JERUSALEM, JANUARY 19 - 26, 2003
We have this treasure in clay jars [2 Corinthians 4:4-18]
Thursday, January 23rd, 2003 - Back to Introduction 1 2
Upper Room, Cenacle, and Mount Zion
The place is located on Mount Zion and it is commonly admitted that the first disciples met there and received the Gift of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room, a large space situated above the present Synagogue and yeshiva [Talmudic School] of the Diasporas [Yeshivat HaTfutzot].
The entire area recalls that the first Judaeo-Christians who were living there used to go everyday to the Temple which was standing just opposite on the Eastern side. Today, this compound has a Jewish synagogue, a school on the left and the large walls of the Dormition Church on the right.
On the Pentecost Day, the Greek Orthodox enter the Synagogue and sing the prayers in front of the Tomb of King David, although we know that it is rather a symbol since his grave is not in this place. It should be mentioned that the Jewish tradition considers King David as a "Messiah" as well as King Cyrus, the "heathen Messiah".
This is the core moment in the Week of Christian unity. It is a moment of intense prayer. Most churches were represented.
Father Alexander - in the name of the Greek Orthodox [and all Orthodox living in Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Holy Zion as well as Jordan and the Gulf countries] - had been silently present at every service, but did not participate in the prayers or blessings. However, this night he addressed the faithful, recalling the importance of the site for the Greek Orthodox Church and for all the Orthodox people in the Holy Land and the Middle East and the significance of the place, saying : " 'Christ is in our midst'. He is resurrected and therefore all of us Christian have to behave accordingly and welcome each other, as Patriarch Ireneos I is accustom to say to all the people he meets. It is incumbent to true believers to pave the way to the future of the faith, the transmission, education and authentic witnessing of the Scriptures in this area and throughout the world."
This was the first time, for many years that a representative of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate said a word during this Joint Week.
Just before his speech, Rev. Dr. Petra Heldt, Secretary of the Ecumenical Fraternity in Israel, had read in Hebrew the account of the Abraham's hospitality at the Mamre oaks.
Father Benedikt, Abbot of the Dormition, which is a famous place of Christian studies and activities, expressed the wish that in the near future, all the Heads of the Churches could gather in this Holy Zion site.
Please continue to Friday, January 24th, 2003
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