Orthodox Vespers in Gaza Saint Porphyrius Church March 29, 2025

Orthodox Vespers in Gaza Saint Porphyrius Church March 29, 2025

Gaza's Christians face subdued Easter Sunday amid Israel's bombs: With Israel's war continuing to rage in Gaza, Christians in the strip face sombre Easter Sunday ceremonies, with festivities curtailed.

Gaza's Orthodox Christians gather at the Church of Saint Porphyrius, which has been targeted by Israeli airstrikes before [Getty]

Gaza’s Orthodox Christians observed subdued Easter Sunday ceremonies amid the roar of Israeli warplanes and ongoing shelling of the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Celebrations were limited to around 100 Christian families at the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City, where they were confined to prayers and religious rituals without any of the typical festivities, Imad al-Sayegh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Gaza Churches Union, told the Anadolu Agency.

Al-Sayegh, who, along with other Christian families, sought refuge at the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City's eastern district, noted that this year's Easter ceremonies were markedly different due to Israel’s devastating war on the territory.

“The sadness pervades the atmosphere inside the church, as it does outside, leaving no room for joy and celebration amidst the immense destruction, continuous shelling, and casualties,” he said.

The Sacred Holy Fire is traditionally transported from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in occupied Jerusalem to churches regionally and globally amid festive celebrations. However, this year Israel did not permit the entry of the Holy Fire into Gaza's churches.

Gaza is home to around 1,200 Christians, most of whom are Orthodox, out of a total population of approximately 2.3 million people.

Dozens of Christians are among the more than 34,600 Palestinians killed by Israel since 7 October. The war has also displaced over 1.7 million people, with many finding refuge in shelters, including churches targeted by Israel..

This includes the Church of Saint Porphyrius, one of the world’s oldest active churches, which was hit by an Israeli airstrike on October 19. At least 17 Palestinian Christians were killed among at least 600 people taking shelter at the church.

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On 13 December, a Christian mother and daughter were shot dead by an Israeli sniper in front of the Holy Family Church, Gaza’s only Catholic parish. Hundreds of people, both Christian and Muslim, were living in that church as well.

A few days later on 17 December, Israeli airstrikes hit the Young Men’s Christian Association in central Gaza, where 300 displaced people were sheltered, killing six people.  

https://www.newarab.com/news/gazas-christians-face-subdued-easter-amid-israels-bombs

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Christians Killed by Israeli Bombing of One of the Oldest Churches in Historic Palestine- Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church

The number of Christian’s killed in the latest bombing of the assembly hall of the Orthodox church is rising by the minute. Latest reports speaks that the death toll at the moment is close to 40 people.

Hanan Ashrawi

@DrHananAshrawi

No safety, no protection for vulnerable Palestinians in Gaza, even if they seek sanctuary in their churches. #GenocidalIsrael

 

Site of bombardment that leveled the Orthodox Church administration building and caused heavy damage to the historic Church. Utter devastation October 2023

 

Hanan Ashrawi

@DrHananAshrawi

Now wait for Israeli hasbara/spin machines suggest that Palestinian Greek Orthodox parishioners mistakenly bombed themselves!

Ahram Online , Thursday 19 Oct 2023

Dozens of Palestinian feared dead after Israeli strike hits Gaza Orthodox Church

A Palestinian girl was killed and others were injured on Thursday after an Israeli air strike hit Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church in Gaza City, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

The church has been a shelter for hundreds of Palestinians displaced by Israel's brazen war on Gaza.

The strike left a "large number of martyrs and injured" at the compound of the Greek Orthodox church, the Palestinian interior ministry said.

The attack also caused severe damage to the church building, a WAFA correspondent reported.

Local sources told WAFA that the shelling also caused the collapse of another Church building housing several Palestinian families seeking shelter.

More casualties are feared trapped under the rubble, as rescue and medical teams were seen working tirelessly to reach them, the correspondent reported.

The Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church is just meters from the Baptist Hospital, where the Israeli army committed a massacre last Tuesday, killing at least 600 Palestinians and injuring hundreds more... READ MORE

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St. Porphyrios of Gaza, Bishop of Gaza from 395 to 420 AD

Saint Porphyrius, built in about 1150, is the oldest church still in use in Gaza. Located in an historic neighbourhood of Gaza City, the church offered sanctuary to people of various faiths over generations.

The Church of Saint Porphyrios is an ancient and sizable place of worship in the region. It is believed to be the third oldest church in the world. The original temple at this location dates back to 425 CE. However, the current church was built by the Crusaders around the 1150s. Historical records from the 15th century also mention its dedication to the Virgin Mary. It has been preserved throughout time and was restored in 1856.

 

The bells & cross of Orthodox Christian Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza