Churches and women of faith are coming together for a special service with a touching Palestinian message at St Christopher’s Anglican Cathedral tomorrow at 3pm to mark Women’s World Day of Prayer, which has been celebrated since 1926.
An ecumenical group of Christian Palestinian women was asked to discern this year’s theme, which poignantly reads: ‘Bear with one another in love even in troubled times’.
St Christopher’s Cathedral Mother’s Union spokeswoman Jacqueline Wachira said: “We are looking forward to hosting different contributions from various churches in Bahrain and from women of faith, as we hear something of the story of Palestinian Christian women and pray in solidarity with all women who are suffering as a result of conflict. It is a message and a vision of peaceful living together.”
Prayers for peace in Gaza are being heard throughout the world as the death toll mounts to 30,000 following Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, with civilians taking the greatest toll of heartache and suffering during the latest conflict.
Dean of St Christopher’s, Fr Richard Fermer, said: “The witness that we will hear from the stories of Palestinian women is one of perseverance and hope, in the face of decades of conflict and hardship. It is the resilience of their faith that allows their hearts not to be consumed by hatred, but to bear with their neighbour in love and hope.”
A special painting by Palestinian artist Halima Aziz entitled Praying Palestinian Women, was commissioned by the organising committee. It shows three Palestinian women peacefully praying under a tree and is full of symbolism.
The following is taken from the World Day of Prayer website: ‘Olive trees/branches are a sign of everlasting and abundant life because they can live for thousands of years. Some of the olive trees in Palestine today were there during the time of Issa/Jesus.
‘The golden roots are underlining the fact that the Palestinians will always exist and as they exist, resilient in the hope of a more peaceful and just future. It’s painted in gold because it’s something precious, something no one can take away from the Palestinians because they are deeply rooted.
‘Poppy flowers are abundant and meaningful to Palestinians. They remind Palestinians of loved ones who have given their lives for their country.
‘Traditional Palestinian dresses like the tatreez (embroidery) thobe (dress) or the white scarf. It represents the Palestinian people and is full of art and history.
‘The keys are a symbol of the hope to return back to Palestine.
‘Palestinians always carry their keys of the homes they were driven out of with them, no matter where they are around the world, and they pass it on to their children so they will never lose hope’.
Palestinian Christians are often called the ‘living stones’ of Christianity as they can trace their history to the birth of the church. In fact, they are the oldest Christian population on earth.
According to palestineportal.org these Christians strongly identify as Palestinians with the same culture and history as their Muslim sisters and brothers. In this land, Christians and Muslims have lived together peacefully for many generations. ‘Today they suffer together under the brutal Israeli occupation and all that it entails: checkpoints, travel restrictions, confiscation of land, destruction of homes, abuse of children, beatings, killings and more’, the portal added.
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Truce talks – Pages 16-17
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