Jerusalem's Church of Holy Sepulchre Closes amid Bitter Argument with Israeli Government

Will Maule : Feb 27, 2018
Faithwire.com

"This systematic and unprecedented attack against Christians in the Holy Land severely violates the most basic, ab antiquo and sovereign rights, trampling on the delicate fabric of relations between the Christian community and the authorities for decades." -from Statement by: Theophilos III, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Francesco Patton, the Custos of the Holy Land, and Nourhan Manougian, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem.

[Faithwire.com] Jerusalem's famed Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the historic site of Jesus' burial, has closed indefinitely following an argument with the Israeli government, Reuters reported. The site receives thousands of visitors and pilgrims every year. (Photo: Church of the Holy Sepulchre/credit: PROSeetheholyland.net /Flickr/via Faithwire.com)

In an unusual move, the Greek Orthodox, Armenian and Catholic denominations, who all share ownership of the church, agreed to closing it down. The various leaders issued a joint statement saying the move was "in protest at persistent moves to intimidate Christians and discriminate against churches in the Holy Land."

Tensions have mounted following the Israeli government's passing of a bill that would grant the Israeli government power to confiscate church property...

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