Christian Communities in Israel – Jerusalem

Date

Christians are represented in the Israeli Government via the Ministry’s Department for Christian Communities. According to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs,  the Christian Communities is responsible for addressing the needs and concerns of the Christian communities to the Israeli Government.

The Israel Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, established in 2004, seeks to imporve the relationship between Christians and Jews. This body works to open formal anddirect communication between the Jewish people and Christian leaders worldwide. The Christian Allies Caucus provides assistance in obtaining visa for the Christian community, educates Israelis about Christianity, promotes Christian tourism to Israel, and seeks to strengthen the status of women worldwide on the basis of Judeo-Christin values.

As of 2006, there were 148,000 Christians living in Isrtael, constituting 2.1% of the total population, and representing an increase of 400% since 1948. Israel is the only country in the Middle East where the Christian community has actually grown. Of these approximately 80,000 are Catholic and are divided among several denominations including the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Maronite Chruch, the Greek Milkite Catholic Church, the Syrian Catholic Church. The largest of these is the Mikite community, most of whom live in the Galilee total 50,000,and  the Latin Patriarchate which comprises 20,000 people most ofwhom live in East Jerusalem, Nazareth, the West Bank and Gaza.  The Christian communities are represented in four main groups: Orthodox, Non-Chalcedonian (Monophysite), Catholic  (Latin and Uniate) and Protestant. More than 98 percent of the Chrsitian community in Isael live in urban areas with Nazareth having the largest Christian population at 19,000.

The Catholic presence in Israel dates back to the Crusade, when the first Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem was established in 1099 in the Crusader state of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Prior to then the Christians had been under the care of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem. Following the Destruction of the Kingdom of Jerusalem by the Mamluks in 1291, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem survived only in Name and was re-established only in 1847 under Patriarch Joseph Valerga. The Latin Patriarche has enjoyed uninterrupted succession of 15 different patriarchs since that date. The current Patriarch is Fouad Twal and he is assisted by four Patriarchal vicars, who are based in Jerusalem, Nazareth, Amman and Cyprus.

Source:  The Israel Project, the Israel Ministry of Tourism, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 

Christian Community Contact in Israel

Ain Karim – Visitation (Jerusalem),

Contact: Father Atanasius (Italian, English), Tel: 02 6417291

 

Ain Karim – St John (Jerusalem),

Contact: Nicolas (Italian, English), Tel: 026323000

 

Apostolic Delegation ( Jerusalem),

Contact: Mon Senior Paolo Borjia (English, French,  Italian, Spanish), Tel: 026282298, 026288630

 

Bar Ilan University, Faculty of Jewish Studies

Prof. Jeshua Schwords, Tel: 0507273316; Prof. Ivan Fredman, Tel: 0528764761; General Tel: 03 531 8121,Fax: 03 535 1233, Email: jsfcty@mail.biu.ac.il

 

Hebrew Speaking Catholic Vicariate

Contact: Patriarchal_Vicar_Rev. David Neuhaus SJ, Tel: 054 7822843, Email: neuhaussj@gmx.netor Rev. Apolinaire Szwed, Tel: 026248255, Cell: 054445 4660, Email: ssa2@ofm.org.il

 

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN JERUSALEM

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

1 – Apostolic Delegation

  • Mount of Olives, Shmuel Ben Adaya Street, P.O.B. 19199, Jerusalem 91191

  • Msgr Paolo Borjia, Apostolic Delegate
    Email: vatge@netvision.net.il

  • Secretary: Msgr. Gianfranco Gallone
    Tel: 6282298/6288630 – Fax: 6281880

2 – Custody of the Holy Land

  • St. Francis Street 1, P.O.B. 186, Jerusalem 91001 – Tel: 6266595/777 – Fax: 6284717

  • Custos of the Holy Land: V.R. Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, ofm

  • Secretary: Fr. Stephane Milovitch, ofm Email: custodia@custodia.org

3 – Latin Patriarchate

  • Latin Patriarchate Road, P.O.B. 14152, Jerusalem 91141

  • Msgr. Fuad Twal, Patriarch, Hind Shreydes, Fath. David Newhouse
    Tel: 6272280 / 6282323 – Fax: 6271652

  • Chancellor: Fr. Humam Khzouz

  • Email: chancellery@latinpat.org

4 – Greek-Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate (Melkite)

  • Greek-Catholic Patriarchate Road, P.O.B. 14130, Jerusalem 91141

  • Archbishop Joseph-Joul Al-Zreih
    Tel: 6282023/6271968/9 – Fax: 6286652

  • Email address: gcpjer@p-ol.com

5 – Syrian Patriarchal Exarchate

  • Chaldean Street 6, off Nablus Road, P.O.B. 19787, Jerusalem 91197

  • Msgr. Gregor Peter Malki, Patriarchal Exarch
    Tel: 6282657 / 6274318 – Fax: 6284217

  • Email: stjossc@p-ol.com

6 – Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate

  • Maronite Convent Road 25, P.O.B. 14219, Jerusalem 91140

  • Archbishop Msgr. Paul Nabil Sayyah, Patriarchal Exarch
    Tel: 6282158 – Fax: 6272821

