Orthodox leaders criticise Israeli restrictions

Описание: (12 Apr 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jerusalem - 12 April 2023
1. Pan of Greek Patriarchate before zoom in on cross on top of dome
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Archimandrite Mattheos, Elder Dragoman:
"The celebration of the Holy Light ceremony is a great moment that ties the faithful to the light of Jesus Christ. The ceremony has been faithfully taking place in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for nearly 2,000 years, attracting Christians and not only, from around the world. Each year, the church has coordinated with the authorities to ensure the ceremony can take place without issues. Notably, last year, barriers were imposed by the Israeli authority throughout the Old City that made it impossible to access for our local Christian communities and pilgrims from attending the Holy Light ceremony in the Holy Sepulchre, impending their freedom to worship and witness the miracle of the resurrection."
3. Greek Patriarchate officials standing
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Archimandrite Mattheos, Elder Dragoman:
"This year, after many attempts made in good will, we are not able to coordinate with the Israeli authorities as they are enforcing unreasonable restrictions on access to the Holy Sepulchre, more so than last year. These heavy handed restrictions will limit access to the Christians, to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and to the Holy Light ceremony. Police are unfairly and inappropriately placing the burden on the churches to issue invitations while tying the churches' hands with unreasonable restrictions that will prevent worshipers from attending, especially our local communities. This makes difficult our cooperation with the police."
5. Greek Patriarchate officials standing
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Archimandrite Mattheos, Elder Dragoman:
"As the Patriarchate clearly stated in our statement two days ago, we will hold the ceremony as customary for two millennia and invite all who wish to worship with us to attend. With that made clear, we leave the authorities to act as they will. The churches will freely worship and do so in peace. Thank you."
7. Greek Patriarchate
STORYLINE:
Greek Orthodox leaders in Jerusalem on Wednesday said Israeli authorities were "enforcing unreasonable restrictions" which they claimed were limiting people from being able to worship this weekend in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Archimandrite Mattheos, Elder Dragoman, told reporters he feared Israeli authorities would erect barriers on the path through the Old City to the church where Jesus is said to have been interned and resurrected.

Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that on the Saturday before Easter a miraculous flame appears inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a sprawling 12th century basilica built on the site where worshipers believe Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected.

"This year, after many attempts made in good will, we are not able to coordinate with the Israeli authorities as they are enforcing unreasonable restrictions," Archimandrite Mattheos said.

Major Jewish, Christian and Muslim holidays have converged this year against a backdrop of renewed Israeli-Palestinian violence.

Last year, Israel applied a safety law that limited crowd sizes based on space and the number of exits.

Authorities said they wanted to prevent a repeat of a stampede on Mount Meron in northern Israel during a religious festival attended by around 100,000 mostly ultra-Orthodox Jews.

It was one of the worst disasters in the country’s history, and authorities came in for heavy criticism over alleged negligence.





AP video shot by: Alon Bernstein



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