Archbishop Gives Public Witness for Peace in York Minster Tent

|PIC1|The second-most senior member of the Church of England, the Archbishop of York, has moved into a tent inside York Minster to reveal an act of “public witness” in which he is calling for peace in the Middle East.

Dr John Sentamu will fast, only being able to drink water, while he camps in the Minster over the next seven days. He hopes the fast will help to highlight the horrid situation faced by those caught up in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

Dr Sentamu announced last week that he was giving up his holiday in Salzburg, Austria, to take part in the act, during which time he will pray in the tent for peace.

Sunday at York Minster saw the week-long vigil commence with the Archbishop publicly shaving his head. Cathedral cleric Canon Glynn Webster was the one entrusted with the archbishop's haircut, carried out on the altar.

Dr Sentamu expressed to reporters his hope that his example would encourage many others from all faiths to join him in praying for peace.

He will lead prayer every hour for seven days, with his fast ending at 1000 BST next Sunday.

|PIC2|The act has been set up to mirror the situation faced by thousands of people caught up in the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, who are having to sleep rough and without proper food.

It is thought that more than 1,000 Lebanese and more than 120 Israelis have been killed in the conflict since 12 July.

Dr Sentamu said: “This act is a rallying call to people of all faiths and none, to encourage them to feel that there is something that can be done.

“The UN has a role, diplomacy has a role and our government has a role to play in bringing this conflict to an end. But we as people also have a role to play in showing our common humanity with all those who are suffering.”

Dr Sentamu has also urged people to give up eating just one meal and donate the money to charities that are working in the crisis-hit region.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan announced ay the weekend that a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel came into effect at 0600 BST on Monday.

However, Israel continued operations in Lebanon on Sunday in an effort to clear the south of Hezbollah. In response Hezbollah's leader said his group would abide by the ceasefire plan, but Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah said on TV that Hezbollah would continue fighting as long as Israel remained in Lebanon.