  • Email: bpnsayah@mail.inter.net.il or fmm@maronitejerusalem.org

7 – Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate

  • Via Dolorosa 36, 3rd Station, P.O.B. 19546, Jerusalem 91194

  • Msgr. Raphael Minassian, Patriarchal Exarch; Yossi Sayd
    Tel: 6284262 – Fax: 6272123

  • E-mail: stgregoryacc@yahoo.com

8 – Chaldean Patriarchal Vicariate

  • Chaldean Street 7, off Nablus Road, P.O.B. 20108, Jerusalem 91200
    Tel/Fax: 6284519

  • Fr. Paul Collin

  • Tel/Fax: 08-6274614

9 – Catholic Coptic Diocese

  • Agron Street 20, P.O.B. 1144, Jerusalem 91010, Jean Sser

  • Tel: 6257530 – Fax: 6231763

THE ORTHODOX CHURCH

1 – Greek Orthodox Patriarchate

  • Greek Orthodox Patriarchate Road, P.O.B. 19632, Jerusalem 91196

  • His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch

  • Secretary General: Archbishop Aristarxos —– Tel: 6274941 – Fax: 6282048

  • Chief Dragoman: H.Em. Metropolitan Christodoulos

2 – Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate

  • Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate Road, P.O.B. 14001, Jerusalem 91141

  • His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Patriarch
    Tel: 6282331 – Fax: 6264861

  • Chief Dragoman: Rev. Fr. Goossan Aljanian Tel: 6264866 – Fax: 6264862

  • Ecumenical and Foreign Affairs: Bishop Aris Shirvanian

3 – Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate

  • 9th Station of Via Dolorosa, P.O.B. 14006, Jerusalem 91140

  • His Grace Dr. Anba Abraham, Archbishop

    Tel: 6272645 -Fax: 6272773

  • General Secretary: Rev. Fr. Antonious El-Ourshalimi

4 – Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate

  • 8th Station of Via Dolorosa, P.O.B. 19025, Jerusalem 91190

  • Archbishop Abba Matias

  • Tel: 6282848 / 6286871 – Fax: 6264189

5 – Rumanian Orthodox Patriarchate

  • Shivtei Israel Street 46, Jerusalem 95105

  • Archimandrite Ieronim Cretu

  • General Secretary: Sr. Anna Prafir

  • Tel: 6264628 / 6260847 – Fax: 6264628

6 – Russian Ecclesiastical Mission of the Russian Church Abroad

(Outside Russia)

  • P.O.B. 20164, Jerusalem 91191

  • Tel: 6286382/ Fax: 6286381

  • Archimandrite Peter Luckenhoff (private)

  • Tel: 6284373 / 6283088

7 – Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem (Moscow Patriarchate)

  • Russian Compound, P.O.B. 1042, Jerusalem 91009

  • Archimandrite Tichon

  • Tel: 6252565 – Fax: 6256325

8 – Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate

  • St. Mark’s Road, P.O.B. 14069, Jerusalem 91140
    Tel: 6283304 / 6264758 – Fax: 6277024

  • H. Em. Mar Swerios Malki Murad, Archbishop Patriarchal Vicar of the
    Holy Land and Jordan

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH

1 – Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East

  • St. George’s Cathedral, Nablus Road 20, P.O.B. 19122, Jerusalem 91191

  • P.O.B. 19018, Jerusalem 91190

  • Tel: 6271670 / 6272133 – Fax: 6273847

  • The Rt. Rev. Suheil Dawani – Tel: 6283261 Fax: 6276401

2 – Christ Church

  • Christ Church, Jaffa Gate, P.O.B. 14037, Jerusalem 91140
    Tel: 6277727/9 – Fax: 6260723

  • Rev. Murray Dickson

  • Email:christch@netvision.net.il

EVANGELICAL – LUTHERAN CHURCH

1 – Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (E.L.C.J.H.L.)

  • Rt. Rev.Bishop Munib A.Younan

  • Secretary: George Awad

  • Email: ga_elcj@netvision.net.il

  • Muristan Road, Old City, P.O.B. 14076, Jerusalem 91140
    Tel: 6266800 – Fax: 6285764

English Speaking Congregation

  • Pastor Russell O. Siler
    Tel: 6276111 / 6281049 – Fax: 6285764

Danish Israel Mission – Danish Church Abroad

  • Bar Kochba Street 91/5, P.O.B. 31154, Jerusalem 97892 — Tel/Fax: 5324254

  • Rev. Hans-Ole Bækgaard – Tel. 054-4423154

  • Email: dankirke@netvision.net.il

Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (FELM)

  • Shivtei Israel Street 25, P.O.B. 584, Jerusalem 91004

  • Tel: 6241653

  • Rev. Martin Tuhkanen, Representative

  • Tel: 6288631 – Fax: 6285461

  • Email: felm@netvision.net.il

Swedish Theological Institute

  • Prophets’ Street 58, P.O.B. 37, Jerusalem 91000
    Tel: 6253822 – Fax: 6254460

