As Christians around the world celebrate Holy Week, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) calls attention to the challenges facing Christians in the Holy Land, not just in Gaza, but also in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

In an interview at ACN headquarters, Abbot Nikodemus Schnabel of Jerusalem’s Dormition Abbey describes how Christians in the region will experience the Passion of Christ and urges believers everywhere to reflect on the state of the Holy Land.

During Holy Week, Christians worldwide are reminded of the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Holy Land, often regarded as the fifth Gospel, holds great significance for Christians. “If we are reading the Passion, if you’re in Holy Week, our thoughts are going to the Holy Land, to Jerusalem,” says Abbot Nikodemus.

He recalls that Catholics, mostly migrants and asylum seekers, whom he describes as “modern slaves,” were among those killed in the Hamas attack on October 7th. “And on the other side, what’s happening now in Gaza? For us, as Christians, it is a catastrophe. As of today, we have lost 27 people. We are speaking about human beings. We are speaking about a catastrophe for both sides, because the most horrible thing people can do is killing other people. This is the greatest sin you can commit,” he emphasizes.

Abbot Nikodemus also draws attention to the significance of Good Friday in this moment: “Good Friday has a very strong meaning because you see the suffering. We see the cross. Once we had a 24-hour prayer vigil in our church, and we prayed all the Psalms. We called the celebration ‘the Church under the cross.’ This is our place as Christians. We are the Church under the cross.”

Additionally, the abbot speaks about the plight of Christians in the West Bank and Jerusalem, where “you cannot see the cross, because the houses are not bombed; [where] there is no visible suffering, and there are no pictures that emotionally speak to people.” But while there may not be visible destruction or images of suffering that attract the world’s attention, “they are really in very difficult circumstances now. They are the most vulnerable group. Their experience reflects the essence of Holy Saturday – a time of despair and invisible suffering,” he says.

Since October, the economic impact of the war has been particularly harsh on Christians in the region, who rely heavily on pilgrim tourism for their livelihoods. “Many Christians work as bus drivers, restaurant owners, hotel staff, or tour guides,” explains Abbot Nikodemus. “The lack of pilgrims has resulted in an economic catastrophe for them.”

Abbot Nikodemus warns reducing the Holy Land to a mere tourist destination. “It’s not a Disneyland. And this is really the fear: that the Holy Land could become like a Christian Disneyland for pilgrims. Of course, we have the churches; we have the holy places. You can have wonderful pilgrimages without being disturbed by the reality of the people. And you have the stones that recall the Incarnation, that Jesus really became man. But we also have the living stones, the Christians who live there. And they are really struggling now. They feel alone,” he says.

Dormition Abbey, which is in Jerusalem, has also seen a decline in pilgrim numbers. But despite the absence of tourists, the abbey is committed to supporting its Christian staff from Bethlehem. “We feel responsible for them, even though it poses a significant financial challenge for us,” says Abbot Nikodemus.

The abbot calls the upcoming holiday a test of faith. “Easter is important because it tells us if we really trust in God and if we really believe what we celebrate. After the catastrophe, are we waiting for Easter? Do we truly believe in redemption?” he asks. “As a rational citizen of the world, I can only see war, suffering, hate, violence. But as a man of faith, I trust that my God can redeem, that he can save this world, heal it, and create new life. Forgiveness. Mercy. That’s what we celebrate during Holy Week and at Easter. I hope for all Christians that there will be a new beginning and new hope, new life.”

As Christians worldwide celebrate Easter, ACN calls for prayers, solidarity, and support for our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land.