A multi-faith Prayer for Peace took place in the grounds of St Christopher’s Cathedral to coincide with Universal Children’s Day, promoting the rights and protection of children, as bombs rained down on the babies of Gaza.
The event was hosted by This is Bahrain, a campaign group sharing the humble Bahraini way of life where we all live together in the spirit of mutual respect and love, in collaboration with the Anglican cathedral.
“Our thoughts are with children in Gaza and in other conflict zones, who have been forced to carry a weight that no children should ever have to carry,” said the cathedral’s dean, The Very Reverend Dr Richard Fermer.
“They are seeing scenes they never should have to see, doing things they never should be called to do, and are having things done to them which should never take place in a world with a moral heart,” added Father Richard.
The outside prayer meeting started with ‘The Sounding of the Bell’.
Outside the United Nations HQ in New York is the ‘Peace Bell’, which was given by the Japanese in 1954 and is rung twice a year. Chiyoji Nakagawa whose vision it was, explained at the time that he collected coins and medals from people all over the world, going beyond differences in ideas, principles, regions, races and nationalities, and melted them into one moulded piece to cast a bell as a ‘symbol of the wish for peace’. “I want the bell to be tolled for peace,” he added.
Likewise, St Christopher’s was presented with a bell in 1956 by Captain Charles Kendall, after the construction of the church. It was sounded to open the service with the tones of peace.
Betsy Mathieson, founder of This is Bahrain, then introduced the event, and was followed by an emotional performance by Soprano Cuban singer, Sheila Villageliú who sang St Francis of Assisi’s Prayer: ‘Make me an Instrument of Your Peace’, with the help of the young people congregated.
Prayers for peace were given by Vijay Kumar Mukhiya of the Manama Hindu Temple, Buddhist Phra Tanaphat Nitivamso, followed by children of the Bohra community.
UK Deputy Ambassador, Fiona Walker Doyle gave a short address focused on the UN Convention of Human Rights for Children, adding: “We all share responsibility for protecting and upholding the rights of children.”
Children’s Commissioners worldwide have a role in helping us do that, and 2023 was a special year as it saw the appointment of Bahrain’s first Child’s Rights Commissioner, Dr Hooreya Yusuf – the first such position in the GCC.
“On Universal Children’s Day, it is wonderful to celebrate Bahrain and the community here leading the region on that,” added the diplomat.
St Mary’s Indian Orthodox Cathedral Choir sang a favourite hymn often sang by children in Christian schools called ‘The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want’.
Adnan Sharabi, who was born in Palestine, shared the story of a family photograph. His daughter asked him, looking at a photograph of her grandfather, “Who are the two people next to Jiddo?”
“They were two Jewish neighbours who showed the family kindness,” he replied. “A photograph taken in 1950, showing another world: Jew and Palestinian living alongside each other with human kindness, mutual respect and in peace,” the service heard.
Attendee Dina Kasrawi read Look at me by Palestinain poet Nahida Izzat, about the 2014 violence in Gaza that posed the challenge:
“Humanity, Enough turning the other way!
Turning a deaf ear
Turning a blind eye
While I, and oh! My poor children Die.”
Flashback: An old black and white photograph of Adnan’s father, Jiddo
Dr Ghassan Abu Sitta, who until November 17 worked as a surgeon at Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza that during the war had witnessed the grounds surrounding it turning into a horrific scene of civilian carnage, delivered a harrowing video message that had those gathered in tears.
Other touching moments included a Sikh Prayer by Ardaas Jasvir Singh, a Baha’i Prayer by Naghma Mohseni, a Christian Prayer by Bishop Aldo Berardi and a Muslim Prayer for Peace by Huzaifa Qutbuddin Nomani, representative of Sultan al Bohra, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin.
Wildpeace by poet Yehuda Amichai was also read by Donald Bradley.
Those gathered made an ‘Act of Commitment to Peace’ led by the multi-faith leaders. They responded by saying: ‘We commit ourselves as people of many faiths to work together for the common good, uniting to build a better society for the good of our children, grounded in values and ideals we share – community, personal integrity, a sense of right and wrong, learning, wisdom and love of truth, care and compassion, justice and peace, respect for one another and for the earth and its creatures’.
People also shared a sign of peace with those around them before children released a flock of doves from the stage ‘in a sign of hope for a better world and a world filled with peace’.
We asked GDN Media AI intern Dana Speaks about the choice of doves.
She replied: ‘Doves have become a symbol of peace in many different cultures due to their various characteristics and behaviours that align with the concept of peace.
Here are a few reasons why doves have come to represent peace:
1. Gentle nature: Doves are known for their gentle and calm demeanour.
They are non-aggressive birds that rarely engage in territorial disputes or aggressive behaviour towards other animals or humans.
This peaceful nature resonates with the idea of peace, which promotes harmony and non-violence.
2. White colour: It symbolises a sense of neutrality and neutrality that is essential for achieving peace.
It represents the absence of negative emotions or intentions, fostering an environment of tranquillity and understanding.’
Ask Dana a question by clicking here.
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