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

Pilgrims flock to Jerusalem to celebrate Easter

Orthodox Christians waving palm fronds and branches, mark their Palm Sunday at Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

APRIL 1, 2018ByREUTERS
Christian worshippers take part in a Palm Sunday ceremony in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem

Churches and municipality in game of chicken: ‘Who will swerve first?’

‘We have no one influential to talk to in the government,’ church insider says

FEBRUARY 28, 2018BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Worshippers hold candles as they take part in the Christian Orthodox Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old city May 4, 2013.

Increase in January pilgrimages to the Holy Land

Improved visa process has been a boon for Israel.

FEBRUARY 6, 2018ByBENJAMIN GLATT
Christian pilgrims dip in the waters of the Jordan River during a baptism ceremony at the Qasr el-Yahud site, near Jericho, in January.

Christians plant trees in Israel on Tu Bishvat

Israel365 helps evangelicals fortify West Bank settlements.

JANUARY 31, 2018ByBENJAMIN GLATT
The Seven Species, whose fruits are traditionally eaten on Tu Bishvat

1 in 12 Christians worldwide persecuted, report shows

Palestinian worshipers face enormous amount of pressure

JANUARY 11, 2018ByBENJAMIN GLATT
Syriac Christian women pray during mass at the Saint Efram Syriac Orthodox Church in Qamishly, Syria

Jerusalem’s Christian communities feel anxiety in ‘testing’ times

Christian communities are increasingly worried about extremists who want to make the Jewish state one that is solely for Jews.

DECEMBER 27, 2017ByGREER FAY CASHMAN
Christian worshippers in Jerusalem. ‘Early Christian writers spoke of a Jewish Restoration to the Holy Land. After the Reformation this became a movement. In English-speaking countries the 19th and early 20th centuries saw many strong Christian Zionists.’

Celebrating Christmas in the war-torn Middle East

The holiday offers little escape throughout the region and has been politicized in the Palestinian territories.

DECEMBER 25, 2017ByDIMA ABUMARIA/ THE MEDIA LINE
A Syrian man cycles past a Christmas tree being decorated in the Christian-majority neighbourhood of Hamidiyeh in the old city of Homs

In Pictures: See how the Middle East celebrates Christmas

There might not be any snow, but that doesn't stop the Christians of the Middle East from celebrating in their own way.

DECEMBER 24, 2017BySHOSHANA KRANISH
Issa Kassissieh, wearing a Santa Claus costume, rides a camel during the annual Christmas tree distribution by the Jerusalem municipality in Jerusalem's Old City December 21, 2017

Muslim countries on high security alert ahead of Christmas

History of holiday attacks augmented by religious tensions over Trump's decision to move embassy to Jerusalem.

DECEMBER 24, 2017ByREUTERS
An Indonesian bomb squad policeman holds a rifle as he examines a church before Christmas mass prayer in Bandung, Indonesia, December 23, 2017 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Picture taken December 23, 2017

After ISIS, Christmas returns to Northern Iraq

The last Christmas mass in the city was held in 2013.

DECEMBER 24, 2017ByGILGAMESH NABEEL, JACOB WIRTSCHAFTER/ THE MEDIA LINE
A volunteer in a Santa costume hands out gifts to Iraqi Christians in Najaf, December 2015