The Council of the Heads of Churches in Jordan has announced the cancellation of all Christmas celebrations and festivities this year, out of respect for the innocent victims and for their blood shed in Gaza and in entire Palestine, so that the celebrations will be restricted to prayers and church rites. The council also announced that all church donations for next Sunday will be forwarded to the Gaza Strip, and called for making donations through the official channels that some churches have provided for this purpose.

The statement says, “On Thursday, November 2, 2023, the Council of the Heads of Churches in Jordan convened at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and discussed several issues, the most important of which was relevant to what is taking place in the region. Thus, we draw your attention to this difficult time that the Gaza Strip and entire Palestine is going through as innocent blood is being shed, which includes lamentation, starvation and thirst, in addition to the bombing of residential buildings, schools, hospitals, churches, and mosques, as well as the forcible displacement of Gazans in front of the eyes of the impotent international community.”

The statement adds, “As we denounce in the harshest and strongest terms the barbaric acts committed by the Israeli aggression committed against humanity and in violation of all international norms, we accordingly rally behind the upright opinion represented by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, led by His Majesty King Abdullah II, the voice crying out for truth in this world, while highly valuing all the unstinting Jordanian efforts designed to silence the voice of war. We also greet all free Arab and international positions that did not engage in humanitarian and political double standards.”

The statement continues, “We announce that all church offerings for next Sunday, November 12, 2023, will be forwarded for the benefit of the Gaza Strip and its people in accordance with the followed rules and regulations. We also urge everyone to take the initiative to make donations through the official channels that some of our churches have provided for the same purpose. Accordingly, we pray in all the churches of the Kingdom this Sunday for peace and harmony.”

The statement concludes, “From this premise, the Council of the Heads of Churches in Jordan asks you to cancel all Christmas activities and festivities for this year’s Christmas celebrations--which include Christmas bazaars, scout musical activities, gift presentations to children, and Christmas decorations--out of respect for the innocent victims and for the pure blood of our martyrs in Gaza and entire Palestine. Let Christmas be limited to church prayers and rites.”