Lent is observed by Christians across the world. This week, our friends and partners in Egypt share how their churches mark this time of reflection and contemplation. Christians in Egypt predominately belong to the Coptic Church, but other denominations include Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, Maronite and Anglican. 

This Lent, we are bringing you a series of reflections from our friends and partners in the Middle East. This week, we hear from Suheir of the Secretariat of Solidarity in Jerusalem about how Lent is celebrated in the Holy Land itself.  

The observance of Lent , and the celebration of Easter, is a time of profound spiritual reflection for many Christians around the world. Here, in their own words, some of our partners reflect on how Eastern Christians mark this holy season in parts of the region.

For the first time since the pandemic began nearly two years ago, Embrace was able to bring a group of volunteers to the Holy Land to assist with the planting of olive trees in Palestine. Here, our very own Rowena reflects on what it was like to return after such a long absence.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been difficult to travel to the regions in which we work to meet with partners. Recently, we have been able to begin travelling again, and Programmes and Partnerships Manager Bruce made his first visit to Lebanon - here, he reflects on what he saw and learned.

Sunday 6th February marks International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). FGM is a global problem and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women and girls.

The 27th of January marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. It is also Holocaust Memorial Day- an opportunity to remember the millions murdered in the Holocaust under the Nazis, but also in the genocides that followed – in Rwanda, Cambodia, Bosnia and Darfur.

In September 2021 a document of major significance for the contemporary church in the Middle East, and all who care about its future, was published in Beirut, with the title We choose Abundant Life. 

As many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas this week Embrace friend and co-author of The International Community of the Holy Sepulchre’s recent report on the situation of Christianity in the Holy Land, Deacon George Tsourous, reflects on his childhood memories of the celebration of Christmas in Greece.