, who indicated in their most recent letter that the key to any future and lasting peace is in the hands of the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority. After eighteen months of death and destruction, leaders from both sides must see that war and violence has settled nothing. Only meaningful negotiation between Palestinians and Israelis alike, whom God has destined to live as partners in this holy place, can ensure a future promising security, justice and peace in a land where three great monotheistic religions are called to coexist.

As we Orthodox Christians prepare for the coming of Pascha, the Feast of Feasts, our Lenten prayer is for peace in the Holy Land. To our Christian, Jewish and Muslim friends living through this horror, we cry with the Psalmist who wrote, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, and security within you towers.’ (psalm 122:6).

Peace and Love to all and for all.
     

Metropolitan PHILIP's Pastoral Letter on Autonomy, June 27, 2002

 

June 27, 2002

TO BE READ FROM THE PULPIT

Brother Hierarchs,

Beloved Clergy,

Esteemed Members of the Board of Trustees

And all Faithful members of our God-protected Archdiocese:

Greetings and best wishes in the spirit of this Holy season of Pentecost.

I have just returned home, together with my delegation, after a very successful journey to Syria and Lebanon. We were extremely busy participating in the meetings of the Holy Synod of Antioch. And we bring to all of you the blessings and best wishes of our Father-in-Christ, His Beatitude, IGNATIUS IV, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. In the September issue of the WORD Magazine, you will read a full account about our entire trip.

We have very good news. The Holy Synod of Antioch has blessed and recognized the autonomy of our God-protected Archdiocese, not “in theory” as it was wrongly reported, but in reality.

The following is the translation of the Synodal decision which was adopted unanimously on Thursday, June 13, 2002:

SYNODAL DECISION

“The Holy Synod of Antioch, at its regular meeting, held at the Patriarchate in Damascus, Syria, from June 11 to June 14, 2002, and having reviewed the plea of the General Assembly of the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America, which was adopted in Los Angeles, CA, July 26, 2001, and has been submitted to His Beatitude, Patriarch Ignatius IV and the Holy Synod blesses the wish of its children in the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America, and recognizes their Archdiocese as autonomous.

This will render their witness more powerful and more effective, as they identify with the civilization of North America; and in order to express the canonical and pastoral factors of this renewed Archdiocese, which will affect the basic law of the Patriarchate, on the one hand, and the constitution of the Archdiocese on the other hand.

Therefore, the Holy Synod decided to establish a committee, composed from six to eight persons, appointed equally by His Beatitude and His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip, to propose a constitution for this autonomous Archdiocese, to be presented to the Holy Synod of Antioch, in order to acquire its final canonical status.

The first meeting of this committee will be held in the coming fall.”

The above decision was authored by Metropolitan George Khodre of Mount Lebanon, and the translation was approved by him.

In the near future, I will appoint the members of our Archdiocesan delegation which will meet with the Patriarchal delegation either in Europe or in the Middle East to discuss the canonical details of our autonomy.

Finally, may the All Holy Spirit guide us to do what is pleasing to His holy Church.

Your Father in Christ,

Metropolitan PHILIP

Primate

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese

of North America

“…the Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch!” ACTS 11:26

Press Reslease on Autonomy June 26, 2002

 

Press Release:
Holy Synod of Antioch Recognizes Its North American
Archdiocese as Being Autonomous

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                           Contact:  Fr. Michael Evans

June 26, 2002                                          201/871-1355 Fax: 201/871-7954

                                                              E-Mail: frmichael@antiochian.org

 

The Holy Synod of Antioch has blessed and recognized the autonomy of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, not “in theory,” as it was wrongly reported, but in reality.

The following is the translation of the Synodal decision which was adopted unanimously on Thursday, June 13, 2002: 

 

SYNODAL DECISION

          “The Holy Synod of Antioch, at its regular meeting held at the Patriarchate in Damascus, Syria, from June 11 – June 14, 2002, and having reviewed the plea of the General Assembly of the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America, which was adopted in Los Angeles, CA, July 26, 2001, and has been submitted to His Beatitude, Patriarch Ignatius IV and the Holy Synod blesses the wish of its children in the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America, and recognizes their Archdiocese as autonomous. 

