The new Bishop of Jerusalem has acknowledged the "mutual sufferings" of Christians, Muslims and Jews in the Holy Land at his enthronement in Jerusalem's historic St George's Anglican Cathedral last Sunday.
The cathedral was filled to capacity for the enthronement of the Rt Rev Suheil Dawani as the 14th Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem.
In his sermon, given in Arabic and summarised in English, Bishop Suheil called for a strong Christian proclamation in the Holy Land, making repeated calls for dialogue with "sister faiths".
He recognised the "mutual sufferings" of Muslims, Jews and Christians, and called for Israel and Palestine to "accept each other and forgive". Bishop Suheil reminded the congregation of Jesus Christ's call for "a mission of reconciliation with justice and peace with human dignity" for all.
"We need bridges of peace, not walls of separation," said Bishop Suheil, adding that now was a "critical time" for all in the Holy Land and the right time for "Jesus Christ to increase" in the diocese.
The Archbishop of Canterbury was represented by the Bishop of Exeter, the Rt Rev Michael Langrish, at Sunday's ceremony while Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori of the US Episcopal Church was represented by the Bishop of New York, the Rt Rev Mark Sisk.
A procession of local Jerusalem Orthodox, Lutheran, Armenian, Coptic, Protestant and
Roman Catholic prelates, pastors and members of religious orders, filed into the cathedral accompanied by a Palestinian Youth Marching Band.
Muslim and Jewish leaders and clerics, as well as civic representatives, also joined the Christian congregation.
In his Easter sermon earlier in the month, Bishop Suheil said: "In this situation of suffering we are in, many people are afraid of what lies ahead of them. It is especially the young people who feel insecure about their future. Yet, as Christians we have great hope in our present life and our future."
He called on Christians to unite in efforts "to preserve the Christian presence and witness in the land of the Holy One".
"Now is the time to unite our voices, our deeds and actions, and to show our light to the whole world: the light of Jesus that leads the way in this dark tunnel of turmoil, poverty, despair, unrest and hatred."
Sunday's enthronement ceremony was presided over the retiring Primate, the Most Rev Clive Handford of Cyprus and the Gulf. The newly elected Primate, the Most Rev Hanna Anis Mouneer, who will be installed later this week in Cairo, was also present.
