The Living Stones

As we travel about the Holy Land visiting the Holy Places we will frequently encounter local believers.  In many circumstances you will have the opportunity for interaction, conversation, and shared worship.  These members of the ancient churches of the middle-east, are often called the Living Stones, from the Apostle Peter's teaching:  
​"As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him-- you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."  (1 Peter 2:4-5).   

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Forgotten Christians:

Living Stones Pilgrimages

Living Stones Pilgrimages
We strive to be intentional in planing itineraries to ensure that our pilgrims have opportunity for interaction with the Living Stones.   For example we often visit the Al Shurooq School for the Blind in Beit Sahour and St. Luke's Hospital in Nablus -- where the local church is meeting human need in Christ's name.  For a bit more on this, click this link. Sometimes I am able to squeeze a few more similar opportunities into our schedule.  On Sundays we always worship with a local congregation: usually at St. George's Anglican Cathedral in Jerusalem and/or Christ Church, Nazareth.  In the image above a member of St. George's Church, Jerusalem is telling me about his life and giving me a small gift.

Christians of the Holy Land​

Virtually every Christian Church has a presence in the Holy Land.  Here is overview of the most frequently encountered churches.

Orthodox
The largest church in the Holy Land is the Orthodox Church.

The Latins
The Roman Catholic Church and its local expressions are called "The Latins" in the Holy Land.  The Franciscan Order has had oversight of many holy places for centuries and have been very hospitable to our pilgrims over the years. The Franciscans have shown tremendous kindness and hospitality to me and my groups over the years.


Oriental Orthodox Churches
The "Oriental" Churches are six ancient regional churches that became separated from the rest of the Church due to a theological misunderstanding in the 5th C.  It is a blessing to be able to share in their ancient worship.  

• Armenian Orthodox:   The first nation to adopt Christianity as the official religion was Armenia.  Jerusalem is home to many members of this ancient church and a visit to St. James' Cathedral is worthwhile.  
• Syriac Orthodox of Antioch:  This ancient church, centred around Antioch, is one of the world's oldest churches. A visit to St. Mark's Church in Jerusalem is a good visit on a free day. This church uses Syriac in worship.  (This church includes the  Jacobite Syrian Christian Church in India.)
• Coptic Orthodox of Alexandria:  Coptic was the ancient language of Egypt.  The Copts make up the largest middle-eastern church -- and in Jerusalem they are found at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and at St. Anthony's on the Via Dolorosa. 
• Ethiopian Orthodox:  The largest of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Ethiopian church has some 60 million members. 
• Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church
• Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

Protestant & Anglican Churches
Anglicans & Lutherans
These churches, often called Episcopal or Evangelicals locally, have a presence in the Holy Land since the 19th C.  Their congregations today are generally Palestinian Christians.  Here is a  link to the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem.  These churches are small but make a significant contribution with ministries of schools and hospitals.

Messianic Christians
All of the first Christians were Jewish.  Eventually the church became mostly gentile converts, although there have always been some Jewish Christians in the body of Christ.  A small but growing number of messianic believers live and serve in the Holy Land. They are generally conservative evangelicals with a Christian Zionist theology. 

More Info:
Here is a link to a site with more information about the various churches of the Holy Land.  Also the Middle East Council of Churches has resources.