          This will render their witness more powerful and more effective, as they identify with the civilization of North America; and in order to express the canonical and pastoral factors of this renewed Archdiocese, which will affect the basic law of the Patriarchate, on the one hand, and the constitution of the Archdiocese on the other hand.

          Therefore, the Holy Synod decided to establish a committee, composed from six to eight persons, appointed equally by His Beatitude and His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip, to propose a constitution for this autonomous Archdiocese, to be presented to the Holy Synod of Antioch, in order to acquire its final canonical status. 

           The first meeting of this committee will be held in the coming fall.”

 

 

 

“…the Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch!”     ACTS 11:26

Metropolitan Philip, IOCC Leaders Discuss Needs in Holy Land

 

 

 

CHURCH, IOCC LEADERS DISCUSS NEEDS IN HOLY LAND

CONTACT:
Stephen Huba
Communications Associate
1-877-803-IOCC (4622)
(410) 243-9820, ext. 28
shuba@iocc.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 21, 2002

 

     Englewood, N.J. (IOCC) - The spiritual leader of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese expressed his continuing support for the humanitarian response by International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) to the human suffering in the Holy Land.

     His Eminence Metropolitan Philip welcomed Nora Kort, head of IOCC's office in Jerusalem, to the Archdiocesan headquarters on Sunday, Nov. 17, the last day of her seven-day speaking tour across the United States.

     "Nora brings with her the suffering of the Palestinian people, and we share in their suffering," Metropolitan Philip said. "When we see innocent children being killed, our hearts are shattered. When olive trees are uprooted, we are uprooted."

     Ms. Kort, a native of Jerusalem, directs IOCC's humanitarian initiatives in the Holy Land, including a $2.6 million rural development project in the West Bank. From Nov. 10-17, she visited Orthodox parishes in the United States to raise awareness and support for IOCC's work in the Holy Land.

     Her audience with Metropolitan Philip capped a series of stops in Los Angeles, Detroit, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Westfield, N.J.

     Ms. Kort spoke with Metropolitan Philip about IOCC's efforts since 1997 to alleviate suffering and create opportunity for Palestinians living in rural, isolated areas in the West Bank. She was accompanied by IOCC Board Member Anne Glynn Mackoul and former IOCC Board Chairman Charles R. Ajalat, as well as IOCC Executive Director Constantine M. Triantafilou.

     "I am pleased to hear of the impact that we are having in Jerusalem," His Eminence said. "I would like to see IOCC doing more and being more visible."

     Metropolitan Philip called on all Orthodox Christians to get behind IOCC and its work in the Holy Land. And he said the Archdiocese's Children's Relief Fund, a program to help children in Lebanon, should expand its reach into the West Bank.

     "The needs here are not ordinary because the situation is man-made," Ms. Kort said. "As Orthodox Christians, we are called to serve the vulnerable, the needy, and show them our solidarity - spiritually, financially, and humanitarian."

     Metropolitan Philip also praised Ms. Kort and other IOCC staff members who "put their lives on the line" every day to serve others. He likened the work of IOCC to the actions of the Good Samaritan, an outsider who offered life-saving assistance to someone in need.

     Before returning to Jerusalem, Ms. Kort thanked the parishes and communities that hosted her talks, including St. Michael Antiochian Orthodox Church in Van Nuys, Calif.; St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church in Livonia, Mich.; Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Westfield, N.J.; Sts. Peter & Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church in Potomac, Md.; and the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation in Baltimore, Md.

     For more information about IOCC's humanitarian work in the Holy Land and elsewhere, please visit www.iocc.org or call toll-free 1-877-803-IOCC (4622).