  • Director: Mats Högelius

  • Educator and Coordinator: Mrs. Kerstin Högelius

2 – Lutheran Church of the Redeemer

  • Muristan Road, Old City, P.O.B. 14076, Jerusalem 91140
    Tel: 6266800 – Fax: 6276222

  • Email: propstei@redeemer-jerusalem.com

German Speaking Congregation (Evangelische-Lutherische Propstei)

  • Propst: The Rev. Dr. Uwe Gräbe

  • Administrator: Mr. Wolfman Buchholz

  • Secretaries: Mrs. Monika Hazboun, Mrs. Sabine Hamdan

3 – Lutheran Church of the Ascension

  • Auguste Victoria Centre, Mount of Olives P.O.B. 14076, Jerusalem 91140

  • Tel: 6273665 / 6287704 – Fax: 6273148 Email:auguste@netvision.net.il

OTHERS

1 – Baptist Convention in Israel

  • Baptist House Center, Narkis Street 4, P.O.B. 7364, Jerusalem 91072

  • Administrator: Greg Kingry

  • Tel: 6230681 – Fax: 6230682

  • Email: bcioffice@iname.com

2 – Jerusalem Baptist Church

  • Baptist House Center, Narkis Street 4,

  • P.O.B. 154, Jerusalem 91001

3 – First Baptist Bible Church

  • Asfahani Street 6, P.O.B. 19349, Jerusalem 91192 – Tel: 6282118

  • Rev. Atif Himadeh

4 – East Jerusalem Baptist Church

  • Ali Ibn Taleb Street 16, nr. Ritz Hotel, P.O.B.17166, Jerusalem 91190

  • Rev. Alex Awad – Tel.: 0545-975284

  • Tel: 6766479 – Fax: 2743278

5 – Reformed Baptist

  • St. Paul’s Church, Shivtei Israel Street 32, P.O.B. 31699, Jerusalem 91316

  • Director: Antony Simon – Tel: 054-4282803

6 – Christian Brethren Assembly

  • St. George Street 5, UN Compound, P.O.B. 1203, Jerusalem
    Tel: 5829674

7 – Church of God

  • Mt. of Olives, nr. Commodore Hotel, P.O.B. 19287, Jerusalem 91192

  • Rev. Willy Ruoff – Tel: 6273899 – Fax: 6260723

8 – Church of the Nazarene International

  • Nablus Road 33, P.O.B. 19426/20991, Jerusalem 91193

  • Rev. Lindell Browning, Rev. Nizar Touma – Tel: 6283828 – Fax: 5821172

9 – French Protestant Churches (Federation)

  • Prophets’ Street 20, P.O.B. 1614, Jerusalem 91016
    Tel: 0544-733092 Fax: 6264497 – Email: jacques.elbaz@itfjerusalem.com

  • Rev. Jacques Elbaz

10 – Garden Tomb – Interdenominational

  • Nablus Road, P.O.B. 19462, Jerusalem 91193-Tel: 6272745 – Fax: 6272742

  • Gen. Secretary: Mr. Peter G.L.Wells

11 – Jerusalem Church – Jerusalem Bible College

  • El-Jabsheh Street 8, Christian Quarter, Jerusalem
    Tel: 5332287 – Fax: 5709067

  • Rev. Issam Hissen

12 – King of Kings Assembly

  • Isaiah Sreet 5, P.O.B. 427, Jerusalem 91003
    Tel: 5371508 – Fax: 5370288

  • Rev. Wayne Hilsden, Rev. Chuck Cohen

  • Email: koka@netvision.net.il

13 – Korean Presbyterian Church

  • Mt. Scopus, P.O.B. 24282, Jerusalem 91242 – Tel: 5827650 – Fax: 5819863

  • Rev. Chung Pank Lee

14 – Scots Memorial St. Andrew’s Church (Presbyterian)

  • Near Railway Station, P.O.B. 8619, Jerusalem 91086
    Tel: 6732401 – Fax: 6731711

  • Rev. Colin Anderson – Session Clerk: Mr. Rizek Abu Sharr

15 – Seventh Day Adventist Centre

  • Abraham Lincoln Street 4, P.O.B. 592, Jerusalem 91004
    Tel: 6251547 – Fax: 6251319

  • Rev. Richard Elofer

16 – St. Paul’s Fellowship

  • Shivtei Israel Street 32, P.O.B. 216, Jerusalem 91001 Tel / Fax: 6287523

  • Rev. Eddy Marshall

17 – The Jerusalem Alliance Church

  • Old City, Al aRusul Street 16, P.O.B. 14244, Jerusalem 91142
    Tel / Fax: 6260711

  • Senior Pastor. Rev.Jack Sara – Email: info@each-cma.org

18 – The New Alliance Church

  • Wadi il Joz, Ali Ibn Taleb Street 16, Jerusalem – Tel: 5836568

  • Pastor. Rev. Bassem Adranly

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