Christians in middle east

Grapevine, January 16, 2026: Christian ‘Who’s Who’ in Israel

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

|ByGREER FAY CASHMAN
Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III shares a laugh with President Isaac Herzog.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a 40 signatures debate, at the plenum hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on January 5, 2026.

Netanyahu discusses Middle East geopolitics, Iran threat in Dr. Phil interview

"On the second day of the war," Netanyahu told McGraw, "I knew we were not only dealing with Hamas or Hezbollah, we were dealing with Iran."

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
FOR IRAN’S Christian community, the postwar crackdown has been particularly severe, with at least 50 members detained by authorities. Here, Iranian Christians take part in the New Year prayer ceremony at a church in Tehran last January.

When faith comes under fire: How Iran’s repression of religious minorities has increased

IRAN AFFAIRS: A new report by NUFDI titled “Faith Under Siege” has documented the religious oppression, providing many examples of the individuals who have been arrested.

|ByALEX WINSTON
The Nativity scene shows baby Jesus wrapped in a keffiyeh and placed in a rubble to show solidarity with the people of Gaza on December 24, 2023 in the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, West Bank.

Lutheran Christian leaders praised Hamas violence against Israel, investigation finds

An investigation alleges that senior Christian figures framed the October 7 Hamas attack as justified, fueling criticism over antisemitism and damage to Jewish-Christian relations.

|ByTPS

Jerusalem church leader says Israeli extremists threaten Christian presence in city

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem accuses radical Israeli groups of threatening the presence of Christians in the holy city, while Israeli officials say reality on the ground is different.

JANUARY 9, 2022ByREUTERS
Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, arrives to participate in a baptism ceremony at the Jordan River, near Jericho in the West Bank January 18, 2020.

Where is the threat to Christians in Israel? - opinion

There are indeed threats to the Christian presence here, perhaps the greatest one is emigration.

JANUARY 4, 2022ByFAYDRA L. SHAPIRO, YISCA HARANI
GREEK ORTHODOX Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III leads the ‘Washing of the Feet’ ceremony outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City in April.

Iranian Christians receive prison sentence for 'sectarian activities'

They were sentenced by the Revolutionary Court in Karaj, northern Iran after being convicted of "engaging in propoganda against the Islamic regime."

JUNE 29, 2021ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Iranian Christian priests pray during a new year mass at a church in Tehran.

Iranian Christians receive prison sentence for 'sectarian activities'

They were sentenced by the Revolutionary Court in Karaj, northern Iran after being convicted of "engaging in propaganda against the Islamic regime."

JUNE 29, 2021ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Iranian Christian priests pray during a new year mass at a church in Tehran.

Lebanon's top Christian cleric criticizes Hezbollah in leaked video

"You're not looking out for (our) interests, nor the interests of your people."

APRIL 1, 2021ByREUTERS
A Lebanese Hezbollah guerrilla looks at a fire rising from a burning object in a Beirut suburb, Lebanon July 17, 2006.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre opens for Palm Sunday amid COVID-19

"Last year was a terrible Easter, without people, closed doors. This year is much better, the door is open, we don't have a lot of people but we feel more hopeful that things will become better."

MARCH 28, 2021ByREUTERS
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks along Christian worshippers and the clergy holding palm fronds during a Palm Sunday procession outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City March 28, 2021.

Pope arrives in Mosul to spread renewal, hope and coexistence - watch

Some have wondered why Jews were not included in the welcoming and historic ceremonies.

MARCH 7, 2021BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
A wooden cross is seen at the site where Pope Francis will hold a mass at 'Hosh al-Bieaa', Church Square, in Mosul's Old City, Iraq, March 7, 2021.

Pope Francis holds historic meeting with Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric

Francis’s meeting in the holy southern city of Najaf, during a whirlwind and risky tour of Iraq, marked the first time a pope has met with such a senior Shi’ite cleric.

MARCH 6, 2021ByREUTERS
Pope Francis meets with with bishops, priests, seminarians and catechists at the Syro-Catholic Cathedral of 'Our Lady of Salvation' in Baghdad, Iraq March 5, 2021.

Tonight is Christmas – and the Israel Museum has a special display

The museum reveals a rare Eugolia token, believed to have been a souvenir for early Christians during their pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

DECEMBER 24, 2020ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III attends a Christmas service according to the Eastern Orthodox calendar, in the church of Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.

Pope Francis to make risky trip to Iraq in early March

A Vatican source said one of the aims of the trip was to comfort Christians who, amid wars and conflicts, have been forced to flee from Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries.

DECEMBER 7, 2020ByREUTERS
Pope Francis holds weekly audience at the Vatican, December 2, 2020.