 

International Orthodox Christian Charities
110 West Road, Suite 360
Baltimore, MD 21204

 

Statment on Iraq - Oct. 9, 2002

 

 

 

 

 

October 9, 2002

STATEMENT ON IRAQ

While our country is on the brink of war with Iraq, it is the opinion of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America that our esteemed President and governmental leaders rethink their position and the logic behind this impending conflict. Such an attack will destabilize the entire region, cause untold harm to countless children and other civilians as well as bring political and social unrest to an already troubled area of the world.

It is our conviction that all United Nations resolutions must be implemented in a consistent and meaningful way. We must add that we find it hypocritical that Iraq is threatened with war and destruction for failing to comply with UN resolutions while another state in the same region is in violation of about seventy UN resolutions which have never been implemented. This continues to be a reality even as this state occupies land that does not belong to it, illegally expands and builds settlements on occupied territories and implements collective punishment on masses of innocent people because of the distorted actions of a few. We are fully aware that Saddam Hussein and his government have committed atrocious acts which are in violation of international law.

We are gravely concerned, however, that a war against Iraq will create even more chaos in the region. The overthrowing of the Iraqi government could cause the breakup of the country into warring factions for many years to come. In addition, the geo-political imbalance this war would cause in the area will take generations to repair. It is said that our government will “rebuild Iraq and help the people of Iraq to form a democratic government.” History has proven that this rarely comes to fruition. We need only look to the Balkans and Afghanistan as recent examples.

Therefore, we beseech our respected leaders and representatives and all those of good will to allow the United Nations inspectors to complete their mission. At the same time, we encourage our President and Congress to seek the difficult and tiresome road of peace rather than the bloody and dark road of war.

Issued by: Metropolitan PHILIP Saliba, Primate
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
 

 

“…the Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch!”     ACTS 11:26

 

IOCC Launches West Bank Job Creation, Education Project

INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES (IOCC)

 

 

110 West Road, Suite 360 , Baltimore , Md.
21204

— Tel:
(410)
243-9820 — Fax:
(410)
243-9824

Web: www.iocc.org — E-mail: news@iocc.org

 

For immediate release

 

IOCC LAUNCHES WEST BANK JOB CREATION, EDUCATION PROJECT


Jerusalem (IOCC) – In some parts of the
West Bank, school children meet for class in tents. In other parts, authorities cannot build schools fast enough to keep up with the growing student population.

These needs, along with the continuing problem of unemployment in the
West Bank, prompted International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) to launch a new project that will expand educational opportunities for thousands of underprivileged Palestinian young people.

The $3 million project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will result in the construction or renovation of school classrooms, bathrooms, libraries, labs, playgrounds and other youth facilities in 24 villages in the Ramallah region.

IOCC was one of six international relief agencies to recently sign an agreement with USAID to promote job creation and education reform in the
West Bank. The $13 million agreement, spread among the six agencies, will create employment opportunities through the construction and renovation of classrooms and youth centers in the
West Bank and
Gaza.

On hand for the February signing ceremony at
Jericho’s Intercontinental Hotel was IOCC-Jerusalem Director Nora Kort, who emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for Palestinian girls.

“Many rural areas do not have any schools or enough classrooms, and children are compelled to go to neighboring villages,” Ms. Kort said. “This presents great challenges and obstacles, especially for girls: Tradition does not allow them to travel outside their own villages in search of education.”

The new project will build on IOCC’s work over the past eight years to train women, create jobs, renovate public buildings (including schools) and revitalize agriculture in rural areas of the
West Bank. In that time period, IOCC has built partnerships with local leaders and organized the participating villages into “clusters.”

Ms. Kort said IOCC will use the same system with the new initiative. Clusters of 13 villages near the town of
Ni’lin and 11 villages near the town of
Beit Liqya will be involved, potentially benefiting a population of more than 68,000 residents.

