Gaza City: 16th of December 2024
Today, the Order was able to establish contact with the secretary of Archbishop Alexios in Gaza, who offered a sobering account of the dire challenges facing the Saint Porphyrios and the Christian community of Gaza. After more than a year of relentless military onslaught and occupation, the people —Christian and Muslim alike—are enduring unimaginable suffering. Scarcity has become the norm: food supplies are alarmingly low, clean water is a precious rarity, and even the most basic provisions needed to sustain life are difficult to secure. For many, each day is a battle not just to live, but to simply exist amidst the rubble of their homes and communities.
Despite these immense hardships, the Christian faithful of Gaza remain steadfast in their faith and devotion. Today, their resilience shone brightly as they marked the feast of Saint Barbara, the patron saint of those in distress. Archbishop Alexios, Fr. Silas, and the community of Saint Porphyrios came together to honor this cherished saint in the best way they could. With limited resources and under constant strain, they prepared a traditional sweet for the feast—a powerful symbol of their unshakable hope and their determination to hold onto the spiritual traditions that sustain them.
The suffering of the Christian community in Gaza is a reflection of the wider anguish endured by all the people of this besieged land. Yet, through their faith, they find strength to persevere. Their courage, solidarity, and unwavering commitment to their heritage serve as a testament to the enduring power of faith, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.
As we contemplate the trials of our brothers and sisters in Gaza, let us lift them in prayer. May the intercessions of Saint Porphyrios, Saint Barbara, and Saint George bring them comfort, provision, and peace. And may we, inspired by their example, recommit ourselves to standing in solidarity with those who suffer, offering whatever support we can to ease their burdens and sustain their hope.
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, Syria, and the Middle East.
Below are pictures provided to us by the secretary of Archbishop Alexios.
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Please help us care for the Church of Saint Porphyrios and the Orthodox Christians of Gaza by making a tax-deductible donation through the Order. Please also keep all those who suffer in your prayers. To Donate please click the yellow donate button on the top main menu and write in the description “For St. Porphyrios”. Thank you and may God bless you!
