Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
Taybeh’s annual OktoberFest to be held Sept. 16 & 17 OktoberFest is more than about drinking alcohol. It is a part of the Christian heritage. Consumed in moderation and with the spirit of fellowship and Palestinian comradery. This year, OktoberFest will be celebrated on Sept. 16 and 17th in Taybeh, one of the most important…
Read More “Taybeh’s annual OktoberFest to be held Sept. 16 & 17” »
Knowing your heritage is the key foundation of successful activism to bring peace and justice to Palestine and restoring Palestinian rights. The Holy Land Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF) is hosting its 5th annual summer program to bring Palestinians back to Palestine and understand Palestinian culture, history and aspirations firsthand By Ray Hanania The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical…
Read More “HCEF program reconnects diaspora youth with Palestine” »
The Ecumenical Institute for the Middle East will launch a new program to bring Christians from the throughout the Arab World together to strengthen their faith in hopes of reinforcing the vanishing Christian presence in the Middle East and Holy land. Participants will come from Levant countries including Palestine, Jordan, Syrian, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq and…
Read More “Middle East Christians get training to reinforce faith” »
Orthodox Christians, mainly from the Middle East or Mediterranean region, closely follow the same traditions as Catholics and Protestants, but in a fundamental origin that has been preserved over the two millennium. The Orthodox Easter observations and celebrations begin a week after mainstream Christians leading up to this year’s important Easter date, Sunday April 12, 2015 By…
Read More “Middle East Orthodox Christians observe Easter” »
By Maria C. Khoury, Ed. D. It was simply a most glorious celebration of the Epiphany on the Jordan River today according to the Old Julian calendar. There were hundreds of priests, nuns and thousands of people from all walks of life coming to the precious site where over 2,000 years ago “…the heavens were…
Read More “Celebrating the Baptism of Christ on the Jordan River” »
By Mohammed Asad A winter storm brought unusually cold weather and snow and rain to Occupied Palestine this past week. Snow blanketed much of the Holy Land adding a nice touch to the Orthodox Christmas which was celebrated throughout occupied Palestine. Hit hardest were residents of the Gaza Strip which was devastated by Israel’s war…
By Ray Hanania Every Christmas, I always hear the same conflicting arguments. On the one hand, people tell me, “Stop saying ‘Happy Holidays.’ It’s ‘Merry Christmas’. If you don’t like it, move.” The point being that they presumably are proud of being Christian. And, since Christmas is a Christian holiday, they want people to acknowledge…
Overview of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation 16th Annual Conference Provided by www.HCEF.org By Saliba Sarsar and Christine Hill The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF) held its 16th International Conference and Banquet on Friday, October 17 and Saturday, October 18, 2014. The focus is reflected in its title, “Together in Faith for the…
Read More “Overview of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation 16th Annual Conference” »
Farouk Shami urges diaspora to build industry and jobs in Palestine By Ray Hanania Palestinian American businessman Farouk Shami, who has used his entrepreneurial success and his high public profile activism to strengthen a more positive image of Palestinians, urged the attendees at the 16th Annual Convention of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation to build…
Read More “Farouk Shami urges diaspora to build industry and jobs in Palestine” »
Ashrawi warns Israel destroying Christian presence in the Holy Land at Middle East Christian confab By Ray Hanania Last September, Middle East Christians were thrust into a spotlight they have long deserved when U.S. Senator Ted Cruz told a questionable Washington D.C. group ostensibly organized to “defend them” that if they didn’t support Israel then…
Christian Arab presence in Bethlehem in Crisis By Ray Hanania The issue of Christians in the Holy Land continues to be a topic that is twisted and distorted for political purposes with Muslims and Jews both arguing they do more for the increasingly deteriorating presence in traditionally Christian areas like Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour in the Israeli…
Read More “Christian Arab presence in Bethlehem in Crisis” »
Taybeh Christian Palestinians celebrate: Receiving the Holy Fire Once Again By Maria C. Khoury, Ed.D. We have just celebrated the Miracle of the Holy Fire in Taybeh in a most magnificent way at the outskirts of our village approximately 5:30 pm local time on this Great and Holy Saturday while waiting all afternoon when this…
Read More “Taybeh Christian Palestinians celebrate: Receiving the Holy Fire Once Again” »
Cicero Orthodox Church celebrates 20 year anniversary of Miraculous Weeping Icon of the Virgin Mary Weeping Icon symbolizes the suffering of Christians in the Holy Land, Pastor of Church says By Ray Hanania St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Chicago’s west suburb of Cicero will hold a special service on Tuesday April 22 to honor…