On 13 December, the University of Dar Al-Kalima, in cooperation with the Pontifical Mission, organised a conference at the university theatre in Dar Al-Kalima in Bethlehem to present the book Palestine, Cradle of Christianity: An Introduction to the History of the Origins of Christianity from the First to the Seventh Century. Among the participants were the mayors of Bethlehem and Beit Jala, Bishop Munib Younan of the Lutheran Church in the Holy Land, Bishop Afram of the Syro-Catholic Church, Rev. Mitri Raheb, rector of Dar Al-Kalima University, Father Iyad Twal, executive vice-president of Bethlehem University, and Prof. Joseph Hazboun, regional director of the Pontifical Mission in Jerusalem. The 300-page book was written by local professors, priests and academics and edited by Prof. Joseph Hazboun and Prof. Magdy Al-Shomali. JOSEPH HAZBOUN Regional Director of the Pontifical Mission in Jerusalem In the context of my relationship with Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, as we both share the pain caused by migration, we are united in our desire to take action to reduce it by strengthening the sense of belonging to the land. It is crucial that our young people know their history and understand that their roots have been in Palestine for over two thousand years. In his speech, Professor Hazboun highlighted that in order to counter emigration, it is not enough to provide jobs, housing and education. It is also crucial to cultivate a deep sense of belonging to the land of Jesus and the early Church. The director of Dar Al-Kalima University highlighted that many people are unaware that Palestine has always been, and continues to be, a land of rich religious, ethnic and linguistic diversity, highlighting that this plurality is a key distinguishing feature of the region. Rev MITRI RAHEB Rector of Dar Al-Kalima University It is evident from some Palestinian curricula that Christians are wrongly presented as a product of the Crusades. Ignorance about the origins of Christians in Palestine is not exclusively limited to certain local circles. Rev MITRI RAHEB Rector of Dar Al-Kalima University When foreign guests visit us, they often ask, ‘When did you become Christians?’, as if we were Muslim converts to Christianity, unaware that Christianity in Palestine predates Islam. The opening session of the conference included a talk by Father Aziz Halawah on the origin of Christianity in Palestine in the 1st century. This was followed by a lecture by Father Yaqoub Rafidi on the history of 'Christian pilgrimage in Palestine'. The second session of the conference explored topics such as ‘The Origins of Monasteries in Palestine’, ‘The Arts in the Byzantine Period’ and ‘The History of the Church of the Nativity’. Fr BERNARD POGGI Member of the Scientific Committee for the book In the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles it is stated that Christianity originated in Jerusalem. Since then it has stopped telling how we lived our Christian faith here. This book is an important step in this direction. In turn, Rev. Mitri Raheb highlighted that there are few references in Arabic on the history of Christianity in Palestine in the first seven centuries. JOSEPH HAZBOUN Regional Director of the Pontifical Mission in Jerusalem Therefore, we made sure that the book was made up of scientific and academic studies. With the hope that Palestinian universities would include it in some of their curricula, either as a compulsory requirement or as an optional option, so that this knowledge could spread among Palestinians. Rev. Mitri Raheb stated that the book is a dedication ‘to the memory of the first Christian martyrs, through whose struggles Christianity began in Palestine and from there spread throughout the world. From them we openly draw inspiration for the firmness of faith and the patience of hope.’ Read More