April 11, 2003

Every Friday during Lent (a week later here due to ecumenical compromise), the Latin Church leads the stations of the cross. The Orthodox Church, meanwhile, has a prayer service of adoration for the Virgin. Marthame attended the latter today, since it's the last time they'll do it this Lent (they stop before Holy Week for some reason). It is a long prayer, mostly sung, which mostly consists of liturgy which praises the theotokos, in Greek, the classic Nicene formulation for the mother of God. "Rejoice, you, whose womb saw the miracle of incarnation. Rejoice, you, who gave birth to the Savior of the world." At many points, it's a departure from our Protestant Biblical piety. However, it's an important reminder not only of the important place of Mary in traditional historical Christian piety (perhaps too thoroughly scrubbed out by Protestantism), but also a reminder that ours is not the only form of Christian expression.

The Orthodox faithful gather for Lenten fellowship.

The faithful crowded in the small parish hall (work had begun in earnest on expanding, but stopped abruptly due to lack of funds) for food and fellowship. Fr. Thomas had prayed that morning in Tubas (three hours), their weekly prayer, then prayed for two additional hours in Zababdeh. Tomorrow he prays weekly prayer in Burqin, then Sunday in Zababdeh.

An ecumenical gathering in our Zababdeh home: Deacon Homam (Catholic), Fr. Firas (Melkite), Fr. Aktham (Catholic), Fr. Thomas (Orthodox), and Rev. Marthame (Presbyterian).

Afterwards, the town's clergy came over to our place. It was an overdue gathering, given the ecumenical nature of our work, but a good chance to get together and to discuss some issues of common concern, particularly the celebrations of Holy Week and the lack of an Anglican priest in town. Fr. Hossam chipped in by way of telephone from Nablus, unable to come in person.

News came late of another ISM (International Solidarity Movement) casualty, this time a British national in Gaza. Tom Hurndall has been declared brain dead. That brings the total to four casualties (three in short succession, two of them fatal), and has caused some to claim that these international activists are being intentionally targeted: Rachel Corrie killed by a bulldozer in Gaza, an Irish national shot in the legs this Fall, and an American shot in the face in Jenin last week. Ugh.