Following the appeal for the protection of the Stella Maris monastery in Haifa, the monastery witnessed an increase in important visitors.

The Episcopalian Bishop and a delegation of Rabbis for Human Rights joined Palestinians and others in visiting the monastery and expressing support to them in the face of provocative visits by Hasidic Jews who are claiming that the monastery is located at the ruins of where Elijah performed his miracle.

Below is the press release of the Jerusalem Episcopal Church:

Jerusalem – The Media Office – The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem 19/06/ 2023

Archbishop Hosam Naoum on a solidarity visit to The Church of St. Elijah on the Mount of Carmel in Haifa

Archbishop Hosam Naoum, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, made a solidarity visit to the Church of St. Elijah in the Stella Maris Monastery on the Mount of Carmel in Haifa, on Monday, June 19, 2023. This visit came after the Church was repeatedly attacked by some extremist Jews lately. This visit came to highlight the importance of the freedom to worship and the importance of Safeguarding Holy Sites.

Bishop Naoum was accompanied by the Rev’d Canon Don Binder, and the Rev’d Canon Wadie Far. They prayed in St. Elijah’s cave for peace among all peoples and religions. There they met with some monks from the Monastery, and with a group of believers praying in the church.

Rabbis for Human Rights debunk claims by Hessidic Jews

A few weeks ago Hasidim from Rabbi Berland’s extremist community began coming to the Stella Maris Monastery in Haifa to pray in the doorway since they consider it to be the tomb of the prophet Elisha. When they were asked to stop, they arrived in greater numbers and now pray loudly inside the monastery and its grounds.

In response, Rabbis for Human Rights and other groups came to the monastery yesterday evening in a show of solidarity with the church and its congregation. The head of the Carmelite Order in Israel wrote thanking us for our actions, including us in their prayers and brotherhood.

RHR is committed to protecting religious freedom for our sister religions in the Holy Land and we will continue to stand in solidarity with the Stella Maris Monastery.