The Patriarchate of Jerusalem has strongly criticised Israeli authorities for deliberately impeding the rights of Christians to exercise their faith.
It follows a decision by Israeli Police earlier this month to ban Christian worshippers from taking part in sacred services to mark the Feast of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, an event celebrated by various Christian communities to honour the transfiguration of Jesus.
The police said the decision had been taken because the event hadn’t been given government approval and lacked the necessary licenses.
A similar decision was also made to cover the Feast last year and in a statement on its website, the Patriarchate said it had been communicating with the Interior Minister to prevent the same action being taken again. It said the decision had thwarted the natural right of Christians to worship and prevented thousands from accessing the holy site.
“This decision, reminiscent of last year's similarly timed disruption, has left the Patriarchate of Jerusalem with little recourse," the statement read.
"The recurrent Israeli portrayal of Christian prayers and religious ceremonies as private events necessitating security measures-an approach distinctly detached from the spiritual essence of these occasions-serves as a persistent excuse to impede Christians from exercising their faith. Such actions dismiss the integral role of Christians within the societal fabric, imposing undue restrictions rather than fulfilling the state's duty to facilitate the practice of religious practices,” it continued.
The statement went on to say that similar obstructions had also marred other sacred events, including Saturday of the Holy Light in Jerusalem. It called on the Israeli authorities to “uphold the inviolable rights of freedom of worship, access to holy sites, and the unimpeded performance of religious ceremonies-rights that are both inherent and guaranteed by international law to the indigenous Christian community in the holy land”.
Consequently, the Patriarchate, which is led by Archbishop Theophilos III, challenged the Israeli authorities to “reassess their stance towards non-Jewish religious practices, affirm the fundamental rights of Christians, and resist yielding to dominating radical tendencies”.
For centuries Christians have travelled to Mount Tabor to worship at the site of the transfiguration of Christ.