During the participation of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in the Good Friday service at the Cathedral of St. James in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
President Mahmoud Abbas has reaffirmed his unwavering support for all efforts aimed at preserving the Christian presence in Palestine, delivering a powerful Easter message of resilience, justice, and unity amid continued hardship.
The message was conveyed during the participation of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in the Good Friday service at the Cathedral of St. James, located within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in occupied Jerusalem. Representing Dr. Ramzi Khouri, member of the PLO Executive Committee and Head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, were Mr. Hanna Amira and committee member Ambassador Issa Kassissieh & Adv. Nabil Meshahour.
President Abbas’ message was read by Mr. Ghassan Mustaklem, a member of the Cathedral of St. James Parish Council. In his remarks, the President extended Easter greetings to His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem, and to Palestinian Christians, wishing them a blessed holiday filled with hope and peace.
“Despite the ongoing pain and suffering,” President Abbas said, “we remain steadfast in our belief that a new dawn is approaching. Justice will prevail in our land. The bells of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the Church of Saint Porphyrios in Gaza will ring in harmony with the call to prayer from the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, announcing the resurrection of our homeland, the liberation of humanity, and dignity of our people.”
The full text of President Mahmoud Abbas’ Easter message is provided below:
His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III,
Patriarch of Jerusalem and All the Holy Lands and Jordan
Revered Fathers, Priests of the Orthodox Cathedral of St. James
Esteemed Members of the Cathedral’s Parish Council
Distinguished Members of the Local Orthodox Community Council,
Members of the Arab Orthodox parish
Greetings from Jerusalem,
As our people mark the sacred days of the Passion and Glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ—peace be upon Him—I extend to you, to the entire Orthodox community, and to all believers, my heartfelt congratulations and warmest wishes. May this holy occasion return upon our people with their aspirations for freedom, dignity, and peace fulfilled.
This profound moment of resurrection, symbolizing hope after suffering, reflects the unwavering spirit of our Palestinian people—steadfast in their struggle and deeply rooted in their land. Nowhere is this more evident than in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of our state, where the authentic Christian presence remains an inseparable part of the city’s soul and identity, despite the oppressive realities of occupation, restriction, and systematic targeting.
This profound religious occasion, symbolizing hope and resurrection after suffering, reflects the unwavering spirit of our Palestinian people, steadfast in their struggle and deeply rooted in their land. Nowhere is this more evident than in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of our state, where the authentic Christian presence remains an inseparable part of the city’s soul and identity, despite the oppressive realities of occupation, restriction, and systematic targeting.
In these sacred days, where faith is intertwined with sacrifice and redemption, we reaffirm our steadfast support for all efforts to safeguard the Christian presence in Palestine. We remain committed to strengthening our national unity through continued engagement with church leaders and through the active role of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs. We also proudly support the revival of the Local Orthodox Community Council in Jerusalem, in a manner that serves both the Church and its devoted congregation.
Despite our open wounds and the pain that persists, we hold fast to the belief, as did Jesus Christ—peace be upon Him—that the dawn will break, that resurrection is near, and that justice will shine once again upon our land. Let the bells of the Holy Sepulchre and the Church of Saint Porphyrios in Gaza ring out in harmony with the call to prayer from the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, announcing the resurrection of the homeland, the liberation of humanity, and the dignity of all peoples.
Wishing you a blessed Easter. May peace and renewal bless you, our steadfast people, and our sacred land.
Mahmoud Abbas
President of the State of Palestine
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization
