Hierarch of the Jerusalem Patriarchate called for peace and the opening of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Metropolitan Theodosius of Sebastia (Patriarchate of Jerusalem) has appealed to world leaders and Christian churches to promote an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East. According to the Greek Orthodoxia News Agency, the hierarch emphasized the importance of praying for the Holy Land during the Lenten season and expressed hope for a speedy restoration of access to the holy sites.

Being in Jerusalem under constant threat of shelling, the Metropolitan noted that violence and war are explicitly condemned by Holy Scripture. He called on the faithful around the world to join efforts to achieve peace in the region, where today residents are forced to constantly seek shelter to the sound of sirens. Of particular concern is the fact that the Church of the Resurrection (Holy Sepulchre) remains closed for security reasons.

According to the Vladyka, the opening of the Shrine is a priority, but this is not possible without ensuring the complete safety of pilgrims. «It is important for us that the Temple of the Resurrection be open, but it is no less important that pilgrims be safe,» His Eminence emphasized, expressing the hope that the holy places will soon become accessible to the faithful again.

Metropolitan Theodosius concluded his address by pointing out that true peace in the region can only be achieved on the basis of justice. He emphasized that ending the conflict requires the removal of dividing walls, barriers and the withdrawal of occupying troops, which is a necessary condition for the long-term coexistence of peoples on this land.

Recall, on Monday, March 16, at about 15:00 local time, a large fragment of a missile shot down by an air defense system fell 100 meters from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The incident occurred during a rocket fired by Iran towards Jerusalem.