Archbishop Sarah spent the morning at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Birzeit in the occupied West Bank, on the second day of her pilgrimage in the Holy Land with Archbishop Hosam Naoum, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem.
The day began with Holy Communion at St Peter’s with the local congregation and members of the neighbouring parish of St Andrew’s in Ramallah. Archbishop Hosam presided at the service, and Archbishop Sarah preached the sermon. In her sermon, Archbishop Sarah spoke about living faithfully in times of fear, trusting in the promises of Christ, and Christian hope as an act of resistance.
Read Archbishop Sarah’s full sermon
After fellowship with the congregation, Archbishop Sarah heard testimonies from lay and women’s ministry leaders about their experiences of Palestinians across Gaza and the West Bank. She also met with local ecumenical clergy from Birzeit, Ramallah and Taybeh, who spoke about their experiences of ministry in the occupied West Bank, their hopes for justice and freedom, and the need for solidarity from the global Church.
In the afternoon, Archbishop Sarah visited the family home of Lulu and Sami Nassir, as well as their 26-year-old daughter Layan, who was released from Israel’s Damon Prison in May this year. She heard from Layan, who worships at St Peter’s Birzeit, about her experiences of being held in Israeli administrative detention and prison. Archbishop Sarah then prayed for Layan and her family.
Archbishop Sarah concluded the day with a visit to the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, at the Armenian Patriarchate in the Old City of Jerusalem. The Archbishop and the Patriarch spent time reflecting on the relationship between the Church of England and the Armenian Church, the challenges facing Christians in the Holy Land, and the need to preserve the indigenous Christian communities in Palestine and Israel.
Reflecting on the day, Archbishop Sarah said: “It was a joy to be hosted by Father Fadi Diab, and to worship at St Peter’s Church with the congregation – and with many from St Andrew’s Church in Ramallah. In Arabic and English, we gathered together to praise God and proclaim our hope in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“It was especially powerful to hear the testimonies of local Anglican and ecumenical clergy, lay leaders, women and young people. They shared with us some of the profound difficulties they face in their ministries and their daily lives under occupation – and we also spoke about Christian hope as an act of resistance. I’m also grateful to have met with Layan Nassir and her family, following Layan’s release from Israeli prison last month – for which we give thanks to God and pray for her healing from the trauma of her incarceration.
“Finally I had the privilege of meeting with the Armenian Patriarch in the Old City of Jerusalem, and hearing about the vital contribution that the small but profoundly faithful Armenian Christian community make to the Holy Land. Today has shown me something more of what it means to be Church here in Palestine – and the need for us to support Christians in their steadfast and faithful witness in this land.”
Archbishop Sarah is making a five-day pastoral visit to the Diocese of Jerusalem, journeying as a pilgrim with Archbishop Hosam to meet with Christians in Palestine and Israel.
