Όπως Αγγλία γιορτάζει την ημέρα του πολιούχου της, πολλοί Παλαιστίνιοι ετοιμάζονται
για τη δική τους προσεχείς εορτασμούς του σχήματος μπορούν επίσης να θεωρούν
ως ήρωα .... [...] bbc.com
για τη δική τους προσεχείς εορτασμούς του σχήματος μπορούν επίσης να θεωρούν
ως ήρωα .... [...] bbc.com
A familiar flag flaps in the wind above a Palestinian church in the West Bank village
of al-Khadr.
The red cross on a white background has been associated with Saint George since
the time of the Crusades.
It is the national flag of England and is also used as an emblem by other countries
and cities that have adopted him as their own patron saint.
However, Palestinians have particular reason to display the symbol and revere
the early Christian martyr. For them he is a local hero who opposed the persecution
of his fellow Christians in the Holy Land.
"We believe he was a great martyr for his faith who defended the Christian
faith and values," says Greek Orthodox Archbishop Atallah Hanna.
of al-Khadr.
The red cross on a white background has been associated with Saint George since
the time of the Crusades.
It is the national flag of England and is also used as an emblem by other countries
and cities that have adopted him as their own patron saint.
However, Palestinians have particular reason to display the symbol and revere
the early Christian martyr. For them he is a local hero who opposed the persecution
of his fellow Christians in the Holy Land.
"We believe he was a great martyr for his faith who defended the Christian
faith and values," says Greek Orthodox Archbishop Atallah Hanna.
"By making sacrifices for his faith he was able to defeat evil. We take
St George as a patron for people living here - and as he was born in historic Palestine,
we pray to him to remember us and this holy land."
St George was a Roman soldier during the Third Century AD, when the
Emperor Diocletian was in power. It is said that he once lived in al-Khadr
near Bethlehem, on land owned by his mother's family.
- While the saint's father is usually traced back to Cappadocia, an area in modern Turkey,
it is believed his mother was Palestinian from Lydda - now Lod, in Israel.
- The saint is remembered for giving away his possessions and remaining true to his
religion when he was imprisoned and tortured before he was finally executed.
- There are many churches in the West Bank and Israel that bear the name
of St George - at al-Khadr, Lod and in the Galilee, for example.
- While the Western world marks St George's Day on 23 April, in the Palestinian
areas it falls on 6 May, according to the older calendar used by the Eastern Churches.
- A service is held for the saint at al-Khadr, bringing worshippers from the
Bethlehem area and much further afield to light candles and say prayers.
During the feast, special bread is baked that shows him in his typical
pose as a dragon slayer.
St George as a patron for people living here - and as he was born in historic Palestine,
we pray to him to remember us and this holy land."
St George was a Roman soldier during the Third Century AD, when the
Emperor Diocletian was in power. It is said that he once lived in al-Khadr
near Bethlehem, on land owned by his mother's family.
- While the saint's father is usually traced back to Cappadocia, an area in modern Turkey,
it is believed his mother was Palestinian from Lydda - now Lod, in Israel.
- The saint is remembered for giving away his possessions and remaining true to his
religion when he was imprisoned and tortured before he was finally executed.
- There are many churches in the West Bank and Israel that bear the name
of St George - at al-Khadr, Lod and in the Galilee, for example.
- While the Western world marks St George's Day on 23 April, in the Palestinian
areas it falls on 6 May, according to the older calendar used by the Eastern Churches.
- A service is held for the saint at al-Khadr, bringing worshippers from the
Bethlehem area and much further afield to light candles and say prayers.
During the feast, special bread is baked that shows him in his typical
pose as a dragon slayer.
The image of St George appears in the form of statues, mosaics and even bread (top right)
- Such images are also a permanent feature on many Palestinian
Christian homes and public buildings. It is thought that the saint brings
them protection.
"He's a native saint who has done many miracles. We respect him a lot,"
explains sculptor Akram Anastas.
"He's presented as a knight full of peace and grace, riding his horse and always
fighting evil, which is symbolised by the dragon. We write underneath
in Arabic 'God bless our house.'"
- Anastas has worked on thousands of stone carvings of the saint during
his career, selling them to Palestinian and international buyers.
- "I like him very much. He's a good friend of mine and I've found him
many times in my life. He's my guardian angel," he says.
Christian homes and public buildings. It is thought that the saint brings
them protection.
"He's a native saint who has done many miracles. We respect him a lot,"
explains sculptor Akram Anastas.
"He's presented as a knight full of peace and grace, riding his horse and always
fighting evil, which is symbolised by the dragon. We write underneath
in Arabic 'God bless our house.'"
- Anastas has worked on thousands of stone carvings of the saint during
his career, selling them to Palestinian and international buyers.
- "I like him very much. He's a good friend of mine and I've found him
many times in my life. He's my guardian angel," he says.
Sculptor Akram Anastas has made thousands of stone carvings of St George
- With its associations of courage, gallantry and honour,
the Christian name, George, remains one of the most common
in the Palestinian Territories.
Other variants are Khadr (Arabic for "green one") and Jeries.
- In a Bethlehem coffee shop known locally as "Abu George"
[the father of George], I sit with members of the Thalgieh family,
who are all called George.
- "Maybe we have 10 people [named George] until now. Perhaps
in the future we will reach 100," says George Elias Saba Thalgieh.
the Christian name, George, remains one of the most common
in the Palestinian Territories.
Other variants are Khadr (Arabic for "green one") and Jeries.
- In a Bethlehem coffee shop known locally as "Abu George"
[the father of George], I sit with members of the Thalgieh family,
who are all called George.
- "Maybe we have 10 people [named George] until now. Perhaps
in the future we will reach 100," says George Elias Saba Thalgieh.
"Here in Bethlehem, it's not just our family.
We all believe that St George will help us when we need him.
If you have an accident the first thing you say is 'Ya Khadr'
- it means we are calling for St George to help us.
We all believe that St George will help us when we need him.
If you have an accident the first thing you say is 'Ya Khadr'
- it means we are calling for St George to help us.
"I love the name. Our grandfather is George, I am George so now
my sons will name their sons George," adds the older man's nephew,
George Nabil George Thalgieh, a well-known singer.
my sons will name their sons George," adds the older man's nephew,
George Nabil George Thalgieh, a well-known singer.
The many Georges of the Talgieh family standing outside the "Abu George" coffee shop
Anticipating this year's St George's Day,
the two generations join in a traditional verse...[...]bbc.com/
the two generations join in a traditional verse...[...]bbc.com/
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου