The Most Revd and Rt Hon Stephen Cottrell (the Archbishop of York and Primate of England), has joined the Most Revd Hosam Naoum (Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem and Primate of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East) to undertake a ‘pilgrimage of prayer and solidarity’ in the Holy Land between November 8th to 11th.
Together, the two Archbishops have spent time at various locations in Jerusalem and Nazareth. The Archbishop of York also made some of his own visits. The pilgrimage has been an opportunity to meet with local church leaders, congregations and community organisations.
Speaking about the visit to the Holy Land, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell said, ‘to walk where Jesus walked and to meet the Living Stones — our Palestinian brothers and sisters in Christ who bear faithful witness in the Holy Land today — is a profound privilege. This pilgrimage is an opportunity to listen, to pray and to stand in solidarity with those who continue to work for peace, dignity and hope amid deep and complex realities. My prayer is that our time together may be a sign of our shared faith and our longing for God’s reconciling love to be known by all.’
8 November
The Pilgrimage of Prayer and Solidarity began in Bethlehem on the 8th of November, where Archbishop Stephen visited the Church of the Nativity to speak and pray with Palestinian Christians in the place of Christ's birth.
Later, Archbishop Stephen travelled into the South Hebron Hills and spoke with members of the local Women’s Development Programme, which is supported by the East Jerusalem YMCA. Part of their mission is to support people who have suffered as a result of violence in the West Bank. The archbishops met with some Palestinian families in the village of Umm al-Khair, who shared their stories of what daily life is like in their communities.
The pilgrimage group then planned to spend time with a family in the village of Susya but when they arrived, they were informed that the Israeli border police had closed the area. They then found that their vehicle had been blocked by the armed settlers but were eventually permitted to leave.
Speaking about the incident, Archbishop Stephen shared, ‘The police and a kind of local militia have followed us around this afternoon’, Archbishop Stephen told the Church Times. ‘They don’t want us to be here, but we are here: to show solidarity with people whose livelihoods, whose homes are under threat, and to tell their story and to do what we can to witness for peace and justice in this land.’
9 November
Archbishop Stephen prayed with Anglican communities in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. He preached at a service at St Andrew’s Church and met with local ecumenical clergy, youth and women's ministry leaders. He also spent time praying with the family of Layan Nasira, a young Palestinian Christian woman who is currently imprisoned in Israel. Archbishop Stephen described it as a ‘a powerful and moving day’, saying that ‘it was an honour to meet and pray with Layan Nasir’s family in Berzeit as she continues to be held in Israeli prison. In their ongoing struggle for justice, we pray for Layan’s safety and for her release back to her life and family.’
10 November
Archbishop Stephen and Archbishop Hosam met with Galilean and ecumenical clergy as well as students at Christ Anglican School. They visited St Gabriel’s Orthodox Church and joined in prayer at the site of Mary’s Well. They met with local Catholic and Orthodox communities, standing in solidarity with those who are working for peace together as Christians regardless of the differences between denominations. The archbishops ended the day in conversation and prayer with Father Nael Abu Rahmoun and local clergy at the Anglican Christ Church in Nazareth.
Archbishop Hosam shared that he ‘is very happy to have this wonderful visit’ in which ‘we are reminded of our origin in this place, where it all started with the word of the Archangel Gabriel that came to Mary and then from Mary into the whole world.’
Archbishop Stephen remarked, ‘It’s been a very moving day praying at the holy sites of Nazareth, and listening to students, Anglican and ecumenical clergy and congregations. In this city, that remembers Mary’s “yes” to God, we commit ourselves to saying “yes” to God’s will and purposes for justice and peace in the Holy Land.’
11 November
The archbishops' pilgrimage concluded with prayers at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on the 11th of November. The archbishops have been welcomed by other Christian leaders throughout their visit and were pleased to be received on this day by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilus, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.
On the final day, Archbishop Hosam shared, ‘As we come to the close of Archbishop Stephen’s visit and pilgrimage to the Holy Land, we are delighted to have reflected together, prayed together and walked together in this Holy Land, in the footsteps of Jesus, both metaphorically and literally.’
Archbishop Stephen reflected, ‘This journey has been an opportunity to listen, to pray, and to stand in solidarity with our Palestinian sisters and brothers in Christ and all those working for justice and peace.’
For more information
See daily content from the visit on the Archbishop of York’s Facebook page.
Read the full sermon from Archbishop Stephen at St Andrew’s Church in Ramallah.
Learn about the Diocese of Jerusalem in the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East.
Read an article from the Church Times regarding the Pilgrimage.