“Children who live in rural areas of the
West Bank are suffering from a lack of safe educational and recreational facilities,” said IOCC Director of Operations Samir Ishak. “Their parents suffer from a lack of employment. This project addresses both concerns – the short-term and the long-term.”

IOCC’s partners in the project include USAID, local village councils, and the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

IOCC will employ more than 2,000 people in the constructions trades for the life of the 30-month project. The result will be an improved educational infrastructure network serving more than 26,000 children ages 5-19, Ms. Kort said.

IOCC has been active in the
Middle East since 1997, when it began humanitarian programs in
Jerusalem and
Bethlehem. Founded in 1992, IOCC is the official humanitarian agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA).

To learn more about IOCC’s relief and development programs in the
Holy Land and around the world, please visit www.iocc.org.

 

###

 

For media inquiries, please contact IOCC Communications Associate Stephen Huba at
1-877-803-4622 or shuba@iocc.org.

Palestinian students gather for recess at a school playground in Deir Balout in the
West Bank. Safe places to play and learn are scarce in the smaller, rural villages of the
West Bank, where International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is beginning a $3 million project to renovate and build classrooms, bathrooms, libraries, playgrounds and other youth facilities.

Photo courtesy of Chris Maddaloni

 

Statement on Crisis in Holy Land and Arson in Los Altos Church

 

Message from Metropolitan PHILIP
On the Crisis in the Holy Land And
The Fire at Church of the Redeemer, Los Altos, California

April 18, 2002

TO BE READ FROM THE PULPIT AND PUBLISHED IN THE CHURCH BULLETIN

Beloved Hierarchs, Clergy, Archdiocesan Trustees, Members of the Order of St. Ignatius,
and all faithful of our Archdiocese:

We greet you in the spirit of this Great Lent.  The news from Palestine is heart-breaking.  I am sure that you have seen on your TV screens the cities of Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah and other cities, towns and villages which seem as if they were hit by a devastating earthquake.  The extent of suffering and human misery is beyond description. 

The people of our Archdiocese have always responded courageously and generously to human tragedy, whether it was the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City, the earthquakes in California and Mexico, Hurricane Andrew in Florida and the barbaric attack on America, September 11, 2001.  I want to inform you that last December I was honored to present, on your behalf, a $200,000 check to the police and fire departments of the city of New York. 

I am sorry to tell you that one of our churches, the Church of the Redeemer in Los Altos, California, was consumed by fire.  After a federal investigation, it was determined that the cause of this fire was arson.  It has also come to our attention that historic Orthodox churches and mosques have not been spared destruction in Palestine.  As of this date, the Church of the Nativity, the second holiest shrine in Christianity, is still surrounded by tanks and soldiers. 

Beloved children, during these holy days of Lent, it is important to give up certain kinds of food; but it is even more important to give out from your money for the needy and the poor.  I am beseeching you, therefore, to take collections on Palm Sunday and Great Friday for Palestinian victims whose land has been occupied for the past thirty-five years.  Your collections will also help our Church of the Redeemer in Los Altos, California.  Please be generous and send whatever you collect immediately to the Archdiocese headquarters marked “Victims of Palestine and Church of the Redeemer.” 

While we relive the events of Holy Week, especially the suffering of our Lord on Holy Thursday and Great Friday, I pray that the Eternal Light of the empty tomb will shine in your hearts and in the hearts of people everywhere. 

Your Father in Christ,

Metropolitan PHILIP, Primate
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

Statement on Arson in Los Altos Church

 

Statement from Metropolitan PHILIP
On the Arson at Church of the Redeemer
Los Altos, California

11 April 2002

We are deeply shocked and saddened that this church which our community in Los Altos has built with love and dedication to the Almighty God, was consumed by such a criminal act. Our Antiochian Orthodox Church has been preaching love and peace for the past two thousand years. We have no doubt that our community in Los Altos is determined, more than ever, to rise from the ashes and build an even more beautiful church. We are thankful for all the help and support of all people of good will.

+ Metropolitan PHILIP