7th of October 2024
On Sunday, October 6th, the Grand Knight of the Order of Saint George the Great Martyr, alongside the Order’s representative in the Holy Land, Mr. Nabil Al-Sunna, spoke with His Eminence Archbishop Alexios of Gaza to discuss the worsening conditions for the Christian community and those seeking refuge at the Church of Saint Porphyrios. Today, October 7th, marks the one-year anniversary of the outbreak of the Israeli-Hamas war, a conflict that has profoundly impacted the region and the lives of countless people we have come to know and love. A year later, the scars of the conflict remain, with peace and stability still elusive for those seeking shelter from the relentless bombardment.
Archbishop Alexios’ testimony paints a disturbing picture of the ongoing suffering caused by the war, with special emphasis on the psychological trauma affecting children and families trapped in this unending nightmare. His Eminence revealed that approximately 350 people, including 60 children—some of them infants and toddlers—are currently sheltering within the walls of Saint Porphyrios. The innocence of childhood, which should be marked by play and discovery, is instead consumed by the deafening roar of explosions and the constant threat of death. The Archbishop highlighted the urgent need for powdered formula and milk to nourish the youngest, whose fragile lives are already at risk. This heartbreaking reality underscores how even the most basic necessities are slipping out of reach.
The Church of Saint Porphyrios, along with the Catholic Church of the Holy Family, are now among the last places offering any semblance of safety in Gaza. Yet even within these walls, the sense of security is fleeting. Archbishop Alexios expressed deep concern over the dwindling provisions, as food supplies are rapidly depleting after providing sanctuary since the war erupted on October 7th. United Nations aid, desperately needed, has failed to penetrate the constant bombardment by Israeli forces. Even the remnants of destroyed buildings are being bombed into dust, reducing Gaza to an unrecognizable landscape of devastation.
The psychological toll on the people—particularly the children—is staggering. For these young lives, the sound of shelling, the sight of destruction, and the smell of death are all they have known for the past year. Food shortages have compounded their trauma, as the community is forced to rely on black-market prices for scarce supplies. Archbishop Alexios explained that there are no functioning food stores or services in Gaza. The church is rationing what little it has left, but His Eminence fears they have only enough for another month and a half. The looming specter of starvation deepens the sense of dread that grips this community.
The lack of basic necessities is only part of the horror. Gaza has been cut off from electricity, leaving Saint Porphyrios dependent on a generator powered by petrol and a few surviving solar panels. This fragile lifeline provides electricity, clean water, and the means to cook, yet it is constantly under threat. The church requires 1,000 liters (264 gallons) of fuel to keep the generator running, but sourcing petrol is becoming almost impossible, adding another layer of fear to an already unbearable existence.
As the children of Gaza witness these horrors daily, the impact on their mental and emotional health cannot be overstated. Archbishop Alexios spoke of the deep psychological wounds being inflicted on a generation of children who now associate life with bombs, hunger, and death. They have been robbed of their childhood, and the long-term consequences of this trauma will echo for decades.
Despite these unbearable circumstances, Archbishop Alexios remains determined to continue his mission. He has vowed that even if only five Christians remain in Gaza, the church will stand with them. His profound sense of duty extends to both Christians and Muslims, whom he considers his people equally. Yet he does not shy away from describing the reality as a “noose tightening around their necks,” with every day bringing more destruction, hunger, and fear.
His Eminence, as in past conversations, also spoke of the haunting presence of the dead. Bodies lie exposed to the elements, too dangerous to retrieve for burial. The psychological impact of seeing the deceased—unburied, unattended—only adds to the deepening trauma. Adding to this grim reality, at least 50 additional people have died in the community due to a lack of access to life-saving medications that we in the West take for granted, such as insulin and heart medication—a consequence of the Israeli blockade that has crippled Gaza.
Reflecting on the unimaginable suffering, Archbishop Alexios said he found solace in Psalm 23: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.” In this literal valley of death, His Eminence’s unwavering faith has become a pillar of strength and inspiration for those around him.
The Order of Saint George the Great Martyr is deeply alarmed by the escalating humanitarian crisis and the psychological trauma facing the Christian community and all those in Gaza. Archbishop Alexios’s leadership is a testament to resilience in the face of unspeakable horror, but the Order calls for urgent international intervention to prevent further suffering. The children of Gaza, in particular, are facing an unfathomable future if the world does not act.
Since the war began a year ago, there have been a total of 41,870 deaths, including 16,756 children. The Order urges its members and the global community to rally together to provide aid and support for those affected by this war, especially the most vulnerable.
The Order of Saint George the Great Martyr is the only authorized international non-governmental organization blessed to raise funds for the Orthodox Christians of Gaza. This is per the direct and public blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Alexios of Tiberias, the ruling Orthodox hierarch in Gaza. In addition to helping Saint Porphyrios directly, the Order is actively looking for ways to offer charitable assistance to the Latin Church in Gaza, which has taken in nearly 300 Orthodox Christians.
The Order remains committed to the community of Saint Porphyrios, to Archbishop Alexios of Tiberias, to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and to all Christians who live and breathe not only in Gaza but across the Holy Land, Lebanon, and the Middle East.
