Ecumenism of blood: the Christians of the Holy Land united in the face of the Gaza massacres

Common prayer with Primate Welby in Jerusalem's Anglican cathedral. Also a Caritas worker and her family among the dead in the Orthodox church of Saint Porphyrios. Fr Romanelli: "Many wounded in the bombing were taken to the Latin parish in Gaza. Together we continue to ask Heaven for mercy and mercy and for those in authority to stop this situation immediately".

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - They prayed together in the Anglican cathedral of St. George in Jerusalem, in these terrible hours for their communities. The leaders of the Christian Churches of the Holy Land met yesterday evening to ask God together for the gift of peace.

The immediate opportunity was given by the sight of the Anglican primate Justin Welby, who immediately arrived in Jerusalem to show his solidarity with the young Anglican bishop Hosam Naoum after the explosion that hit the Al Ahli hospital in Ghaza on Monday evening, causing death and destruction.

But on the evening of October 19th, the Greek Orthodox community of Gaza was also hit by the Israeli air force, with at least 18 deaths among the people who had sought refuge in the area of the ancient church of Saint Porphyrios, which many looked at as to a safe place.

Already on 17 October - immediately after the deaths at Al Alhi hospital - the patriarchs and heads of the Churches had issued a statement in which, calling what had happened "a horrible crime" - they "implored" the global community "to take on the duty sacred to protect civilians and ensure that these heinous transgressions are never committed again."

The embrace between Primate Welby and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilus III was the visible symbol of unity in pain between all communities. But Card. was also present at the prayer. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Custos of the Holy Land Fra Francesco Patton, and the leaders of all the other Christian confessions present in Jerusalem.

The same unity also existed yesterday in Gaza, during the funerals of the 18 victims of the bombing of the church of Saint Porphyrios A massacre in which Viola, 26 years old, a local Caritas worker, also lost her life, and was killed together with her husband and their newborn daughter.

In a note, Caritas Internationalis "strongly condemns the arbitrary and deliberate bombing of civilians and civilian infrastructure. We reiterate the call on all parties to cease fire, protect civilians, guarantee immediate, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and respect the international law".

Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the Latin parish of the Holy Family, ahs been giving voice to the feelings of the entire Christian community is who remains stuck in Bethlehem due to the closure of the borders.

But the life of the Latin parish continues in Gaza, through the ministry of the other priest Fr. Iusuf Asad, the Sisters of Mother Teresa and the entire community.

Today in the Mass the liturgical memory of Saint Hilarion was remembered, the hermit of Gaza, disciple of Anthony, the great father of the desert: his once again scarred land was entrusted to his intercession.

The massacre in Saint Porphyrius - comments Fr. Romanelli in a message - “it was a hard blow for the entire population of Gaza. Christians continue to ask Heaven for mercy and mercy. They ask everyone to pray for them and for everyone and that whoever can do something, do what they can to stop this situation immediately ”.

“An Orthodox parishioner - continues the Latin parish priest of Gaza - asked me to distribute the photos that he himself took at the funeral. He, along with his wife and one of his children, were there during the bombing and came out safely. But friends and relatives lost their lives. Many wounded were taken to our parish of the Holy Family because there is not room for everyone in the hospitals. Several seriously injured people are in hospital."

“The parish community is in shock" concludes Fr. Romanelli. "They continue to pray and discern at all times what God asks of them. Having more than 50 children with disabilities, elderly people who are very sick and bedridden and, now, injured, makes the whole situation more critical. There are more than 700 people in the Parish. And they beg us not to stop praying for them to God Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary."