Patriarchs of Jerusalem issue a rare joint statement defending Church unity and challenging movements promoting “Christian Zionism” in the Holy Land.
Newsroom (20/01/2026 Gaudium Press ) In a solemn and strongly worded statement released on January 17, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem reaffirmed their shared responsibility as the custodians of the Christian presence in the Holy Land, denouncing what they described as “damaging ideologies” propagated by local individuals and groups under the banner of “Christian Zionism.”
The statement—signed collectively by the highest ecclesiastical authorities in the region—expressed alarm over activities and rhetoric that, in their view, “mislead the public, sow confusion, and harm the unity of our flock.” The Church leaders said these movements had found support “among certain political actors in Israel and beyond,” who are seeking to advance political agendas “which may harm the Christian presence in the Holy Land and the wider Middle East.”
A Call for Ecclesiastical Unity
The Patriarchs grounded their message in Scripture, invoking the Apostle Paul’s words: “We, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:5). The statement used this verse to underline that efforts to speak on behalf of the Christian faithful outside the historic Church structure fracture unity and undermine the Church’s pastoral mission.
“To claim authority outside the communion of the Church,” the statement warns, “is to wound the unity of the faithful and burden the pastoral mission entrusted to the historic churches in the very land where our Lord lived, taught, suffered, and rose from the dead.”
In reaffirming their exclusive mandate, the Patriarchs and Heads asserted that they alone represent the Churches of Jerusalem “in matters pertaining to Christian religious, communal, and pastoral life in the Holy Land.”
Concerns Over Political Endorsements
The timing and tone of the declaration appear to reflect growing unease over the public activities of groups such as The Israeli Christian Voice, an Israeli-registered association claiming to represent local Christians. Though the Patriarchs’ statement does not name any organization outright, the description of the groups’ methods and affiliations aligns closely with that of the Israeli Christian Voice and its leadership.
Colonel Ihab Shlayan, the group’s head, recently appeared alongside Israeli President Isaac Herzog during a high-profile New Year’s reception with the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches on January 12, 2026. The organization, which describes itself as advocating for the interests and future of Christian citizens in Israel, maintains an active social media presence and claims more than 18,000 followers online.
However, observers note that its actual standing among the local Christian public remains uncertain. As journalist Marie-Armelle Beaulieu reported on terrasanta.net, the group lacks formal recognition from any of the historic Churches and enjoys no clear support within established ecclesiastical structures.
A Warning Against External Interference
Beyond addressing intra-Christian divisions, the Patriarchs’ statement carries a broader political message. Church leaders criticized government and international platforms that offer legitimacy to unaffiliated voices, describing such gestures as interference in the internal life of the Churches.
These endorsements, they argue, ignore the traditional pastoral responsibilities vested in the Patriarchs and risk reshaping long-standing relationships among Christian communities, Israeli institutions, and the broader Middle Eastern context in which Christians seek to maintain continuity and peace.
A Pastoral Appeal for Wisdom
The statement concluded with a collective prayer: “May the Lord, who is the Shepherd and Guardian of souls, grant wisdom for the protection of His people and the safeguarding of His witness in this sacred land.”
For many, this closing invocation reflects both the gravity of the moment and the centuries-old resilience of the Churches that continue to shepherd the faithful through the shifting religious and political landscapes of the Holy Land.
While the debate surrounding movements like The Israeli Christian Voice continues, the Patriarchs’ unified voice sends a clear message: the authority and unity of the Church in Jerusalem remain rooted in apostolic continuity—and any challenge to that inheritance will be met with solemn resolve.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Fides News
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